Middletown transcript., 1910-09-17
CARBON DISULFID ExPLODES
Burning an Aged Farmer and
DESTROYING His Carriage

A most lamentabIe casualty happened
Tuesday afternoon at the Forest cemeter!
near this town, which resulted in th'
death of an old and highly esteemed citi
zen-Mr. Charles Mullen.
He was riding home in his side.baI
buggy and carrying three one gallon CAM
filed with carbon disulid, very inaam
mable and extremely volatile as well Al
explosive fluid, which he intended to usi
to kill the weevil in his wheat.
II was reported thathis mare was scared
by an auto, but this is no doubt an erroI
as the animal was probably frightened BY
the explosion and the fire which followed
it. A spectator who was some distance
away says that he heard q loud report
and saw big cloud Of smoke or dust in
the road, but thought nothing of it.
The fagman at the FrogtoWn crossing
saw she occurrence, but being unable at
that moment to leave by reason Of train
being about to pass, called to q colored
man at work in theNcemstery, who seeing
the carriage and its occupant envsloped
in flames, ran to help. Stopping the fright.
ened mare, be at once turned to aid the
unfortunate victim Of the explosion, Mr..
Mullen whom he says be found hanging
half unconscious across the dashboard
with nearly all bis clothing burned from
his body.
An automobile happening along, it was
rushed into town to fetch DR.. Lewis to
the suffering mans side. The doctor did
all possible to relieve the distress and
pain Of bis patient, and had him at once
taken to his own home. where, despite
every effort Of medical skill to cave him,
the unhappy man died about 8 o'clock
Tuesday evening, without sufficiently
regaining consciousness to give an intelli'
gent account of just how the sad affair
came about.
The flames consumed the entire vehicle
except the running gear, even to scorch'
ing the bard wood side bars very badly.
The mare was not injured, except that
her tail was slightly sCorched.
The TRANSCRIPT scribe examined the
cans in which the fiery liquid had been
and found them all badly rust.
ed one in particular SO much corrOded as
no doubt to lave been leaking considers
bly,.
II is thought that Mr.. Mullen was either
smoking his pipe, or had lighted q match
to do so, and in this manner ignited the
volatile fumes from this deadly substance.
It is said that he was cautioned not to
smoke or bring any fire near his cans.
What lends probability to thetheory that
The explosion was caused by bis smoking
is the fact that his pipe was afterwards
found in the carriage. But the real cause
Of this sad event, was the leaking Of the
cans. Farmers and others cannot be too
careful in handling this liquid, which is
not only dangerous by reason Of its in.
and explosive character, but
because its fumes are also deadly.
Mr.. Mullen, was by birth an Irishman,
and very devout member of the Catho.
iC Church Of this place and leaves a wife,
Jour sons and two daughters surviving
him. Three Of his sons are young farmers
living near Middletown and the fourth |
ION with his father was very successfully
conducting the Bowman farm near Mt.
Pleasant. The TRANSCRIPT and the en-.
ire neighborhood extend their sympath.
es to the family in their sad loss. Mr.. |
Mullen who was 70 years old, was greatly |
by the entire community in
which for many years be had lived. The
uneral services were held yesterday in |
It. Joseph's Catholic Church of Middle
own and Father Crawley conducted the |
services. The remains were inferred in |
he st. Francis Xavier Catholic cemetery |
near Warwick Maryland.