The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1911-11-30
Dangers and Chemistry
of Fire
Reprinted Instruction Books Issued by
Commissioner Taught Schools The Pilot
Will Lesson Week, Believing Adults as Well
children WIN Be Benefited Thereby.

| swapping match heads, or glowing
sticks getting on bed covers, lace
curtains, carpets and clothing. A
number of women have been burned
to death by stepping upon and light
ing matches which were lying on the
floor,
The Head Of the Match.
The head of the match contains
phosphorus. chlorate of potash. ros-
in. whiting and powdered flint held
together by glue. It takes but lit
tie heat to start fire in phosphor-
US. The heat caused by rubbing the
particles Of flint in the head when it
is struck fires the phosphorus. The
chlorate lets go of the oxygen in it
with explosive spluttering and
great heat. This fires the roein
In the head and they together fire
the paraffin with which the stick
has been soaked. Then the stick
itself begins to burn. If either salt
petre or sulpher is used in place of
the chlorate of potash a silent and
slow match is made which does not
snap and fly. When the chlorate,
or parlor match is trod upon or 9TH
erwise lighted it sounds its own
fire alarm-this Is the only good
thing about it.
The Birds Eye Match.
A new kind Of match called the
"Birl's Eye" or double tipped is
now made in all the match factories.
1t is kept in many groceries.
Fewer dangers hide in the head
of this match than in that of the par
lor match which in the United States
destroys millions of dollars in prop
erty and hundreds of lives every
year. The parlor match is the one
now used by nearly everybody.
How Heads Of Birds Eye Matches
Are Made.
The ends of the sticks are dipped
in a soft mixture made up Of sui
phide of anthony. chlorate Of pot
ash, whiting, glue and a powder to
give it color. Then, after drying. it
is dipped a little way into the mix
ture which has phosphorus in it and
is of another color. Phosphorus
does not have to be rubbed hard to
make it burn. So this match is
easy to burn. So this match is easy
to light. A short scratch Of the tip
on cloth will set it afire. This
makes the smokers, who use most.
Of the matches. like it.
They Never Snap.
They never snap and fly to pieces
when scratched. The danger to life
is less in a match that does not
snap and fly as the parlor match
does. In one week two women and
two babies were burned to death in
one state alone, their dresses being
ignited by pieces of flying parlor
match heads, and another woman
lost her life by stepping on one
which fired her clothing.
When rubbed by things that are
moved over them or by a foot on
the floor they do not light because
the "eye" is not touched. But II
the head OF one of these matches is
crushed under a foot the eye takes
fire Less force being needed to
light this match, it is not likely to
have its head knocked off or the
stick broken in scratching it. But
lights from crushing. the same as
the parlor match, and is more likely
to light from bump on its eye.
The houses burned in a year in
the United States by the careless use
OF matches cost more than $1,000
600. But this loss Is not SO bad as
the loss of lives from it.
Children, do not carry matches
in your pockets.
After using one be sure the fire
On the stick is entirely out before
you throw it away. Don't forget!
II you are careless you may lose
dear little brother, or sister, and
maybe papa or mama, or the home
you love so much.