Year: 1870

Dreadful Gasoline Explosion - A Woman


Burned 20 Death and Three Others Horribly


The Chicago Tribune of Wednesday, the 18th


inst, has the following


new burning fluid has recently come into


vogue and is sold extensively under the name of


gasoline" an extract of petroleum, which is


advertised as non explosive. 1t is more easily


ignited than the ordinary kerosene, which re-


quires to be heated to O temperature of at least


10 degrees before it will burn. Gasoline viii


burR readily at freezing point. The new fluid


has acquired some degree of popularity and has


been rapidly coming into use in families, under


the belief that it was non-explosive. Recent exc


perience has demonstrated that this quality is


fictitious one, and the Health Department have


had their attention called to it from several dis


asters of an alarming nature which have lately


occurred. One of these occurred yesterday


morning, in the dwelling house of Mr.. B. +. Lam


terman No 1S1 South Robey street. 1t may be


attributed to careless use of the burning fluid,


but where accidents so fearful are occurring


constantly in spite of the utmost precautions, It


may be questioned whether the sale of such q


dangerous material is permissible.


About o'clock yesterday morning. Mrs. Lam
terman was making preparations to iron some


clothes in q small room off the kitchen, where
she kept gasoline stove. This article she had


found very useful, and great saving of labor,
especially in heating irons. Her husband some
time ago, had persuaded her to adopt it, which
she did with considerable hesitation, but after
while she came to approve of 1t, and was always
lt.
is poured into reservoir which is placed several
feet above the iron plate, and connects by means
of a tube, through which the fluid passes to be
ignted and heat up the surface Mr.. Lanterman,


who is manufacturer of planning knives, had


gone to his work, and his wife had placed her


infant, eleven months old, in high chair


in the middle of the kitchen, where she
could watch it while doing her ironing. Clara,


little girl of six years, was playing in the


kitchen. The mother appears to have taken the


two-quart can containing the gasoline, from


which she was to fill up the reservoir, and
set il upon the stove near the flame, the stove


having already been lighted, and the irons put
on to heat Before filling the reservoir she went


into the kitchen to fetch chair, leaving the can
upon the stove, when the gasoline took fire.
Mrs. Lanterman Immediately rushed back and


seized the can, while it was blazing and ran
distractedly into the kitchen. Her dress caught
fire, and the can fell from her grasp upon the
floor, scattering its contents all around, and
creating gas which nearly suftocated her. She
opened the door and fled into the yard, the


flames by this time having completely enveloped
her person. Her piteous cries for help soon
attracted the attention of the neghbors, and


number of workmen employed at an adjoining
house were speedily on the spot. Lucius Ian
terman, the brother of the lady's husband, who
occupies the upper part OF the house, was the
first to render his assistance. He heard first a


noise from the basement, like the rushing of
wind followed by loud explosion. Then the


screams of the woman and children brought
him down stairs. In moment he sprang to
the infant in the chair, which was already wrap
ped in flames, and carried it out to the yard.
Then he endeavored to eXtinguish the flames
around Mrs. Lanterman, by seizing the wet


clothes which were hanging on the line, and


wrapping them round her body. She was, how


ever, burned in fearful manner from head to


foot, and, as it proved, was beyond human aid.


By this time the house had caught fire. and


the flames were quickly spreading over the
kitchen floor, and to the walls. The clothes of
the little girl, Clara, had also taken fire. Mr.
Lanterman, leaving his sister-in-law in the
hands of some neighbors, proceeded to arrest the
progress of the confagration which he sue
ceeded in doing by great effort, and at the ex-
| pense of severe personal injury. His hands
were so badly burned that he will be disabled
| for some time.


The husband did not hear of the occurrence
| till it was all over. His wife was thirty-seven
| years Of age, and was the mother of four chill
| dren. He is the owner of the house in which he
| lives. two-story frame dwelling which appears
| to have been but recently built. He seemed
| completely overwhelmed by the calamity which


had overtaken his family. He stated that his
! wife had used the gasoline stove for some tlme
| She was generally very cautious in using 1t, and


although she had been averse to its introduction
| into the house at first, she had gradually come
! to like it. He said he had never entertained any
| fears about the 1ud and was less uneasy on the
| subject than he had ever been about kerosene.
| lie had encouraged her to use it, as it was O
| great saving of labor to her in cooking or iron
| ing. and enabled her to look after her family


while she was preparing meals for them.