Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 April 1893 — The First Use of Gas. [ARTICLE]

The First Use of Gas.

Great was the amazement of all Europe when, at about the close of the last century, William Murdoch discovered that gas could be used for illuminating purposes. So little was the invention understood by those who had not seen it in use that even the great and wise men (?) of the British Parliament, laughed at the idea. “How can there be light without a wick ? ” said one member of that august body with a wink and a knowing nod. Even the great Sir Humphrey Davy ridiculed the jdga of. lighting towns find cities with gas. ifeohe day asked Murdoch, “Do you mean to use the dome ol §t. Paul’s ror your gas peter ? ” Sir Walter Scott also made merry of the gas idea and of the coming attempt to ‘‘illuminate London with smoke from a tar factory.” When the House of Commons was finally lighted with the new illuminant the architect and custodian of the building, who imagined that the gas ran as fire through the pipes, insisted that they be removed several inches from the wall to prevent the building from taking fire! Several distinguished members were also observed carefully touching the pipes with their gloved’ fingers and then smelling of them to see if they could detect the odor of- burnt leather. The first shop in London lighted by gas was one of which a Mr. Ackerman, a German, was the proprietor. The shop was on the Strand, and the date was 1810. One of theladiosof rank who often visited the Ackerman shop was so delighted with the brilliancy of a gas jet on one of the counters that she requested the proprietor to let her take it home for the evening, promising- to return it safe and sound on the morrow. Although many lay clay claim to the honor of being the first to introduce gas for practical purposes, all the glory there is in it should be accorded to Murdoch, who was, no doubt, the original discoverer of the' art.—[St. Louis Republic.