Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 April 1884 — Safety in Sewers and Wells. [ARTICLE]

Safety in Sewers and Wells.

Experience has taught that cesspools, cisterns and old wells, from their contents (as in the case of the first), and from the absence of all air currents, accumulate poisonous gas and vapors absolutely deadly to human and animal life. To insure the safety of any one compelled to descend into such places it is necessary to lower, by means of a string or wire, a tin pan (or other flat -vessel) containing a small quantity of ordinary gunpowder, and then ignite that by dropping live coals on it. After the explosion it is well to lower a lighted candle to the bottom. If it continues to burn, it can be taken as a sure test that all danger is removed, and the descent can safely be made.— Health and Home.