Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 January 1879 — Explosives as Fire-Kindlers. [ARTICLE]

Explosives as Fire-Kindlers.

Year after year warnings Are published in the newspapers against the practice, in which some house-servants and fewer housewives indulge, of kindling fires with coal oil. Sometimes the warning is a simple account, of a fatal accident, sometimes it is in comments thereon. The warnings, however, do aot seem to be heeded,. and now comes the story of • wenian who used blasting powder with which! to kindle a fire, and caused an explo-| sion, fatally injuring herself and two children. The use of powder for kindling fires was not unusual in the army during the war, but the fires were in open air, powder was used by men familjEr with its properties. They were, indeed, so well acquainted with the danger attending its Use, that they never tried the experiment until all other means had failed to quicken a fire, and then with extreme caqtion. It is scarcely necessary to say that all explosive compounds, and all butting fluids, should be kept away frbnit the stove, and that, under no circumstances, should an attempt be made to add powder or oil to a fire. It is bad enough to saturate wood with oil before lighting it, which is rs practice very apt to lead to carelessness and danger, but the attempted pouring of off on a flame is an actol suicide.— Philadelphia Ledger.