DANGERS OF PHOSPHORUS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1893, 18 May 1889, Page 3

DANGERS OF PHOSPHORUS.

Adelaide, May 6. News from Terowie states that eight young lads named Hill, Belcher, Elliott, Lacey (2), and Slattery (3), narrowing escaped losing their lives, besides nearly destroying a quantity of property, on Saturday afternoon. The two Laceys, got some phosphorus in sticks, from the back premises of a chemist’s shop, and distributed them among the other lads. David Lacey was seen in the street with his clothes on fire. Reed, a shop assistant, tore his clothes off, but the boy was fearfully burnt, and this morning was in a precarious state. Belcher took some phosphorus home and put it in a private part of the Post Office. The dwelling was at once set on fire, and the whole place was at once threatened with destruction, the carpets, mats, and skirting boards being damaged. The other lads took some of the phosphorus to Slattery’s Hotel, and put it in the dining room, which was soon on fire. Pour girls, the boys’ sisters, jumped through the windows, while the lads ran through the fire. One of them was severely burnt, and is now in bed, having his hands and knees badly scorched. The other lads were not hurt, but were greatly frightened. The phosphorus was seen burning in the streets for hours. The substance was kep£ in a case, enclosed in a three gallon jar of water covered with abung. l The boys took the lid off the case, and the cover has not yet been found.