The explosion of an empty gasoline can set fire to the clothing of C. A. Dutton of 51 state Avenue, West Asheville, at 11 o’clock this morning, and the blaze severely burned his arms and legs before it could be extinguished. The gasoline can had been brought in contact with a blow torch.
Fire Chief A. L. Duckett found Dutton in extreme pain. He was taken to the French Broad hospital, where his injuries were said to be serious, though it is thought he will recover. Both arms below the elbows and both legs were burned, doctors said.
Dutton told Chief Duckett that he was holding the gasoline can in one hand the blow torch in the other. When the former exploded, the flam enveloped his arms and legs.
The fire chief said the explosion would not have occurred had the can been full or even half full of gasoline. A can emptied of gasoline explodes on account of the ignition of the vapor in the can he said. –Asheville Times
From the front page of The Ruralite, Sylva, N.C., Sept. 14, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn91068754/1926-09-14/ed-1/seq-1/
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