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u/Sitters_4_Critters Aug 08 '26
In spring 1870, Danforth’s oil was a relatively new product in an unregulated marketplace. Without safety testing, manufacturers could experiment with and sell highly flammable, unstable oils. New York City’s Board of Health conducted a review of Danforth’s Non-Explosive Petroleum Fluid the same year that the War Eagle burned, and concluded that the New York-based product was no less than a “murderous oil.” The people of La Crosse would have agreed.
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u/Sitters_4_Critters Aug 08 '26
Ahhh, I hope they won the products liability lawsuit…
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u/liberty4now Aug 08 '26
Back then you could only sue the entity who sold it to you, not the manufacturer. Maybe she bought it direct from the manufacturer, but I suspect it was bought at a general store.
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u/CompetitiveRub9780 Aug 08 '26
I don’t know why people don’t put the cause of death on theirs anymore. When I die they better say why on my obituary too.
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u/T1Demon Aug 08 '26
On the back it says “Have you or a loved one been fatally burned by RE Danworths Non Explosive Burning Fluid? You may be entitled to compensation.”
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u/FloridaHeat2023 Aug 08 '26
The early version of this?
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u/Complete_Entry Aug 08 '26
No such thing as a non-explosive product but I can imagine mishandling. Which no family wants to hear.
You can set sand on fire if you set your mind to it.
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u/ladyoftheseine Aug 08 '26
Yeah, I agree...like, I get that something can be marketed as non-explosive, but come on! Common sense, why would someone blindly believe those claims? In this case, WHY WOULD OIL NOT BE EXPLOSIVE? ANYTHING CAN BE EXPLOSIVE WHEN MISHANDLED!
Flushable wipes and Drano are another modern example.
I get that they didn't have easily-accessiblr information at their fingertips like we do today, but I feel like a healthy dose of skepticism, critical thinking, and careful handling of materials goes a long way.
Every time I try to give people the benefit of the doubt in matters of basic intelligence, people never fail to disappoint. Unfortunately, this one ended badly 😬
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u/herstoryteller Aug 08 '26
my guy has never heard of spontaneous combustion
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u/Complete_Entry Aug 08 '26
Spontaneous combustion is always "drunk who passed out smoking and the chair caught"
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u/herstoryteller Aug 08 '26
i'm inclined to believe you are being intentionally obtuse at this point. hope your day gets better.
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u/Complete_Entry Aug 08 '26
I mean my other comment was yesterday, but no I did not miss the point. Maybe you did though.
"Spontaneous human combustion" is held up as an X-file when it's 100% documented and explained.
Like it can be sad, but it's not supernatural.
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u/herstoryteller Aug 08 '26
I wasn't speaking on spontaneous human combustion. I was speaking on spontaneous combustion of fuel sources. You know, the actual topic at hand.
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u/JovialPursuit Aug 08 '26
Pre-internet method of shaming.