A PRIEST’S INVENTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3306, 26 August 1911, Page 3

A PRIEST’S INVENTION.

REMARKABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. '

At Joctouoan, ia> quaint little village almost lost in the great forest or pme extending from Bordeaux down to the sea, lives a humble parish priest, the Abbe D. Daney, who has invented a remarkably successful fire- extinguisher. Meaning to recognise the high merit of this priest, till© French Government lias (granted him a decoration, and a decree to this effect was published in the “Journal Oriiciel.” In a huge conflagration in 1906 his parish was completely ravaged. Moved by the desolation, caused through this terrible disaster, the Abbe Daney set himself to comfort and relieve his people. Being a man of more than ordinary intelligence and will, he was not satisfied with this alone. He conceived other and lofty projects, and henceforward gave himself up to the study of the invention which was ultimately so to conduce to his fame. He turned his presbytery into a chemical laboratory, made patient and dangerous experiments oyer gases and salts, and no less than nine times was he injured whilst at his work, twice grievously, and nearly at the cost of his life. At last, after three years of the closest research, science delivered the long-look,ed-for secret. A chemical compound, thrown out by a special engine, proved its ability to conquer the fire element, to choke in an instant the fiercest flames as easily as to put out a candle. This chemical compound is described as follows :

A mixture of “ignifug© gases” as a physical agent. This mixture utilises its elastic force to project a liquid impregnated with salts as a chemical agent. It renders incombustible the gases of the atmosphere which burn in every fire. An, enervescent liquid in which are found salts in a state of solution. Those salts, unknown before, . were obtained by the Abbe Daney through electric furnaces of from 3000 to 5000 amperes. When projected they produce ether extinguishing gases,which increase the effect of the ignifuge gases alluded to above. W hen reaching the Marine material they cover it with a peculiar dust-like coat which -makes it fireproof.- An important detail which may be susceptible of most interesting applications is this—some lin-en. previously plunged into the extinguishing liquid, and thrown, into a blazing mass was taken out quite undamaged. Remarkable demonstrations which took place of late in Paris, in the ’’resence of notabilities of science an politics, at Birdeafux. Lyons, and in other country places all over Franc©,, have produced the conviction that it is the last word in the science of extinguishing fires. The invention of Abb© Daney, ft is to be hoped, will in the future be a -great means of reducing in a- large measure the losses and teiiible disasters caused by fire. An active campaign lias been begun tc- inti oduce these new extinguishers all over France and also in ether countries.