FINANCIAL VIEW. 11 



in the pockets of fifty-eight workmen as they were 

 just entering the powder works at Hounslow. 



The blowing up of a powder-magazine in Mexico, 

 and many houses near by, with the destruction of 

 seventy lives, was caused by the dropping of a 

 lighted cigar. 



After the Blantyre explosion in 1879, resulting 

 in the death of twenty-eight persons, the inspec- 

 tor of mines found matches and partly smoked 

 pipes lying near the bodies. 



It was from a match thrown down by a smoking 

 plumber that the Harpers' printing establishment 

 took fire, consuming five blocks, at a loss of about 

 a million of dollars, and throwing nearly two thou- 

 sand people out of work. 



By a spark dropped from a pipe a dreadful fire 

 was kindled in Williamsburg, destroying three ves- 

 sels and six buildings, with the lives of three 

 persons. 



Says an insurance agent : M One third or more 

 of all the fires in my circuit have originated from 

 matches and pipes. Fires in England and America 

 are being kindled with alarming frequency by 

 smokers casting about their firebrands or half- 

 burnt matches." 



From the reports of various journals as to the 

 burning of the mail-car on the New York Central 

 Railroad, there seems scarcely a doubt that it was 

 owing to the smoking habit. Does not common 

 prudence require the absolute interdiction of 

 cigars by all employed in the postal department 



