Steve Adams' "Hell Fire" ? Melts Bottles ?

[jeff of pa]

The Spokesman-Review - Apr 3, 1906



same story.

https://news.google.com/newspapers?...AIBAJ&sjid=mfMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6389,4655476&hl=en

The morning Astorian. (Astoria, Or.), 29 March 1906.




The morning Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1899-1930, March 29, 1906, Image 1 « Chronicling America « Library of Congress

 

[jeff of pa]

Daily Arizona silver belt. (Globe, Gila County, Ariz.), 01 Feb. 1907






Daily Arizona silver belt. (Globe, Gila County, Ariz.) 1906-1929, February 01, 1907, Image 1 « Chronicling America « Library of Congress

 

[allen_idaho]

Yes, this was most likely a pyrophoric liquid such as Triethylborane or Diethylzinc. Which are substances that spontaneously combust when in contact with air. It would make sense given that the bottles in the articles ignited when the stopper was removed. Because these liquids are usually stored with an inert gas displacing any oxygen such as argon. And if the stopper were to be removed, the gas would escape and oxygen would contact the liquid, causing it to combust.