We heated the garage behind my parent’s house with a wood burning "pot belly" stove. In the early winter we would use the lawn mower gas to start the stove, but as the winter went on the flammable stuff in the garage would be at a premium.

I went out on a late winter, cold day to work on my car. We had used up the gas, varsol, paint thinner, news papers, and all else in the garage. After rummaging through the garage, I found a can of Ether.

Well it is flammable... So with the kindling in place, I added the ether, then stood well back, and flicked a match at the open stove.

The resulting explosion took off the doors, lid, and the stove pipe. I went to the door, and waited. The window in the house went up, and my mother asked what happened. I told her I dropped something, and spent the rest of the day cleaning up.

That spring my dad and I were walking the orchard looking at what needed to be trimmed, when we found the chimney cap. It was about 75 feet from the garage. Dad was puzzled about how it got out there. I blamed it on the winter wind.

I told him the truth a couple of years before we lost him, and we both had a good laugh.

Submitted on 02/14/2007

Submitted by: Ed
Reference:

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
Told as a whole, this is one of the funnier stories I've heard in a while! This sounds like something Garrison Keillor might relate! Anyway, it seems you & pops were already courting danger using just about every other volatile substance to light a fire, so on the one hand I slaute your resourcefullness, yet I am laughing at the stupidity! 75 feet? That bust have been a blast! Great PA, Ed...thanks!

Graham said:
Neutral: Personal Account
A funny story, Ed, BUT - why would there be ether in a garage, and where did it come from? Ether is flammable from great distances as it creeps along the ground. Thanks for sending this one in.

Chip said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
Thanks for the laugh, Ed. Good personal account here. How on earth did you ever not blow yourself up with all those other flammables you used? Lucky you are still here to write about it.