Something like this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbide_lamp"History
In 1892, Thomas Willson discovered an economically efficient process for creating calcium carbide, which is used in the production of acetylene gas. In 1895, he sold his patent to Union Carbide. Domestic lighting with acetylene gas was introduced circa 1894 and bicycle lamps from 1896.
The first carbide mining lamp developed in the United States was patented in New York on August 28, 1900 by Frederick Baldwin."