The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-06-23 00:00:00

thrown into gaol, where he liy for several months

tht court met, his trial was postponed until next ses

and he was recommitted. But, fortunately for him, a few
weeks previous to his trial coming on the mill again took
fire. Then it was discovered that both fires had originated
in a corner of one of the rooms, where the workers had,
had, without suspicion of any danger, been accustomed to
throw aside the pieces of cotton with which they cleaned off
the old oil from the machinery previous to oiling it anew.
The origin of both fires was now satisfactorily accounted for,
being the result of spontaneous combustion. •
It is a well-know❑ chemical fact, that cotton, flax, hemp.

and various other vegetable substances, whose parts or fibres
are in a state of minute division, when brought into contact
with any of the oils, are, under certain circumstances, ex-
tremely liable to spontoneous combustion. In some cases.
ignition ensues with great rapidity, especially if ti►e oil is of
a drying quality, and more slowly;, but not less sure, with the
other oils.

I have seen cotton cloth, which had been brushed over
with linseed oil, when folded and laid carefully by, burst out
into actual combustion in the course of three hours.. Shortly
after the chemical action commences, there is a quantity of
caloric or heat given out, which partialfy decomposes the ve-
getable matter, and gives to it a brown colour. As the ac-
tion progresses, the vegetable matter is converted into car-

bon (charcoal), the intensity of action now becomes so great
that the charcoal is in a state of actual ignit
readily communicated to the surrounding bodie

There is an important fact connected with spontaneous
combustion, arising from oil and vegetable matte'
generally known, but deserves particular

It is not

Points out in the' most decisive manner the danger to be ap-
prehended from small .quantities of oil coming in contact
with cotton. If we take a quantity of cotton wool,.and im-
merse it into a cask of oil, the wool will become gradually
decomposed, hut no combustion will arise from it. If we
take another equal quantity, and mix it with an ounce of oil,
subject it to a slight pressure and partial exclusion of the
air, and combustion will then assuredly take place. The
spontaneous combustion of hay and straw is governed by the
same principle. If either of these be immersed in water,
. .

they will in process of time rot and be decomposed, but
without ignition ; but put them into a barn in a stamp state,
and combustion will ensue from the decomposition of the
water and the vegetable juices.
From a consideration of the above facts, I am induced to
suspect, that the jigger-lofts of warehouses have long been
unknowingly a fertile source of spontaneous combustion.
My reasons for so thinking arise from the fact that nearly,
two-thirds of the fires in cotton warehouses have commenced
on the top floor. The jigger-loft forms a part of that floor,
and I understand that it is the universal practice to use oil for
the machinery of the jigger; a practice which I consider in-
judicious and dangerous in the hands of ignorant porters ;
men who, if they heard of combustion from cotton and oil,
would more readily associate the idea of danger with a cash
or two of oil than with an ounce

And hence there

great stretch of probability in supposing the following to hap-
pen : They accidentally overturn the vessel containing Ihe oil ;
part of it runs down through the floor on the cotton below ;

they wipe up the rest; and, as in the case of the mill, they
throw the oiled cotton aside. They oil the machinery too pro-
fusely, and it runs down off it. They clean the old oil off the

machinery and throw the cotton aside

Allow me to state that

All these are highly probable causes or fires originating in
the top floors of cotton warehouses, and point out the pro-
priety of substituting tallow or lard in place of oil. Either
of these would equally answer the purpose, and at the same
time lessen the danger a hundred fold
I would suggest that the following
every foreman of cotton warehous

directions be g

held responsible for their due observance, under pain of im-
mediate dismissal : That he shall employ no porter who is
known to smoke tobacco at any time or place, with the ex-
ception of his own house. That, in the discharge of cotton
at the docks, the place of landing be carefully examined and
cleaned of any oil which may have lately been landed there.
That every lorry or cart be carefully examined and cleaned,
if recently emp'oyed in carrying oil. That no oil be ❑sed in
any part of the warehouse where tallow or lard can be sub-
stituted. CHARLES' CAMERON, Chyruist.

NEWTON RACES

WEDNESDAY

25 added. On

for three

THE CHARGE OF FELONS

On Tuesday, shortly after three o'clock, Mr. Orme (the
first hearing of whose case appeared in our last) was again
nlaped nt rho 1,.. —c .I__ t, ,•

. -
Ni..... tn. LUC uar or the Police-court. The case, haying
become known through the town, excited great interest, and
the court was'crowded_

said he had no further evidence, but he should
lrs. Holden a fr.w more questions.
(on the application of Mr. Jams

the witnesses to

ordered

) go into the adjoining room, expressing I
11 that he could tend to elicit the truth.
' '

en, having been called into the box, stated that

the pri:

t to h

a fortnight since last Saturday

I her. On Tuesday night a
addressed to Mr. Orme. It

:he same bar where the pocket-book
Did not know what became of that

3 no conver

lit have asked the prisoner
whether she saw Mr. Orme
He had been in the habit
rid putting up at the Crooked
hat she saw Mr. Ashcroft at her
Orme. Did not serve one with
nd the other with porter. Missed the note to

Orwe's war-

two o'clock, when he came in
, .

The servant girl Mary was next called, and examined by
Mr. James. She remembered the note for Mr. Orme. Did
not remember looking for it. Did not see Mr. Orme at two
o'clock, nor Mr. Ashcroft. Saw the market basket but could
not say at what time. Atter a long cross-examination of this
'le said she would swear that Mr. Orme took the
k, and that she saw him‘do so.

witness, s

Edward Smith, brewer, called by Mr. James. Mr.
'4, he wrote a note to Mr. Orme, which he sent on
He went on Thursday last to see if Mr.
- lie went in at the door in Ex-
e bar. Inquired about
it will be in the bar." Stood

ay weep

le the I

st, and went to t

Lched over and took the note and carried
sit was too late to be of any use. Went
Crooked Billet, to see Mr. Orme. At a
;clock, saw him there. Went the same
walked into the snug. Saw Orme and

quarter past two

Ashcroft tf

Orme said he

vuld be with him in five