Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-04-29
csesal;er .4lainss Fire CsOdSng.


Yeral individuals walked about IN the midst
ola large hedy OF flame, remaining eHyeiop-
ed in tire for several minutes, and then came
cut uuiRjured, thsir respiration being scaice-
iy affected, and their pulse beating but with
iitls more velocity than ordinary One o.
these real Fire-kings had even the temerity
to carry his own child through the flames,
protected as he was protected, and IT was SO
Ettls affected that it might have slept undis-
turbe1 and HosSatbed. We witnessed an OK
hititisn ofthis kind last evening. lecturer
took hold Of red boz poker, and carried 1T
round the theatre; another person put his
hand into the fire To hold the finger over
the intense fame Of burning hydrogen .occa-
stoned no uneasiness. A person accustomed
to go into the FIRE, one OF those, we believe,
VINO walked through the flames at Paris, held
bis head for several minutes over and amidst
the flames from burning considerable guam
ilty Of paper shayngs; and after having done
this, he was m no wise affected-not even
bis breathing--except that he persPired lit
tie from the heat Of the fame. If at the late
FIRE at ahe English Operations a child had
beea left sleeping in some distant apartment,
| this man might have rushed in and snatched
it from a dreadful death. When we saw the
exhibition, We fancied the immense reward
heap on the msa vino, so protected, should
have saved her Only son---tbe heir TO long
Gne OF aneestors-~Gyom 80 horrid Fate; end
we could hardly help wishing that some such
mother might have her child SO exposed, and
so rescued, to bring the means Of accomplish
ing it into general use. A result OF this kind
would be the highest qualification TO the phi
ianthFopic individual who has now visited this
country. 10 make his invention known, and
has already made it known in other coun-
tries, could receive. The Cheyalier Adm,
a nephew of GalvaRi, who has haQueathed
his name to a modera science, by sk!lful
combination OF asbestos, an incombustiae
| substance, With wire gauze, which, as SIR
Humphrey Dayy discovered, prevented the
passage of flame, has constructed whole
| suit Of clothing, by wearing which individuals
| are capable, ike Shadrack, Meshech and
Abednego,to walk uaarmed into fiery fur
| mace. The advantages of the invention are
likely to be very considerable, and meet
| ing has, we believe, been already held with
the Directors Of several Fire Offices, with a
view TO get them TO have some OF their fire
| men instructed iii the use OF this clothing and
| accustomed to wear it. A part Of The Che
valief's Invention consists in mode Of soft
ening the asbestos, SO that it. can be eonven-
fienuy spun and wove into cloth. He effects
this by exposing il TO steam, and we saw a
piece OF stuff made &C asbestos as large as
| blanket. With this Substance be lines &. has
Aet, IN which an infant may be- carried out Of
burning house. Out of ii also he males
smaH caskct, IN which jewels CIR gold raay bs
safely borne through a fire. The fireman,
provided with q mask and gloves Of the same
| material, with shield of wire gauze, and
with complete case of this latter, can 60
wherever hi. footing is secure, and may save
both lives and property. AL! the experiments
we have just etosntioned, With many others,
illustrating thspowerful and curious effects
OF wire gauge in cutting of the passage of
fiaine, were exhibited last night at the Lon
don institution, Moorfelds. Tho Chsvaler
was present. and received, with apparent sa-
tlsiactlon, the appreciation of numerous and
enlightened audience. Being not sufficiently
skilled IN cur language to explain his own
views and inventions, DR.. .Birkbeck kindly
undertook the task FOR him, and performed #
WITH great success. An Italian, whom the
CheyaHer has brought with him, was. hs,ye-
yer, the person who was exposed TO the
flame, though an English Gentleman after
rdssubnitted to the same ordeal without
inconvenience DIR Birkbeck mentioned that
he should be ready also to instruct any fire.
men IN the use OF this apparatus, whenever
Inc FIRE Qtiices shall select any men as stu.
dents. and we trust thatthey viii no. be long
IN providing for the public the additional Sc,
surity which may be derived from having the
dresses of ChevaLiar Aidini deposited at diff
ierent p'aces; and saw men seatteed thro,
every part of tho town, instructed in the man
neE OF using them. We would even venture
TO recommend that the dresses shouldbe plac-
cd at the different stations ofthe New Pelice.
and that some OF the men, who ore always
about, shotild be satis6ed, by actual expe-
rment and practice, that they might safely
venture, II necessary, 10 rescue a fellow crea-
tsre from death, into the midst of fire. and
might handle blazing spars and burning cur
tains without injured.
Lady Canning, the widow ofthe late Min.
ister'h published pamphlet, with the a.
vowed purpose of explaining the part her
husband took IN the affairs of Portugal. From
this pamphlet we quote the following con.
cludis5 sentences:--'While Mr.. Cannine's
expiring energies wers exerting themsolyes.
as they hadlong been, in anxious toll for his
countrys welfare, and only few hours be-
fore the perfect brightness of his mental IA
culues was obscured by the acuteness of his
bodily sutferlngs, the last words which he ut
tered on political affairs were thcse:-"I have
iaboused hard for the last few years to Mace
the country in the high station which She
no" holds. Two years OF the Duke of Wei
hhStenS government will undo all that