Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-08-24
GS We ask the readers attention to the Speech
os OF Nlessrs Holmes and Sprague, at Portland.

Spontaneous CombustiOn.-A case of Srontane-
Gus Combustion occurred this morning, that aroused
our citizens from their beds hour earlier than
usual and threatened for minute vast destruc-
ton ct valuable property. The closet in which
tho paint and oil kept at Mr.. Boshers large
Carriage Factory, on the Main Street, having been
81 smeared with the lintsecd oil of the paints, sudden
|. ly gnited and burst out at early dawn this morn.
q eg, In a fierce blaze, as if match had been put
ses q a magazine of gunpowder, or lightning had
struck it. The bell, (within hundred yards
of the shop,) sounded the alarm on the instant
but the citizens who arrived first at the scene of
action, saw only the cloud of smoke passing slow
ly off in the calm of the morning. and being led by
the strong scent of burnt oil! to where the fire had
been, on entering the shop, and mounting to the
room 1t had been i'm the crsped closet and scorched
roof were the only traces of its eystence that pre-
NJ scented themselves with two or three of Mr. Bo.
sher's workmen, who had put the fire out, gazing
In astonlshmcnt at each other, that such threat
ening fire should have been SO easily subdued.
MIR. Bosher had fortunately had the City Water
introduced into his Shop. The pipe was in the porch
OF the third story, at the door of the panng-room
where the fire broke out--and some barrels were
standing there filled with water. On the instant of
the fire breaking out, the workmen who were first
aroused, applied this water rapidly, that tho fire
was subdued at once.
Fortunate Richmond let each for himself as
cr,oe tho cause to what bis Judgment in
clnution or prejudice may suggest, but the fact is
that Richmond has suffered less by fire or pestilence
than any other city on the American seaboard The
Fire Insurance Companies have grown rich by her
good fortune, and our energetic Firemen, like
riors In peace, have had little to do that their
prompt and efficient exertions at the Manchester
FRO, and the great fire at the Dock year ago,
Ohe only two that have occurred Iatey,) excited
the admiration OF the citizens that they thus
prompt and efficient under such circumstances.
10 the general use of coal, we think is to be
ascribed our exemption from fires, and to that also
in great measure, our exemption ffom pestentiaI
diseases.
Since writing the above, have heard that
there was box of lampblack which had been
burnt two days before, placed OF the top of the
Paintclosct and that it is thought that the fire orr
mated from it. We nevertheless think the fire ORR
gnated from spontaneous combustion, as was the
first opinion of all who saw it. And the fact being
notorious, having been established by hume
rous well authenticated cases, that ntseed oil APP
piled to combustibo matter, will ignite, great eau
ton should be used to guard against its consequent
ces.--Friction of the machinery produced the fire.
as is universally believed, that destroyed the old
Gailego and Haxal Mills. We have no doubt of
at, and as little that Spontaneous Combustion, pro-
duced by the lintseed oil coming in contact with
some combustible matter was the origin OF the fire
at Mr.. Bosher's Coach Shop--and it should be
warning to all to guard against fires originating in
those ways