Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-06-09
NE o, 1884, NEW SERIES VDAo s77NOo ga8e

Spontaneous Combustion.-A new balloon,
Just made by Mr.. Durant, the sronaut, was de.
stroyed by spontaneous combustion, at Jersey CT
~ after O'Clock on Saturday night last. TWAS
a large balloon, above 100 feet In circumference,
containing nearly 600 yards of silk. 1t was
dipped in varnish composed Of Iinseed oil,
spirits OF turpentine and gum elastic, on Satur-
day morning; and no appearance Of heat was OBJ
served about ii in the evening. twas folded I'D,
and laid upon four Windsor chairs exposing an
upper surface of about Is square feet, after ha-
wing been suspended IN the open air all day. It
IS proper to remark, however, that in conse.
quence of the high wind which prevailed on Sa.
turday, it had been necessary to bind the balloon
at short distances its whole length, to the size of
a cable; and the bands were not removed on depo-
sitting it at night. In the morning a slight ap-
pearance Of smoke was perceived by a servant,
who opened the door, aud found the whole mass of
silk bIackened, and carbonized, except part ofths
outside folds. About quarter part Of the seat
of one Of the chairs was perfect charcoal, and the
others were scorched. Where the pressure had
been greatest the heat appeared to have been
most intense. At the time OF the discovery.
however, the fire must have been for some time
entirely extinguished. We nave seen specimens
Of the carbunized substances; and we consider
place III 50 short time. 1t should put people on
their guard against such accidents. This was
not the balloon 10 which Mr.. Durant made his
ascent last year; but one of larger size, which he
was preparing for curious experiment IN the up.
per regions. Only one coat of varnisa had been
applied, and three more were to be added. He
intends to proceed Immediately to the cOnstruc.
ton of another balloOon, and hopes to puthis me-
hitatpd pxn rimpnt the test,
~ Z. Daily .Adu.
The Puzzle soired. The Standard claims
the merit of having invented machine for pick
ing the bones from shad, for which some PhiIa-
del phia gentleman offered reward the other day.
The following is the Standards description OF the
!. Evening Post.
This confounded paragraph has atfrcnted our
sight in every paper VIC have opened tins two
weeks past, and we have regularly turned from
il IN unmiiigateJ wrath. II occupies space use
lessly. ard can tend to no good, tor no man but
oursef can win the premium, and we like not to
accept moEies upon such TERMS having determin-
ed to owe fame aud fulness Of pockets solely to
our professional Iabors. But we can bear It no
longer; here Is the vile thing again, and we may
as we'll, by solving the problem, end it. Here
then is the machine required: wheel and crank,
CAY turned by your fuCt, has strap connected
with steel spindle (B) which passes through
your ears, to which is fastened in your mouth
coarse toothed brass comb (C); the shad is to be
thrown in, in moderate pieces, the spindle Is set
whirling, and the bones are separated by the
comb teeth, and thrown out over the lett shoulder,
while the prepared fish is put safely I" its natu-
raj use. Please remit the S5QDin U. ). Bank
bills; they are good enough for the present. and
upon receiving a premium you shall receive
i power Of attorney" to take out and use the pa
tent