Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-04-11

SPONTANEOUS CoMBusTIoN. The Wor-
ccs,cr Manufacturers Mutual Fire Insurance
Company have issued circular, stating that
several WOODEN mills have been destroyed by
spontaneous combustion, arising from the
bad quality Of the oil employed in oing the
wool and cautions all manufacturers from
purchasing oil unless it is ascertaincd by
proper tests to be perfectly pure. The cir
cular, after stating that some wool in the
mill of s. s; ID. Barton, lately destroyed by
Il fire, had been oiled with oil of a bad quality
soys:-
| Finding The wool to which this oil was ap-
piled would not svin well on account Of
gumInlncss about It, which they belieycd il
received from the oil, they procured other oil,
which they think was of good quality, again
oiled The wool and passed it a second time
through the picker. This was done during
the week previous, and several days before
the fire. About ) o'clock, p. Nj. OF Sunday,
the l7th instant the super endcnt Of the
establishment went into the mill for the pur.
pose of winding up the.cIock, and perceiving
the smell OF wool burning, he passed through
the several rooms without discovering any
smoke or appearance of fire. lie then cx-
ahmed the pile Of wool which had been oiled
and picked as before mentioned, and finding
the top some what warm, he took up Iuan'-
Ity for purpose Of spreading II; Immediately
upon raising the wool which lie took hold OF
the fame burst out and spread with such ra.
Il pldity and violence, that it was only practical
Bile to save part Of the stock and few art-
ces Of machinery from the fire. II is the
opinion of the propriciors and of those en-
ployed in the mill, that the spontaneous
combustion was caused by the bad quality of
the oil which was first applied to the wool ;
and this opinion receives confirmation from
facts obtained elsewhere.
At two WOODEN mills in this town in which
oil obtained at the same place was used, wool
which had been oiled. and cloths from the
loom, when laid together, have become hot,
so much so, rs to require separation to pre-
ven combustion, and the waste collected and
carried out at night, has been found on fire
' the succeeding morning in several instan-
ces the time has been less than twelve hours.
At u machine shop in this town, an engine
was wiped with cloth, a part OF all old wool
bag, and the cloth was then thrown down
upon the floor of the shop; few hours after
this piece of cloth was discovered to be on
fire from spon,; ncous combustion oc ccasioned
by the oil taken from the Machine. This oil
was obtained at the same place, that the first
barrel before mentioned, purchased by the
Messrs. Barton, was procured.
H How extensive mayhave been the sale Of
this impure oil, is not known, bun there is
reason TO fear that it has not been confined
to one place or to this vicinity aud it s not
/ improbable that some Of the numerous fires
which have destroyed so many manufacturing
establishments within few months past, have
originated in similar cause. 1t will be- well
for manufacturers and others to purchase
no oil, tbut is not found 10 be pure by the test
established by law, as il is believed that the
use Of bad oil for lamps is Us unsafe as for
other purposes in burning a crust forms OF,
the wick. which frequently flies off, and en-
dangers the burning Of the building in whic.,
it is used.