Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-04-19
SPONTANEOUS CoMBUsTIoN-CUMBER AND
COAL.
FROM THE CUMBERLAND CIVILIAN.

We notice that the anthracite men of Pennsykana have
seized upon the narrative by Mrs Bates the Boston Jour
nal of the burning Of three ships laden with Cumberland
coal BY spontaneous combustion, and are conung up the
most alarming pictures Of the dangers that attend the of
that species of coal as fuel for steamers.
The Pottsve Journal in particular, has had M fears
outrageousy aroused this subject and declares most
phatcay that would not trust its editorial person board
steamer where the Cumberland coal is used for any
deraon whatever It has had its remnisences reviv
ed and goes back to the time when the steamship President
was lost voyage tie A,anc and this it attributes
to the spontaneous combustion Of Cumberland COAL
We will not undertake examination Of the merits Of
the theory advanced by the Journal account for the loss Of
the President One novel has already been written that
subject and think, from recollection of the plot that
its author is entitled much reputation for ingenuity in
weaving transparent web Of romance as the editor Of the
Pottsvlle Journal But in respect there is wide DIFF
ference between the two fabcatos of fiction The novel
to which allude written for the avowed purpose Of
pleasing the fancy, while Pennsylvania in
duges in his vein Of pleasantly solely for the object Of
hancng the reputation of anthracite coal. Whether he will
succeed his purpose depends upon the confidence posed
by the public in narations Of the marvellous II may be
that to enhance the importance of his revelations those pre-
siding geni of the spiritual world, the modern Knockers"
have previously been consulted but Of this be does
vouchsafe to an ntimaton in his remarkable narrative
If the spirits have been called in his assistance think
would settle the matter they inform Us as to the
ther habtatons to which they doubtless confined.
they should develop the fact that the heat Of their pena
res is derived from the spontaneous combustion Of Cum
berand coal we should readily yield the question: and take
such measures might possibly preserve from hereafter
undergoing similar infection.
But seriously, think much importance has been
awarded to the journalistic narrative Of Mrs Bates, the hero
inc Of the burning ships strikes that Defoe, the
unrvalled Of fictitious adventures would have hes
ta,ed group together many thrilling escapads from one
burning vessel to another each coming into action at its pro-
per tme and with regularity OF succession calculated 10 do
violence to the creduity of the most con6ding. Does
the whole story smack much Of invention obtain
dence among capable Of examining into effects and
ing them to their appropriate causes
few questions here sug sest themselves to u.s. How does
happen that have until now heard Of the ponta
combustion of Cumberland coal when it has been used
fuel for several years upon two oceans passing from
cline cline through every degree of latitude How does
it happen that now, for the first time, read account Of
such accidents California bound coal vessels when the San
Francisco papers Of the 18th of February tell that cargoes
Of Cumberland coal have arrived safely at that port and
offered, wholesale retail, by the dealers the shores Of
the Pacific!
But there are circumstances in the accounts Of the burn
ing of these vessels to which would call particular aen
ton. It that the ship Waldron from Baltimore
found to be FIRE on the 18th day Of November last but
is not stated to have resulted from the spontaneous combus
ton OF the coal So far from this the captain Of the Wal
dron expresses belief that his ship took fire from the burn
ngof accdentaof cotton which he had board
again. the captain of the Wadon, after leaving his vessel
accidentally fell in with the Nonantu also abandoned by her
crew, and reports that there coal bt board Of
her. Now, the Nonantum figures conspicuously in Mrs.
Baiess narrative Of the burning vessels Of those set on
fire by the spontaneous combustion Of Cumberland coal
We draw conclusion from these facts but that these
burnng II they really did occur occasionsd BY careless
in The Of fire the part Of the crew. BY Of
those numerous accidents ha, have been painfully frequent
on the boats Of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.
We would say, in conclusion, that the face over
whemns evidence to the contrary, DO think there has
been brought forward any testimony, worth moments
thought to establish the point that Cumberland coal will g-
mite by spontaneous combustion.