Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1852-01-06
ANOTHER FIRE ANNIHILATOR.

i
GAS Fire Aunihilators are now call the &C"
it occurs to me that ought to give the public
tie advantage of hint-a rathe" broad one,
too-that received some years ago. had
occasion to make large quantity of a certain
tncture. fused three gallon glass jar, which
was nearly full of absolute alcohol, and very
intlammabe gum. The weather being cool, l
thought of warming the jar to hasten the pro-
cess, and for this purpose placed it in basin
Of hot water. This produced expansion of the
bottom of the jar too suddenly, and it broke,
letting the strong spirits flow over the floor.
The whole room was occupied OH every side
with bundles of papers and loose newspapers,
and other combustibles, were scattered in liter
ary confusion over the floor.
"'The room was back one, under bank,
with no access or egress except door enter
ing into a front room that opened into street
The spirits, in moment, spread to the fire.
place, and, of course, instantly were in flames
In less than minute all the combustibles were
on fire, and the room was full of the vapor
evolved from the spirits. | could not breathe
in the room, but had the presence Of mind to
remain silent ran to the door to get fresh
qnench them, all to no purpose. At last when
all the bundles Of papers, and other co'nbusti-
blcs, had caught fire, and was on the point of
giving the alarm, happened to notice box of
air-slacked lime, that had been for some time
il a corner ofthe room.
81 took handful aad scattered it on the
flames, and saw, to my great delight, that 1t
instantly qucnchcd the flames where it reached
them, then took shovel and scattered the
lime freely over the burning papers and spirits
OH the floor, and in less thana minute this fear
fully threatening conaagration was "annihila-
ted," and went into the street to get breath,
breathing. you may be sure, more freely than
when in the flames. Before resorting to the
lime, had tried, in vain, all sorts of smother
inc cxpedicnts, and while at work with the
limc, had to run to the door for breath several
times, as breathing ir the room was impossible.
Since that time have often thought Of this in
cident. | have inquired Of my scientific books
for reason for the qucnching Of the flames so
promptly by the Stacked lime, but can find
none.
81 suppose there was bushel of the lime,
soft and powdery us the finest hair powder,
and when 4 small shovelful was thrown into
the flames, broadcast, it was light and dusty.
The effect upon the flames was wonderful The
instant the powdery lime came in contact with
the flames, they were quenched. | am even
yet, at this distant day, incapable of depicting
my fright. The nature Of the contents OF the
room, the qnalty of strong spirits that covered
the floor, ali in hamcs, banking house above
me, all had in the world in the room on fire
the fright, YOU may indge WAS awful; the relief
most I;royidential AID hcartc!.ccring. That
hazardous bnt accidental experiment has given
me more conilence in hushel of air Stacked
lime than in all the "Phips' Annihilators" of
England and America put together.
Baltimore, Nd, 1851. G. B. S.
The Railray Times furnishes very inter
csting table on the subject Of Railroad progress
sion in the United States. From this article
we gather the following facts, that the whole
number of railways in the U:.ited States is
335 = measuring l0267 miles in length, and
constructed at cost Of S306,607,954 and
there are 10, ,0)2 miles in course Of construction
There are twenty-six States of the Union
which have railroads in operation-New- ork
has the largest number Of miles, and Delaware
the smallest There are eighteen States that
have more miles in operation than louisiana, and
of the renang seven that have less in actual
operation, each has more in course Of con-
structinn than Louisiana has in operation,
while Louisiana has not single mile, in pro-
cess of construction. The average number of
miles with the States that have roads IN ope-
ration, excepting Louisiana, is four hundred and
eight. Louisiana has eightynine miles in cpe.
ration, and as we hive observed before, not a
mile in cour.e of construction. We exceed
our ncighbor, Mississippi, one mile, but she has
thirty miles in process of construction. Ten
ueSScc has only thirty miles built, but she is
building six hundred and two miles. kentuc-
Ky has twelve miles less Of built road than Lou
isiana, bat she has five hundred and eighteen
more in course of construction. The seven
States that have ali average of two hundred
and four miles each in progress, so that in a
very short period each of them will number
more miles of railroad than Louisiana.
The accounts from Washington all represent
the hcalth'of Mr.. Clay to be in very pro-
carious condition. The correspondent of the
New York Tribune writes; "The final and
inevitable fate nf all men is fast encompass
ing Mr.. Clay InexorabIe Death moves apace
towards his distinguished victim, The lion is
at last driven to his lair, and hopelessly awaits