Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-16

accessible to rats or mice, stating that these
yermn convey them to their holes, and eat the
wax until they reach the PHOSPHORUS, which is
ignited by the friction of their teeth.
The same authority suggests that fires are much
more frequently caused by heating buildings with
hot water, hot air, and steam-pipes, than is com
monty imagined. Mr.. Braidwood, the superin-
tendent Of the London Fire Brigade in his evil
dence before Committee Of the House of Lords,
expressed the opinion, founded on wide and care
fal observation that BY long exposure to heat not
much exceeding that Of boiling water-2l2 deg,
timber is rendered liable to spontaneous combus-
ton, which he thinks would ensue in eight OF ten
years. 1t is a common thing for some parts of the
surface Of partition walls to become so heated
that one can hardly bear the hand upon it, and
IT seems probable, where that is the case, that
the laths or woodwork nearer to the source of
heat, may be subjected to the temperature nd-
Gated as dangerous. In large city there Is
more or loss insecurity from fire, whatever degree
OF caution one may adopt; and we become gradu-
ally reconciled to riskiDg the chances of losing
property through the carelessness Of those whose
action we cannot control, in the reasonable ex-
pectation that if the block in which we live is
ignited outside Of our own house, we shall at
least have sufficient warning to escape personal
injury. There are no doubt hundreds of families
living in the security resulting from the heating
pipes Of their houses not being sufficiently so
lated for safety II is true that this is not the
precautions may be taken with some convenience
to avert the danger; and it is the when
more building is in progress than in any other
and when, therefore, those engaged in it may be
addressed with the expectation that matter SO
deeply involving their own interests and tho
safety of their tenants, will meet with the atten-
ton It merits
1t is suggested that ingenuity has field for its
exercise still left in devising some more effective
plan than the mixed structure of iron and brick
or stone for rendering those buildings fire. proof
which used in storing large quantity of
combustible material IF their inhammable con
tents become once thoroughly ignited, it is sell
dom that the buildings themselves can be saved
from destruction. tIron columns in such in
stances melt before the white heat like sticks of
sealing wax stone flies into thousand pieces
with the celebrity of Prince Rupert s drop slate
becomes transformed into pumice light enough
to float upon the water; the iron girders and
beams, by reason of their lateral expansion,
thrust out the walls; and the very elements which
seem calculated under ordinary circumstances to
give an almost exhaustless durability to the
structure, produce its most rapid destruction"
The danger is diminished by dividing the ware
house into compartments separated by substan-
tai brick walls, SO as to confne the fire within
manageable limits. In private dwellings, and
offices not used for storage, there is little danger
from the fusibility expansion of iron; for ordi-
narlly the combustion of their contents would not
trophe. On the other hand, the use Of iron and
stone or brick in the outside structure generally
affords reliable protection against extraneous
danger.
For the interior structure of dwellings, the
plan in vogue in Paris, of making the party walls
to rooms, and the floors solid, is found efficacious
to prevent the spread of fire. Few wide confla-
grations occur in the French capital, notwith-
standing the immense height of its houses and
the lnsignihcance of its fire department This
is attributed to the care with which the parti-
lions and floors filled in with rubble and
plaster Of Paris To support this packing, of
course something else is requisite than himsy
aths, and thick oak boards are nailed firmly on
the framing, and then covered with thick coat
ing of plaster of Paris A room thus finished,
devoted to domestic uses, is essentially fire-proof
The under side of the stairs is protected in the
same way, which is of the greatest importance,
as being the part of the house most mperled
by fire, which always seeks an unobstructed as
cent, and also the part from which danger of de-
structon should be most carefully averted, that
it may afford avenue of retreat for the in
mates
The Superintendent of the London Fire Bri-
gade has devised the following very judicious
Directions for Aiding Persons TO Escape from
Premises on fire.
/. Be careful to acquaipt yourself with the
best means of exit from the house both at the
top and bottom.
2. On the first alarm reflect before you act If
IN bed at the time, wrap yourself in a blanket or
bedside carpet; open more doors or windows
than are absolutely necessary, and shut every
door after you.
3. There is always from eight to twelve inches
of pure air close to the ground; if you cannot
therefore walk upright through the smoke, drop
on your hands and knees, and thus progress A
wetted silk handkerchief piece of flannel, or
worsted stocking, drawn over the face, permits
breathing, and, to great extent, excludes the
smoke.
4. If you can neither make your way upwards
or downwards, get into front room; il there is a
family, see that they collected here and keep
the door closed as much as possible, for remember
that smoke always follows draught, and fire
always rushes after smoke.
5. On no account throw yourself, or allow
others to throw themselves, from the window.
If no assistance is at hand, and you are in ex-
tremity, tie the sheets together, and having fas-
tened one end to some heavy piece of furniture,
let down the women and children one by one, by
tying the end of the line Of sheets around the
waist and lowering them through the window
that is over the door, rather than through one
that is over the area. You easily let your
self down after the helpless are saved
6. If woman's clothes should catch fire. let
her instantly roll herself over and over on tho
ground if man be present, let him throw her
down and do the like, and then wrap her in a
rug, coat, or the first iceoicn thing that Is at
hand.-N. Y. Jour. Of Com.
''IoN," the Washington correspondent of the
Baltimore Sun, thus speaks Of the Court Of
Claims, its business, appointments under it, &C.:
The Court of Claims will meet at the Capitol
for the purpose of organization on the 10Th of
July. Only one of the judges is now here They
have found from their preliminary survey Of their
duties, that they are harnessed to a heavy train,
which they have to drag up hill. The labor and
difficulty which they to encounter might well
appall the most industrious bench. Their first
business on the 10Th will be to appoint commits
soners in the several States and cities for taking
testimony, &c.
These new Offices will be highly important and
very lucrative, and are already much sought after
They will be well paid corps--as well paid ne
any officers Of the government, though they will
depend upon fees for their pay. The claimants
must satisfy them, before they can get their pa
pers or prosecute their suit. The commissioners
are allowed five dollars day, which means FIVE
dollars for such attention as they may, on any one
day, give TO any particular case; and a commits
sioncr may have hundred cases before him. A
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