Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-09-06
From the London Times, august 81.
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION IN THE TOWN OF
REDEORn

During the last few days public curiosity has been
cited 10 very unusual pitch by q series OF occurrences
that would be by no means out Of place in OF Mrs.
Radces romances but which will strangely in the
matter of fact columns OF the Times The several theo.
ries Of spontaneous combustion have often been revived
and in the opinion of most wise have been success
sively and repeatedly exploded. But late wears
have witnessed revival OF ghost stories spirit commun.
cations and direct demoniacal agency il seems not t
tie likely that the old theories OF spontaneous combustion
coming in tor another day in their turn IL we are 10
judge from the extraordinary revelations which have been
not only retaed in the gossip but gravey and full
~ inquired into under coroners warrant and before Is
men honest and true, aud, may add, picked men, of
this highly educated borough.
On Tuesday night the 18th inst an alarm of FIRE was
raised aud proceeding to the OF danger house
abutng the large storeyard belonging Messrs How
ard implement makers aud tenanted by of their ser.
wants appeared that the family had taken the opportu
Of the masters absence home to have good
cleaning down, with especial view the radiance of
certain pest better known Loudoners than the happy
jewellers in the country In frtherance OF latter part
of this design had fumigation vessel
containing broken roll sulphur placed in what was
deemed safe poston-viz, In basinette, which was
removed from its usual place and in the middle of the
room. The sulphur duly ignted, and the room of
course vacated by all except the obnoxious vermn
In the space of hours discovered that the
suphuou fluid had escaped into the basnete had burnt
through the bottom, fired the hoor and eaten its way
through the plsnks. Timely observation and alarm avail
ed to arrest the progress Of the fire. All deemed safe
But Saturday evening the head Of the family retu ned
and on retiring to rest and having innocenty thrown his
damp stockings the carpet what his
seeing them ignite Something like panic seized the
household but at length their fears paced they
went 10 rest On Sunday morning, while the master was
attending divine service at tue Methods, chapel fire was
again discovered in the house Considerable
was occaoned to the assembly by the calling out of
fireman during service and also by the dsappea
from his pew These fires suppressed but in
the of the day less than fires broke in
different parts OF the house-in the presence of visitors
most respectable and intelligent men.
Every part Of the furniture every Of the house
appeared 10 be charged with some mysterious selgung
Smoke issued suddenly from cupboar,s larc. and
small IRON almost every drawer and from boxes of
linen and WOODEN materials which had not been ope for
some length OF time prior TO the Tuesdays ire Some of
the statements made before the Coroner are so STARTLING
as to be nearly incredible Que gentleman laid his hand.
kerchief down upon the Sofa when forthwith
Another gentleman, while discussing the maryes of the
day and washing his hands, discovered that the damn
towels on the horse ia the bed fire la
day. anxious TO prevent further mischief had short time
previously examined box containing articles appertan-
ing to feminine apparel and ponouncing SAFE had shut
tup, but on going TO remove it felt that hot and
on re-opening it discovered the contents in blaze but
Is impossible to enumerate all the strange fantasies
played by this subtle and mysterious fire. OF course aus
pcion was soon awake butth closest afford
ed no ground on which to the surmise Of foul play
On the Monday morning the phenomena, some what
abated reappeared and il found that the greater
part of the property in the house was chared or burned
TO Under. Two medical conference.-the Barker and M
Blower-visited the Of the fiery mystery and at
noon made application to the sitting magistrates lin
the absence OF the mayor for sanction their proposal
OF submitting the matter to the coroner. The coroner
lost no time in summonng jury which consisted Of the
most respectable tradesnen OF the town. and which pro.
ceeded TO business at the George Inn The Inquest com
menced at $50 p. ~ Monday afternoon and AT
O'Clock was adjourned to Tuesday morning at To- %,
Tuesday IL was resumed and concluded by r. NJ
In the course OF this prolonged inquiry the whole Of the
incidents (some OF which VIC have mentioned above by
way of specimens deposed to- and every effort
made TO account for the singular occurrences one time
there some slight hope Of establishing conner ion be-
tween the fire Of Tuesday night and the numerous out.
breaks Of the following Sunday, but this idea was aba.
doned perforceso far, at least any Ordinary conner-
ton between the two sets VI was concerned The
medical testimony Of the two gentlemen named above
was 10y far tile most important Inasmuch as il most dis
tincty demosh all precoBceiyed explanations and also
because u indicated able aud important class
OF truths in practical chemistry. Without venturng 10
give formal solution OF the phenomena these gentlemen
were OF opinion that the supburous fumes 10 connection
with the gas of the chaed wood had charged the entire
house with nHammable gas which in cases of friction in
others by electricity had been from time to time ignited
No suspicion OF any person survived the first few hours
OF the inquiry although the jury felt that there was not
ground Tor distinct opinion the matter The tepo-
tons will doubtless be submitted some eminent uanp.
uators in chemical science and il hoped that they
will be able 70 give precise solution 10 the mystery
which has hled many wise head with misg wings "a 10
the spiritual geography Of the what lonely house
The verdict Of the jury was according 70 the evidence
40 Tar as the FIRST fire Tuesday, concerned "Accen.
ta and with regard 10 the other fires the verdict was
AZ open one.