The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-10-17
MAsous WATSON, Printer.
Misfsllanruns.
Spontaneous Combustion in the Town
-Is Of Bedford.

During the last few days public curiosit,
has been excited to a very unusual pitch by 4
series ofoccurrrnees that would DO by M
means out Of place in one Of Mrs. Radclifrl
romanccs, bu which will read strangely il
the matter-of-fact columns Of The Tines
The several theories Of spontaneous combus
ton have often been revived, and In the o
pinion Of most wise men, have been success
sively and repeatedly exploded. But just a
late years have witnessed a revival Of ghos
stories, spirit communications, and direc
dsmoniacal agency, II seems not littl,
likely that the old theories of spontarsou,
combustion are coming in for another asy
in their turn, live are to judge from TIN
extraordinary revelations which have been
not only rctailcd in gossip, but mos. gravely
and fully inquired into under the coroner 8
warrant, and before thirteen men honest and
true, and, we may add, picked men, Of this
highly educated borough. A sketch Of the
principal facts viii probably answer the
same end rs a reprt Of the depo,itions taken
before the coroner, for the result Of this last
course would probably be only the awaken
ing Of half incredulous wonder and wild
curiosity.
On Tuesday night, the 10Th inst, an a.
larm Of FIRE was raised, and, on proceeding
to the scene Of danger, q house sdjutting on
tho large storcyard belonging to Messrs.
Howard, the celebrated implement makers,
and tenanted by one oftheir servants, il up.
pcarcd that the family had taken the oppor-
tunity Of tho masters absence from home to
have good cleaning down, with an cspec-
ial view to theriddancc ola certain pest bet
ter known to Londoncrs than the happy
dwellers in the country. In furtherance Of
the latter part Of this truly housewifery de-
sign recourse was had to iumigation. A
vessel containing broken roll sulphur was
placedin what was deemed safe position
viz, in basinctte, when was removed from
its usual place and set in the middle Of the
room. The sulphur was duly ignited and
the room not Of course vacated by all except
the obnoxious vcrmin. In the space Of two
hours 1t was discovered that the sulphurous
fluid had escaped into the basinettc, had
burnt through the bottom, fred tho floor,
and eaten its way through the planks.-
Timely observation and alarm availed to ar
rest the progress OF the FIRE. All was deem
cd safe. But on Saturday evening the head
Of the family returned, and on retiring to
rest.,and having innoccntly thrown his
damp stockings on the carpet, what was his
astonishment at seeing themsignite! Some
thing like panic seized the household, but
at length their fears were pacifed and they
went to rest. On Sunday morning, while
the master was attending Divine service at
the Methodist chapel, FIRE was again discov-
cred in the house. Considerable consterna-
ton was occasioned to the assembly by the
calling out ofa fireman during service, and
also by the masters disappearance from his
psw. Those fres were suppressed but in
the course Of the day no less than thirty
fires broke out in different parts of the house
in the presence ofvisitors, most respectable
and intelligent men.
Every part Of the furniture in every room
of tho house appeared to be charged with
some MYSTERIOUS .eli.iruitinr cas-. Smoke
issued suddenly from cupboaris. largo and
small. from almos, every drawer, and even
from boxes of lincn and wooden materials
which had not been opened for some length
of time prior to the Tuesdays frc. Some Of
the statements made before the coroner are
so startling as to be nearly incrcdible.-
One gentleman laid his handkerchief down
upon the sofa when ir forthwith iguited.-
Another gentleman, while discussing the
marvels Of the day and washing his hands
discovered tha, the damp towels on the horse
in the bedroom were ON Gre. A lady, anx
ious to prevent further mischief, had shOrt
time previously examined a box containing
articles appertaining to feminine apparel
and pronouncinsi il safe had shut IL up, bu
on going to removed II felt that 1t was hot
and on re-openins IL discovered the contenh
in blaze; but IL Is impossible to enumcr
ate all the strange tAnsas'ss played by thi
subtle and mysterious hre. vi course 'us
picion was soon awaks' out 'n' eioss' IN
restsaacn ano'usa NO e0una on ~ms"
rest the sarmise OF '0a' pay Vn "VnuA
morning the pnenomcha' on'c"n" aoA'e
rc-appcared, and ~ was 'ouha 'na' VI
greater part Of tho property IN the hoas'