The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-02-25

OTAt all times people cannot be toe
careful about their fires, particularly during
this and the coming month, when we gen,
orally have W indy times. The following
valuable hints on the subject should be read
by every one:
Hints About Avoiding Fires.
Very many large fires, as well as many
severe burns, may be avoided by under
standing that air is necessary to produce
combustion, and that the exclusion of air Is
as ellcctual as an application of water
Indeed in eXtnguishing fire, water chiefly
acts by shutting out air. and any other means
shutting out the air is Just as eitectual. We
have shown this frequently IN lecturing on
heat by pouring upon the table quantity OF
spirits Of turpcntine, alcohol, or either, and
when set on fire so as to produce a large
fame, VIC have instantly extinguished it, by
quickly spreading over it a silk handkerchief
or piece Of paper, which, for the instant,
shuts out the air.
A week or two since young lady in Dam
bury, Conn, upset a camphcne lamp, the
contents Of which spread over her dress and
enveloped her in flames, but she seized a
blanket from bed, and Immediately wrapped
1t closely around her, and thus smothcrcd the
| lire, shut ont the air, and escaped without
INJURY. Five years since, we were transfer
ring from one vessel to another, two gallons
of mixed sulphuric ether and chloroform -
both very intlammable substances. which
burn with great flame-when a person in
the room carclessly brought lighted lamp
near, and set the whole on fire. We instantly
snached IA table-sprcad from table near by,
and with this entirely covered the flame and
eXlinguishcd it, We sacrificed the dishes
and food upon the ia bic, but saved the house,
perhaps the block OF buildings, and perhaps
our lives, as moments delay would have
developed the whole room in flames
Two years since. a servant girl contrary 70
oft.repeated and positive directions, undertook
TO ill fluid lamp while burning, and, as
was certain to be the case, the can of LIQUID
took fire, mot " GXplodng,'') and was drop.
ped upon the floor, setting her under garments
OH lire. She ran for the door, but another
domestic happened to catch hold of her outer
clothes III such way as to draw them
closely around her, and thus unwittingly
Smothercd the flames, while member of the
family extinguished the burning lamp.can
and fluid upon the floor, by spreading an
ironing cloth over them.
Some dozen years since, one Of the boys OIL
our farm was at work in the horse and car
rage barn, before light, one winter morning
When called TO breakfast, he left the Lantern,
where it was knocked down by one Of the
horses and large mass of straw for bedding
was set on fire. When discovered, the whole
mass = four or five feet in diameter-was ir. a
flame, that nearly reached to hay banging
;,,;,
tons. In this case, a horse blanket was at
once thrown upon the centre of the fame. and
others quickly added, and the fire extin.urshcd
without damage, although large volumes OF
smoke poured forth from the door and o.hcr
openings and almost prevented any one from
entering.
We lave known many instances of rooms
beng found on fire, where, by closing them
up, the lire has been confined and kept in Il
smothcrcd state, until sufficient help, with
abundance of water could he procured to at
once cXtineuish the flames. In great num-
Der or instances, extensive conflagrations
could have been avoided had the fire been
kept where it originated, till efficient aid had
arrived. This could have been done by simply
closing up the doors and windows, instead OF
throwing them all W ide open as is usually the
| case.
We have thus given a few instances, and
we might add many others, where serious
injury has been averted by applying a simple
preventive, that of shutting out the free access
of air which is necessary to feed the flame
Let every person fix it in their minds, and in
the minds of every member of their families
old and young that other means than water
may be used TO smother fire. Do not teach
this by precept only, for in the excitement
Oft fire, mere precepts will be forgotten
but let few experiments be made before the
family, to illustrate the principle.
For example, pour upon The hearth OR
better, upon flat stone or board out of doors
"a quantity of alcohol, turpcntine. burning
fluid, oil, ether, or other infammable sub.
stance, set it on fire, aud then axtinguish il
by spreading cloth quickly overit. Religh,
it and extinguSh it with a newspaper, ant
repeat the experiment with handkerchief
an apron, dress, cloak, a table-coth, bed.
quilt &c. 1t would DO well to make the
experiment with burning shaving, &C. TIL,
experiment may be varied by smearing nj
upright block, barrel, or post with oil
alcohol, or otherwise, and when on fire
eXtinguish it with cloth Or old garment.
Some simple experiments like these are
always interesting; they develope thought
and prepare one for acting coolly and eiIectu
ally in an emergency. They are like drilling
and man@uvering soldiers previous to a bat
te.-Amer. Agricultrist.