The New York herald., 1872-11-24

and the high burnt walls left standing in q
measure contribute to this desired result.
It follows, moreover, from this sound phi
losophy of confagrations that the floods Of
water vainly poured upon the doomed houses,
and also the water from the melted pipes which
Hoods the scene of actual ignition, assist the
development and augment the cyclonic whirl
Of the fire. These vast quantities Of water are
instantly licked up by the devouring flames
and converted into expansive vapor or steam,
and the physical effect is an expansion or dis
tention OF the funnel-like centre of the lire
cyclone. We know precisely what follows
from the now well understood phenomena OF
atmospheric cyclones. The moment barom-
etrlc fall occurs i'll the air or any depression
OF the atmospheric sea takes place, that mo
ment from all sides the air begins to press in
wards in radial lines upon the vortex. On
reaching this it rises in the coawant ascendant
In ascending the gaseous particles grow cooler
| and cooler, their interstices grow smaller and
smaller, their moisture is wrung from them
aloft, the evolution of the heat stored away
in the vesicles of aqueous vapor begins and
the tempest RACES in earnest This process
goes on as long as the storm centre or cylinder
is fed with the vapor of water, and ceases as
soon as that supply is cut of, almost as
quickly and necessarily as the wheel or screw
OF the Great Eastern ceases to revolve when
her engineer cuts off the supply from her
steam chests II is q well demonstrated fact
that the most furious and extensive marine
typhoons and hurricanes, when they run into
a dry and arid continental region, dwindle
down into the comparatively insignificant and
short-lived simoom, or sand storm, never
lasting over six hours and soon expiring for
want Of water. The philosophy of this holds
good for the tornado OF fire, such as that wit
messed at Chicago and Boston. The water
pipes in the doomed district should be in
stantly separated from the water mains and
emptied, if possible, so as to disappoint the
confagration of its force supply and its
appropriate cyclonic fuel Nor should
any water be thrown upon struc-
lures, except outside of the circle
within which the fire engineers have decided
that no successful stand can be made against
lington and other great masters of the art of
war to attempt to defend only what is clearly
defensible, and by the application of this
maxim, following the guidance of these scien-
tifc principles, and judicious retreat to a
line to which, when the conflagration reaches,
the overmastering energy and skill of the fire
men, all that can be done will be done.
AS surely as mature abhors vacuum" the
phenomena Of the cyclonic confagration are
produced wherever there is space and room
afforded and courant ascendant established
over an area of intense combustion This
new and latest phase of the fire storm question
must furnish food for reflection to all munic-
ipal and fire department authorities 1t is
undoubtedly evolved on true scientific prin-
ciples, from accurate data, for which the
country is indebted to the untiring researches
of the Signal Office
The Car-Hook Murdcr-Rcsponsibili
or the Railroad Company Affirmed.
The verdict rendered by the jury in Mrs.
Putnam's suit against the railroad company
will meet with general approval among the
community. It will have quite reassuring
effect on the public mind, and relieve juries
generally from the suspicion of enacting
rather solemn farce, as is the case in too
many instances in our city. There was get
ting abroad feeling that people with money
or political influence were practically placed
above the law, and it is gratifying to record an
instance of intelligence and independence on
the part of jury. There can be no reason
able question that both in law and natural
Justice the verdict is sound, and that in view
of failure Of car conductors to afford proper
protection to passengers the company ought
to be held liable for the negligence
of their servants According to their
own rules they have no right to allow drunken
and disorderly persons to travel over their
lines, and had the conductor removed Foster
from the cur when he first insulted the ladies
bility the tragedy would never have taken
place. This conviction will force itself on any
one who takes the trouble of studying the evi-
dence in the case, and we see no reason why
the company should not be held responsible
for the proper management of their line It
appears they are not satisfied with the decision,
and that they intend to appeal to the higher
courts. We do not think that they will gain
much by this course, as the grounds upon which
their responsibility has been placed ought not,
for reasons of public policy, to be disturbed.
If the verdict should be affirmed, as we hope
it shall be, the happiest results might be looked
for. Once the responsibility of the COM
panies for the acts of disorderly persons
was we'll established, we would see
total change in the management
of the city lines. Roughs and notorious
travelling dangerous, and we might even look
forward to serious attempt to suppress the