Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-08-14
FIRES.


There is great excitement all {
through this region about fires. Inc
frequent burning of farm buildings
and unoccupied buildings, and the late
fires in many of the villages has erea-
,od IN unusual alarm. Many believe
that most of the fires are set by tramps'
and that they are set for the purpose OIL
drawing to the location Of the fire every
body in the vicinity, so that houses may
be plundered during the absence OF the
owners. We think there Is an undue
alarm in this regard, and that far less hres
are set by tramps than is generally sup
posed. There are some incendiary hres
that are doubtless set by persons living |
IN our midst, and occasionally one set by |
wandering tramps, but most hres or
iginate from other causes. During the
extrem heat Of such hot summer as this
MANY fires result from spontaneous
combustion. Experience proves that oil
with cotton or wool goods, or hard wood
sawdust will cheat" so as to ignite
This fact accounts for many fires IN
shops and mills where oil Is used and
allowed to saturate the materials men,
toned above. Many barns are doubt
less burned by combustion Of wet hay
grain or other fodder. Wet hay trOdden
into bays heats very hot and not ntre-
ouentlv sets itself on fire. Beside the
fires resulting from matches, sparks on
the roof, defective fues and chimneys'
there is always and everywhere great
danger from tobacco smokers. 1t Is
generally claimed that tobacco hire Is
harmless. but observation, and common
sense teach that fire is fire, and 1t Is lot
safe to put it into powder casks or TIM
der boxes at any time. Smokers carry
matches and burn from six to sixty every
day, they throw the dead or dying match
somewhere, when the cigar or pipe Is
lighted. In a shop adjoining this office
twice, within the last two years. frt
has been we'll started by the carelessnes'
of smoker, and we have known saw
dust, bark, rotten wood, clothing anC
other combustable materials tobe set Of
fire b. the droppings Of a pipe. smok
ers are almost invariably careless ; the
drop matches, drop fire from cigar;
grow drowsy over their pipes and let theI
turn bottom side up they put them int
pockets with fire in them and leave theI
where they can set other things o
fire they carry them up and down ii
roads, all over. houses, barns, shops an
factories, scattering FIRE that may burn
home or start a conAagation. There is /
remedy for this evil and it may pcrhal
be as we'll 10 say no more about it.
Ashes are fruitful source of DANCE
and they are responsible for many Of &
fires that happen mysteriOusly. Amor
all the necessary and unnecessary da
gers, the greatest caution ought to
exercised by all persons; and cauti
ought to extend. not only toward
prevention of fires, but toward maxi
provision for putting them out VIII
once started.
Fire extinguishers = those sna
cheap machines filed with carbonic a
gass and water. now used in many pla
are very valuable and will put out sm
fires easily; but few persons have tn
and the old water remedy must be rel
on. Water Is cheap; and If it flows
small stream. suitable reservoirs
be made TO store it up for use in til
Of emergency. A barrel Of water
the roof Of factory or beside DIV
ing will contain water sufficient TO
out the fire that let alone will burn
town. A pail of water at hand
stop a cOnaagratiOn. A cheap
scription then is to have water res
handy. where it can be used Lad
are necessary. ST. Johnsbury Ce
was destroyed for the want Of la,
that could have been made for I
dollars; many houses get on FIRE
the chimney from sparks, ladder
water is the remedy.
Il requires not only water, but
judgement on the part Of those pre-
10 extiDguish fires. There would
to be no particular need Of insanit
the part of those who are witnessir
fire or suffering from its consequer
but many men get crazy and waste
labor and effort in the very mo
when little candOr and judge
would be worth everything. The
way is 10 get water on the FIRE i
quickest time possible, and keep POI
Il on until extinguished. if it is c
guishable. When there is sure
hope Of saving the burniDgIbuildinI
next thing is 10 save the most
0bRe property within it. 1t is the 50