New-York tribune., 1877-03-10
SEEKING THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.

STEAM PIPES, IL CONTACT WITH WoODwOEK, CEN
FgALlY BELIEVED To HAVE BEEN IHE CAUSE.
Fire Marshal Sheldon is actively engaged in
INVESTIGATING Inc circumstances Of the Bondsr fire with
the purpose Of asccraining il possible the part OF the
building and the manner I'm which the flames started.
lie informed reporter Of THE TRIBUNE yesterday that
he would probably begin to take formal testimony in the
case to-day and would continue the investigation from
time to time as occasion oercd. The more inquiries he
made the more pcrpc cXcd, he ad, lie had been and II
would surprise him much if the real origin OF the iIc
,HcyCr discovered. Various theories had been a!-
vanccd ay persons with whom he had taxed, such as
heat from the furnaces communicating with adjoining
woodwork; caIccssness Of employees in allow
ing Gas lets to remain lighted in close
proximity to their desks; spontaneous com0u5-
tlon from waste cotton and other materials
which were allowed TO lie in heaps in the sulrccliars;
ana the ing OF wood from steam pipes used in heat
ing the building the last theory seemed TO be the most
plausible; although many fire underwriters and archi-
tect secuted the idea Of pipes sniting wood with
which they were allowed remain in contact. Expert
ence had satisfied him that soft wood when exposed in
that manner after a time w0ud lose lis consistency ard
become dry and pupy and so highly nDammablc that
slight friction added to the heat Of the pipes would set ii
ire lie showed the reporter piece OF board which
had been taken from the Revere House after the fire
there about three years ago. 1t had not been touched
by the flames but had been taken from contact with the
steam pipes after having been subjected to their heat for
seyera years The surface OF the board was so soft as
yield beneath the pressure Of the finger and was COW
cred with fine feahery pulp which could be easily
igutcd ON the occasion of the lire referred 10, gentle
and his wife sitting IN their room when alncs
suddenly burst from the floor over the steam pipes
From conversation with members OF the INNS which
lately occupied the Waltham Building, 10 was learned
that they believe the fire To have originated from the
steam pipes. Mr.. GDrham OF the GOram Manufacturing
Company said 10 the reporter that he had witnessed
demonstration of the effect OF steam pipes IN contact
with weed iu one of his own buildings. \ steam pipe
had been run through n hole IN IA large beam which
formed part OF the ceiling, and after remaining In this
with which 1t was in contact At length fire was dis
covered be coming out OF the hole IN the beam M
time when the pipe contained steam at hlsg
pressure and under circumstances winch proved
that the wood could not have been isnited by any
spark the outside. In his opinion wood when kept
IN contact with steam pipes, underwent a chemical
change which rendered il capable OF igiting from the
heat of the steam pipe alone Mr. GOrham also stated
that when the steam pipes were Introduced into the
Watham Building they were left in contact with the
woodwork, and chat some attempts had been made 10
protect the woodwork in portions of the building
where the heat from the pipes most intense From
another gentleman the reporter learned that the oor In
portion of the building had been so much heated 5y
the pipes underneath 10 make II uncomfortable
the persons who obliged To stand on IT, ana that
the hOOrng torn up III order to have tue nuisance
abatCd.