New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-18
MYSTERIOUS FIRES.

Now that 80 much damage is done by great
confagrations, will it not be wise for the gen
eral public to bcstOw some attention upon the
causes of fires and the precautions by which
they may be avoided. 1t has been common in
past years to say, when no one actually knew
the origin, "Oh, an inccndiary, of course"
But arson is not as common rs negligent house
holders, store-porters and factory hands would
have people believe. There many natural
though occult causes against which the com
mon people should be on guard. There is much
accidental arson. A narrative not long ago
given 10y The Springfield QIl.) Register is to the
effect that one night, rs Mr.. Frank Harbauer
was seated upon the back stoop of his residence,
he bcheld ball of fire. which "resembled an
electric light and descended with the rush
ing sound of n skyrocket," fall from the sky
to the ground. No explosion was heard when
it struck nor did it leave any discoycrabc
Stag or mctcOric stone. But il set the dry grass
aGre, and il Mr. llarbauer had not been at hand
to rouse the neighbOrs for eXtingushing the
incipient blaze, cOnlagTatiOn would have re-
suited, and it would of course have been quite
inexplicablc. AS the only proof proifered OF
this story is that burned spot in the grass was
shown to the reporter next day, we feel ut lib
erty 20 doubt whether the country is exposed to
any widespread peril Of fires set by natural
lucifcr n atchcs rushing madly and at random
through the atmosphere. But it is undenablc
that the progress in practical science, the
novelties in heating, lighting and chemical APP
paratus, and the increasing magnitude and
haste of manufacturing operations, do give rise
TO new causes of fire faster than people ART
learning to be wary of them.
The electric light is developing as a cause of
fires Sparks may fall from an arc light, and
if they strike combustIblc matter-rags, cotton
wool or the Ike-thcrc is a bazo, and the build
ing is burned such, according to some ex-
plantations given of the terrible burning Of the
Ring Theatre, Vienna and the fatal disaster mt
Landcnbcrgers Mill in Pennsylvania, was the
origin of those calamitios. If u slender wire
or bit of metal forms by accident a connection
short circuit . electricians call it--bctwecn two
Of the wires which feed IN electric light, 1t Is
liable, under certain circumstances, To be
heated red hot, and may thon set fre to con-
tiguous woodwork. Perfect insulation of the
wires will prevent this, but care enough is not
always taken tn maintain the coating in perfect
condition. The Gcmania Theatre is said to
have narrowly escaped fire from this cause
recently. The question ia now under official
discussion what regulations for using the light
shall be prescribed to prevent these accidents;
and it bchooycs proprictors who are introducing
IL 10 give employees and wogkmen proper in
structions.
Spontaneous combustion is vague cx-
plauation or excuse for results of Ignorance or
carclcssncss Of workmcn employed in manuiac-
turcs involving novel chemical combinations or
apparatus Men. nay girls and apprentice boys,
are set without warning to mix things which
cannot bc mingled without peril, and are al
lowed without reproOf to leave articles hcaTcd
together which may under accidental friction
or slight rise of temperature lindlc each other !;
and when q fire enSucs it Is charged 10 sponta-
ncous combustion. Mi,managcment Of new
tangled lamps and heaters. intrustcd to persons
only half taught how to use them, Is fertile
causc Upon one version of the Vienna ca
lamity a wOrbmans negligent use OF an alcohol
lamp brought it about.
What shall we say of person so reckless as to
pacl, dangerous combustibcs in II travellers
baggage or to send them by mail Post-ollcc
clerks in Hartford lately detected parcel on
its way to an insurance president, in which was
n block of white pine wood, sawed and cross
sawed, making numerous crcviceS which were
filled with resin, and bearing u friction match
so mounted that any accidental rubbing would
ignite il. OF course malicious attempt to
burn the mail was suspected; but letter soon
after arriving for the insurance president dis
closed that the sender forwarded the device MS
sample of a means used in his part of the
country to start a fire without leaving a clew to
it's origin Had the mail bag and contents been
burned, here would have been most mystic
rious fire; and there is no knowing what
damage and loss of life might not be caused by
fire thus started in n mail car and famed to
Gcrceness by the rush of the train.
DET 10 JOTyS INS1NTTY