Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-02-26
FIRE LIGHTING ANIMALS.
The Origin or Some Remark
able CONGREGATIONS.
Rats Gnawing Matches a Prolific Cause
Of Fire the World Over.

Mrs. 0'Lsary's cows heels passed
into history as the cause Of the great
Chicago FIRE. thereby attaining a9ame
second only to that Of the wretch who
fired the Ephesian dome, or Nero, who
burned Rome so that he could fiddle by
a warm fire. The innocent destruc-
ton occasioned by animals seeking
food or coming in contact with inHam-
mable substances carelessly left in
their way is much more frequent than
would be expected. In 1856 the fire
in the sultan's palace at Scutari, Asia
Minor, was caused by some rats gnaw-
ing phosphorus which they discovered
under floor. Matches are frequently
dipped in paraffin wax, of which rats
and mice are very fond, and frequent
~ they carry matches to their holes
for the purpose of gnawing off the
wax, and a conflagration ensues. Lieut..
Gilmore, Of the navy, records an in
stance where the ship Revenge was
fired by rats gnawing at matches, and
one of the presents sent to the muse
nm Of the United Service Institution
was a rats nest and young. The nest
was set on fire by a lucifer match, ig-
nited by the old rat as she worked it
into her nest.
Cats and dogs have inadvertently
and Internationally set houses and
buildings on fire in many ways, such
as upsetting explosive and infiamma-
things into fires and lights; also, by
lying inside of open CRATES, inside of
tenders and under fire-places. Hot
Goals have fallen and adhered to their
backs, and in their haste to retreat,
and smarting under the pain, they have
rolled into shayings or rags, sawdust'
or straw, and ignited flames that have
been difficult to subdue. In 1868 three
distinct fires were caused in one room
Of q gentleman's house in Canonbury,
Islington, through a cat lying inside the
Fender, when some hot ashes fell out
from the fire on its back, causing it to
rush around the room furiously, and
scattering live Goals on the carpet
Many fires have been caused through
people fumtgating apartments to get
rid of bugs and vermin. Playful mon
keys, no doubt initiating naughty boys
who play with fires when their parents
are away, have grabbed firebrands, and,
waving them about as If carrying
torch, brought them in concact with
curtains and beds, and lent their aid
70 the devouring element.
Perhaps the most remarkable in
stance Of causal fires originating from
trivial and almost unaccountable causes
was that of Mr.. Philbrolxe's residence
at Worcester. The fire was caused by
The concentration of the suns rays
upon water globe containing goldfish
That stood upon table. Colored bot
lies in druggists stores have been
known to focus sufficient heat to set
Gre to buildings. Birds nests under
caves and in wooden crevices Of houses
have been frequently fred BY sparks
from neighboring chimneys. and have
contained intammable material enough
70 spread the cOnnagration to large
buildings.
Rats have been driven by thirst to
gnaw gas-pipes. installing them for
water-pipes. The escape Of the infIam-
mable material has been noticed, and
careless workmen searching for the
leak have lighted lamps. and. CROPPING
lnr about. have been blown to destruc-
ton. Cincinnati Enquirer.