The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1888-02-03
MYSTERIOUS FIRES.
Some Peculiar, But ted,
Cases of spontaneous Combustion.

Some Peculiar, But Northumberland
Cases of Spontaneous Combustion.
In a factory in New jersey, where
oiled stock for planes was operated on
by boring, planning and mortising ma
chimes, causing shavings and fine par
ticles of wood, which were saturated
with linseed oil, to collect on the floors,
it was noticed that a great increase in
the temperature took place when the
sweepings-which had been moistened
by sprinkling-were collected in a pile.
On a subsequent occasion it was found
that a barrel of shavings and chips
from the boring and mortising ma
chimes were SO hot as to be almost
ready to ignite. Another barrel con-
tained shavings made in planning oiled
stocks. On these being moistened
with water they soon began to heat,
and the temperature continued to rise
until the next day, when it was found
that the shavings began to char. The
barrel was covered with a metal plate
until the next day, when, on being dis
turbed, the mass burst into flame.
In a mandatory Of plane-bits a
sponge had been used to transfer the
water by capillary attraction from a
water-bOx to an emery-wheel on which
the bits were ground. The sponge
wiped off the fine steel particles from
the wheel, and they were collected in
the sponge, and kept constantly wet.
The sponge was finally laid aside, and
after week or ten days it was dis
covered that the mass was spon-
taneously ignited, and if it had not
been for its timely discovery another
mysterious fire might have resulted.
Some years since a gentleman was
experimenting in coloring Southern
moss for decorative purposes. In one
of his experiments he used a very thin
paint, or varnish, but slightly colored
with a pigment. He dipped the moss
in the mixture and then squeezed out
as much as possible by hand. The re-
suit not proving satisfactory, he threw
tue moss in a box and placed it in a
closet. A few days later the odor OF
| something burning led to the discovery
that the moss was charred and almost
ready to ignite.
in the manufacture of a cement OF
putty composed of whiting and boiled
| linseed oil, which, after being ground
| in mill, was put in barrels. fire was
discovered under one of the barrels
standing on end. The floor was par
| TALLY burned through when the discov-
el'y was made. In grinding the oil the
mass became warm from the friction,
and small part of the oil had leaked
/ through the common barrels while in
/ this warm state. It was discovered in
time to prevent much damage.
A number of bales of Sea Island cot
| ton stored in a warehouse in New Jer.
| sew were found to be on fire. When
/ the fire was extinguished at one spot i
/ would start at another. The cotton had
been ginned on roller gin, which, in
cracking a portion Of the seed. had
/ caused the oil in the seed to become
mixed with the cotton, aud the result
! was spontaneous ignition.
An engineer placed bunch of waste
which had collected in cleaning up Z
mill-in front of boiler, in order thai
the fireman could use it the next morn
ing in starting up the fire. During thu
night it spontaneously ignited, set fire
to the kindlings which had been made
/ ready forthe morning. and raised steam
I sufficient 10 blow of and q arm th'
watchlHan.-C Chicago Neses.