The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-15
SELF REIMBURSEMENT OF FIResl
autor,asic sprinkler5-A Iinsmi'hs Tx
,,cr,cncs-Ssvcr..l Curious Instances


.r,cnce-S,vcr..l Curious Instances.
The apparatus which is most promptly
used i, eases If burning buildings anu
al.o with the least efficacy. is the human
vo;cc notwithstanding the historical TACT
,,ot blowing has accomplished nothing
s;,ce the DAYS of Jericho Yet there are
numerous instances where fires have been
extinauishcI through causes connec'ed
with their origin. and so completely out
side Of precedence that they serve as IN
stances Of the happening OF the unex
nected. In this connection we DO not
refer 10 the fires extinguished by auto
n,ot,c spy.nklers. where the result Is
clearly what las been expected to happen.
Notwithstanding the fact that when q
fire occurs on property protected by auto
matte sprinklers. those presen; avail thenl-
selves 81 all the means If grace IN the
S,auo of the usual fire apparatus a. hand,
vet there are numerous instances where
fires have occurred at night ~ IN rooms
vacant nj the time. where the fact has
icon made known only by water per-
colatinc through the floors or the sound
Ui tic dutDlldti' il' siii W. ~ ''r'' 49,
snrinklcrs which have already come into
active oneration. the fire having called
down means for self extinguishment.
But the instances which we have IN
mind are those where the means OF eX-
,incuishment were not expected, rs IN
the well known cathedral building N
Boston. where a fire, caused by sponta-
ncons ignition in a storeroom, melted me
lead water pipes, and the water issuing
F. from them distinguished the fire. y SIM
liar instance happened III building IN
Market street. Philadelphia. Some sheet
metal pals were returned 10y the pur-
chaser 10 tinsmth IN Chester, Pa, with
/ .he complaint that they were not tightly
u,ade. The manufacturer resoidered
them. and in order TO test ms work illled
Them with water and hung them upon
hooks at the ceiling. While the men
were at dinner during the noon hour, a
fire heated the upper part of the room
80 that the balls connecting the handles
10 the pals became unsoldered, and the
dropping Of the pals Of water dashed out
tho fire.
Some waste left upon the top Of a
steam pump at Watertown, Mass
blazed from spontaneous Ignition and
this in turn set fire to the tagging around
the steam cylinders and the feed plpe'
where it melted the soldered attach
ments of a continuous automatic oller.
Tho steam from the feed pipe was DIS
charged through the small tubes formerly
leading 10 the oiler, and extinguished the
fire. There have been numerous IN
stances Of fires which have ceased fOi
want Of air. During the war OF the re
hellion attempts were made 70 burn New
York CITY. as the result Of conspiracy
fires bein. started in several hotels, bu
in order to prevent premature detectioi
the culplits closed up tine rooms so tghtil
that the fires were snNhered. AZ
hotel in Woonsocket the steam pipe
caused q fire in the spaces in the walls o.
, the building. which was extingulshed 10
want of air 10 support combustion. In
/ time of the fire is unknown. as It's occur
5 renee was not discovered until some TIM
afterward, when in the progress OF som
alteration TO the building the facts wer
made apparent.
IL may be interesting to know tina
in this instance the steam heating seryic
was ordinarily used at a pressure OF aoou
four pounds 70 the square inch during IN
/. coolest weather. and that the safety Valy
/, was SO arranged that tho pressure coul
never exceed ten pounds. \ spark o
static electricity proceeding from bel
ignited leaking gas, and this IN turn Sc
1 cotton on fire. which operated the automa
a tic sprinklers and cxtingSished 1t. An at
y tempt was made to destroy a block q
L new dwellings 1T Brookline, Mass. beior
5 the buildings were entirely finished
: Some people, alarmed by the smok
I which was seen in each division Of tn
y structure. rushed in to save doors an
portable fixtures, when it was notice
= that the fires did not appear 10 gam an
\ Roadway. and when the smoke had eI
- tircly died away. it was fouhd that III
u inccndiary had placed lighted candles J
.awdust and other inilammable materii
ie I'M drawers and closets, but with sue
r limited supplies Of air that comoustio
" could not be- supported and the hFeS d
Il came smothered. Engineering.