The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-18
SPONTANEOUS IGNITION.
WHAT CAUSES COTTON TO TAKE
FIRE WHEN STORED.
Interesting Incidents of Combustion
Due to Peculiar Conditions-Cotton
Made to Blaze When Thrown In Air
Atmospheric Fife cts.

From la Nature.
In November of last year force of men
was sent aboard the City of Newcastle to
extinguish fire in cargo Of cotton which
had been generated by spontaneous COM
bustion. An unsuccessful attempt 10 ex-
tinguish the fire had been made at Queens
town, the first port at which the vessel
stopped
Baled cotton and also cotton and fbers
and rags that are saturated with oil are
quite subject to spontaneous combustion.
In five years forty-six ships bound for Lv-
erpool alone, and loaded with cotton, were
burned either at sea or just before or after
their departure. This figure is much too
low, judging from the remarks of rich
English banker who is familiar with affairs
in all parts of the world. OF the long list
OF vessels laden with cotton or grain, nine
had just been burned, in whole or in part,
and he added that II was necessary that
steps should be taken 10 prevent the fer
mentation of cotton, which appeared to he
more combustible at that period than
usual.
The remarkable tendency which is OBJ
seryable in tissues and cottons when
mostened with oil to become heated
when oxydation sets in deserves particu-
lar attention, and especially so from the
sad results that may follow negligence,
caused too often by ignorance of the dan
ger or ignorance OF the necessary prccau-
tons. In the navy, for instance, every
precaution is taken TO avoid spontaneous
combustion. Thus, all the officers are
aware that before packing away the tar
paulins or oiled coats which the sailors
wear in bad weather il is necessary to see
that they are thoroughly dried. They
should not be packed together in too great
numbers. Oils, when drying, undergo q
change which is simply slow combus.
ton at low temperature. II this action is
fastened by any cause whatever IL brings
about higher temperature, which may
result in fire.
| The experiment may be made oil produc-
| ing spontaneous combustion, even in q
few yards of cotton cloth, by painting ii
with linsecd oil. NJ. Chevaler cites an
instance OF This nature, in the sail-room at
the arsenel at Brest, where the three cases
(for sails OF canvas painted with oil had
been laid one on the other, after having
been dried in the sun two days. Each
piece measured about ten yards. Whether
In the sun or shade, or under cover or eN-
posed to the air, these pieces OF fabric
whether yarn or cotton, can readily tax,
fire, but fortunately very soon attrac
attention from the dense smoke tina
* emitted. Cotton fabrics containing oil
however, do not alone take fire i'm closet
chambers and ia the holds OF ships, for
have seen the phenomenon produced IL
open air. | witnessed q case In point nca
the railroad station OF p0uest, in July, 1878
when the heat was very great. The LAM
room was situated at the foot OF the Ru,
de Rome and the Pont del Europe. There
in large sack, were gathered all the use
less, greasy rags that had been used 70
cleaning the lamps. One OF these bag
had been filed 80 full that the rags ha'
fallen 10 the ground and as passed by
noticed an odor Of burning rags but aite
n careful examination discovered no caus
for this. Passing the same place five min
utes later, found the odor stronger, and
discovered the rags were Just bursting int
fire, and IL was very soon extinguishe
, with the help OF pail Of water.
NJ. Chevalier, in his memoir on fires, In
stances the experiments Of sIessrs. Cold
ing and HUMPHREYS, who caused spontan,
, Gus combustion by shutting up piece {
, fabric immersed In linseed oil In a close
, box, where il remained for three hours
! The fabric commenced 10 smoke, and q
soon ms the air was admitted burst int
flame. =.
, Messrs. Renouard and Rouen carrie
, still further the experiments OF Goldini
4 They mingled few pieces Of oiled cotto
with some dry cotton and then put III
: whole under pressure, and after q f.,
. hours fire was discovered. Every one
/. aware that when cotton IL balcd II II sui
/. iected 10 an enormous pressure. II th
!. cotton II greasy. oreyen damp, IL iermenti
, becomes heated and then ignited.
4 A curious instance was reported by d.
n mas 10 the institute In 1874, and cited h
q NJ. Fonssagriyes. An artist was rubin
4 with wad Of cotton q painting frcshl
J, vanished. When he threw the cotto
4 away, II Immediately took fire In mid-ai
!. Later, at the Academy Of Sciences In lsT
n during n discussion concerning fire
a the floor Of laboratory Of n certain b
. tanist, NJ Cosson, NJ. Dumas cited a nun
!. Der OF cases which prove that the condcI
n sation Of the air In porous and combustb
n bodies frequently produces combustion,
!. the temperature IL sufficiently low. Amor
/. these he again cited the case Of the wad
!. cotton taking FIRE In mid-air. A avant
4 prominent ~ Dumas, who repeats u
4 same statement at IN interval Of thir
q years, classes II evidently ~ an ihdispt
" able fact. The temperature Of S0o or 10
1 In the hold Of n vessel does not sufficient
explain the cause Of q fire In cargo
damp linen, hemp, manure, oats, grain
cereals. IL " necessary to take into CO
alteration the changed conditions III
v rise In the temperature IL due 20 the co
donation Of gas aud 10 the rapid and 20
erful oxidation. Thus charcoal, which
very porous, when shut In closed atm,
~ phcrc, absorbs a large proportion Of y
n which condenses and produces heat.
In | cite another case, not 70 well know
a. The waste from yulcanizcd rubber, win
10 thrown, In a damp condition, into a pi
ID takes lire spontaneously. This occurr
c, NJ the factory Of NJ. Menior, at Grcnel
~ In France.
)n Mc@rs. Dumas and Chovrcul, In tire
n ing Of this subject Of spontaneous CO
on bnption before the institute, stated q
-ct when q package from China containi
nm some fresh vegetable matter aud so
no dried substances was opened, they 10
ht fire, even before their eyes.
10 NJ. Fonssagriycs states that the temp
aiure OF boxes Of figs from Barbary
been 70 raised by fermentation that
could hardly bear your hands upon the
There II less surprise Ia the increase
III heat in heaps Of coal, whether In sion
no or in open air. These masses Of c'
W. whether In the quay or In the yard, u