The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-05-29
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The question of spontaneous combus-
siderable attention from agriculturists
from time to time. and has been dis
cussed in the agricultural literature OF
the day as supposed cases have arisen.
Nearly all the supposed cases have or
iginated where considerable quantities
Of clover hay have been stored. either
In stacks or barns, and in nearly every
case the stacks or buildings have been
consumed, so 1t was impossible to suffi-
GENTLY understand the circumstances
Of the cases to determine whether they
were Of spontaneous or incendiary orr
gin. A recent fire, supposed to be OF
spontaneous origin, occurred In a hay
NOW in one of the college barns, with
out damaging the barn to any great ex-
tent and without consuming very much
of the hay. The following detailed ac-
count will enable the reader to form
some opinion as to the origin of the
fire:
In the evening of October 16, 1895,
fire was seen to be dropping from the
ceiling of the cow stable underneath
the east wing of the college barn. A
general alarm Of fire was sounded, and
Immediately a sufficient force of men
assembled to prevent the fire from
breaking out. Investigation soon
proved the fire to be confined to NOW
of hay 1Sx23 feet and about % feet high.
which occupied part of the wing over
the cow stable mentioned. Precautions
were taken to exclude all drafts of air
from the hay NOW by filling the holes
burned through the floor over the cow
stable with wet blankets and cloths,
and also keeping the top of the NOW
covered with wet blankets. 1t was be-
lieved at this time that the only means
OF saving the whole barn from burning
was to remove the NOW of hay that
was already on fire. Consequently open
fngs were made in the side of the barn
and the whole NOW of hay, about thir-
ty tons, was pitched out. While re.
moving the hay, which all through the
center of the NOW was smouldering
and ready to burst out in flames when
exposed to draft of air. 1t was found
necessary to keep the top Of 1t con-
stantly wet. Fortunately, a hose from
a nearby hydrant and pals in the
hands of students afforded ample
means of keeping the top Of the NOW
constantly saturated, which prevented
the hay in the barn from bursting into
flames, and also prevented the hay that
was thrown out of the NOW from burn
ing. All of the center of the NOW was
thoroughly compacted, hot and smok-
ing. The high temperature of the hay
made it decidedly uncomfortable for
those who were working to save the
barn from burning by removing this
smouldering fodder. The continued ap-
plication of water on the surface Of the
NOW alone made this possible on &C
count of the excessive heat. Not until
all this lot of hay was removed from
the barn was the danger from fire
thought to be over. The floor of the
barn on which this NOW Of hay rested
Ia constructed of two thicknesses of
wide inch boards so placed as to per-
fectly break joints. This floor forms
the ceiling over the COW stable and Is
about eleven feet high. The holes
burned through the floor were over the
middle Of the stable and not near par
titions or posts. From the position OF
these holes burned through the floor,
would seem improbable II not impossi-
BILE for the origin of the fire to have
been either accidental or incendiary.
The side of the barn Is Of matched
lumber; this undoubtedly averted a
serious loss by fire by preventing any
thing like draft to supply air to the
hay already on fire.-Geo. G. Watson,
Pennsylvania Experiment Station