The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-11-15

@ g digo and linseed oil is a
prolific source of destruct-
1t019 i've fires. Fabrics dyed
with indigo and finished with a
a preparation of linseed oil will,
Sc stored in confined place. take FIRE
OF themselves. It was only d few years
ago that dry goods house was nearly
destroyed because the proprietor did
not know the destructive qualities of
oil and Indian dye. Lampblack, when
packed away In an ill-ventilated room,
often generates enough heat to set it,
self afire. The laboratory Of a per-
fumer was nearly wrecked by an explo-
sion The maker Of scents, believed
that discharged employee had set fire
to the building. but it was shown that
the fire was due to the evaporation Of
high spirit in room in which a small
laboratory gas stove had been left
burning.
In all manufacturing establishments
q frequent cause of fires is the rubbing
of leather betting against the edges of
the aperture through which it passes
from floor to floor.
In fancy goods house large iron
vault was blown open by some force
generated within and there issued a
sheet of fame Nobody had been In
the vault for at least twelve hours.
The steel box was filed with paper
dolls, between each pair Of which there
was a film Of celluloid. A three-inch
steam pipe was placed against the rear
OF the vault, and the heat it gave out
had raised the temperature to such
degree that the celluloid had taken fire.
Gun cotton is one of the component
parts of celluloid films and the explo-
sion was the natural result of a combi-
nation Of the gun cotton and high tenn
perature. One Of the most stubborn
fires which ever visited St Louis had
its origin in plate glass window. The
pane concentrated the heat of the Au-
gust sun upon celluloid comb. The
comb bIazed and sputtered and soon
other samples of celluloid which were
around 1t. were on fire. The flames com
municated to the remainder Of a stock
OF infammable merchandise.
The overwhelming fondness of mice
for sulphur has been the cause Of many
fires. A fireman told the writer that he
had in several cases seen nests OF
matches which the rats and the mice
had made between the floors Of build
ings. 1t is no unusual thing to find that
rodents have lined their abodes with
the birthstone anointed sticks. The
mice and rats will steal an old-fash-
toned sulphur match whenever they get
an opportunity ana take it away to
chew at their leisure. The gnawing
process results in the igniting of the
matches, and there follows mystic
rious and suspicious fire. The rodent
regards parafiin as choice delicacy.
IT the insulation of an electric wire
contains this waxy product of petros
leum the rats will eat it, The barred
wire thus becomes a ready means Of
starting blaze.
In many cases the steamfitter is re-
isponsible for destructive fires. If n
steam pipe is too close to woodwork a
slow process Of carbonizing takes place.
A little extra heat or draught of ar
may fan a fame from the carbonized
wood Another cause Of CONGREGATIONS
IL the carelessness of carper tiers. From
time immemorable it has been habit
OF the trade to sweep the shavings in
between the joists of floors. If either
the wire or the shavings were properly
insulated there would be no trouble.
But in one way or another the wire is
exposed and communicates spark to
the shavings which may be lying near
it. The sparks may smolder Cor days,
and then. iii the dead of night, there
comes cry OF Fire.
FIRE TRAPS OF THE RICH.
The houses OF the wealthy. even IN
these days of freproof construction,
are often greater fire traps than the
meanest tenements. The hues in the
abodes Of wealth and luxury are often
defective. In many cases only the
width Of d brick intervenes between in
tense heat and highly vanished and
infiammable cabinet work Rich hang
ings and upholstered furniture give the
food upon which the FIRE feeds. Defec-
tive electric wiring has many sins to
answer for III these days. Electricians
who are supposed to be competent will
cross wires and violate nearly every
principle of common sense and electrl-
cal science. Some Of them lead strands
of wire through wooden boxes. which.
in the event Of fire, become roaring
dues. Some Of the most destructive
hires known in the large cities have
been due to carelessness in placing the
wires for electric lighting.
! There is q mysterious property In
dust which, under certain conditions.
produces violent explosions. There
have been instances in postofficcs
where the dust of the mail bags sus-
pended In the rear OF close room ex-
ploded with terrific force Dust explo-
sions are Of frequent occurrence in
flour and drug mills.
Spontaneous combustion covers a
multitude Of sins of carelessness. The
origin Of many fires in tailor shops may
be traced to the so-calied dry cleaning
Of clothes. A rag dipped in naphtha Is
frequently used in removing grease
spots from garments. The rag soaked
with iniiammable fluids is thrown upon
the floor.