The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1905-09-13
TO THE PUBLIC:


cent accident to the motor in the Of
flee of the RECORD, so that | think the
following statement of facts is proper
About eight o'clock on the evening
of August 96th it was discovered that
the electric motor used in this office
was running. No one being about
the premises at that time, an effort
was made to find the publisher of this
paper, but she was not at home, and
some gentlemen got into the office
through window and shut off the
the power; the motor having been
running probably for some time with
no machinery attached had develop
ed high rate of speed so that the
bearings had become very much heat
ed, and the oil upon them developed
some smoke and good doal of smell.
The box which was used for cover
ing for the motor was very badly
smoked, but there is NO evidence of
having been any fire.
What was the cause of the motor
becoming started is not certain, but
with the knowledge that the publish
er has concerning the fire that some
time ago injured the building taken
in connection with the experience of
the foreman of the office that the
motor would not start the machines
without some human aid, and the
statement of the authorities of the
Electric Light Co. that this kind of
motor will not start without human
aid, the proprietor was probably JUS
titled in her suspicion that someone
had entered the office and maliciously
put the motor in motion.
But the facts are that an effort was
made to use the motor about three
O'Clock in the afternoon when it was
found that there was no power being
supplied by the plant, and my opinion
is that the switch was left closed to
see when the power came on, and that
not coming on until after the Office
fierce had quit work. which was some
what earlier than usual, ON account of
its being Saturday afternoon, il was
forgotten to close the switch, and on
account of their experience aud adj
vice there was not thought to be any
danger of the motor starting of its own
accord; but | am advised that, in the
opinion of some electricians. if cleo
trio current is allowed to run through
such motor for a length of time
some heat is developed which may
start 1t IN motion, particularly if it
happens to he aided by some accident
al jar of the building, and | believe
that III this ease this is Just what did
happen. And while it may be posi-
BILE that if the condition had not been
discovered that fire might have
been caused, yet ! am inclined to
think that it is much more reasonable
to believe that as the bearings of the
motor became still more heated and
the oil scorched off until they were
dry. that this would have eventually
stopped the machine If in the mean
time the heat had not fused the CON
nections and stopped the motor by
cutting off the current.
Now, as to the fire that damaged
the building some time ago. The
facts have never been given to the
public because, while there is little
doIbt that the fire was of ineendiary
origin. it was hoped at the time that
the guilty party might be found. The
information was communicated to the
owner of the building aud to Mt least
one of the Insurance Cos, but after
this lapse OF time it is entirely i'm
probable that the guilty party will be
found and no harm can be done by
making the facts public. A few days
after the fire occurred, when an inven-
tory was being made for the purpose
of adjusting the insurance on the
printing plant, it was discovered that
a keg of printers ink which had been
nearly full was not in the place where
it had been kept before the fire. The
top Of the key and stick which was
used in the ink was found upon one
OF the type cases and the type had
been somewhat injured by being
smeared with ink but no very great
damage had been done in this way,
and the keg and ink could not be
found anywberes about the office.
Several weeks after this, when the in
surance had been adjusted and re-
pairs were in progress, and the closet
where the coal was kept was being
cleaned out, it was found that the
coal, ashes and dirt were mixed with
a sticky substance, and three or four
iron hoops were found, such as would
have bound the ink keg. All trace of
the keg had been destroyed by fire.
But there would seem to be no rea-
sonable ground for doubt that some
one had maliciously broken into the
printing Office and taken this key of
ink, which is known to be very in
flamable material, and placed it in the
closet under the stairway and set fire
to it. a very deliberate and diabolcal
proceeding, and one which showed
some ingenuity and made sure of
great damage if not total destruction
of the building.
i have thought that this PLAIN state
ment of facts was due, not only to
the public, but to the proprietor Of
the RECORD, 80 that she might not be
further annoyed by incorrect state
ments, or even the suspicion of fault
in connection with the fire or the ac-
cident to the motor.
WALTER +. HAYHURsT.
Church Notices.