OCR Text |
Show Another Theory. Prof. Sheldon, the- dancing master ytho had the class on the fourth floor oflhe First National bank building on the evening previous to the fire, oserh! that the fire did not originate from any of hid pupils throwing lighted light-ed cigar slumps into the sawdust-filled sawdust-filled spittoons. He eaya that he never permitted hb pupils to smoke in the hall. The professor advances another theory as to the origin of the fire. Some months ago be had occasion oc-casion to cut through the wall of the Mansard story, into the rear flue, and his discovery was such 83 to cause a builder as Prof. S. is to blush at the "tricks of bis trade." The flue was of brick laid dry and flat on a two-inch plank. - The inside was plastered, but left with such a rough surface as to readily catch and hold soot and sparks; and inclining with the angle of the Mansard, the Hue would necessarily neces-sarily collect such matter as came up from the lower fireplaces. The fire did not start in tlie Hue cut into by Prof. Sheldon, but tho inference is that all the flues were constructed in the same manner; hence the origiu of the disastrous conflagration can be traced. |