Show c ci s OF t STRANGE iR NG f FIRS I RS and aI Combinations Which Pr ns S C oj V n t g that a co coI corn cornI I of indIgo l ol oil Js s c source of e fir fires s sri V 5 ri dyed with indigo and and with th or of d if in a o p pIu e take re of f it was as only a few tei years ears ago that t a dry g goods se was n destroyed beca because se the proprietor did didiot know the qualIties Of V oil and Indian dye when packed awa away in an 11 d often orten enough heat hent to set it itself Itself self Th The laboratory of a I per r turner fumeI was nearly wrecked by an c cm The maker of scents belieY d that a discharged employee had set fire fire to the building but it was shown that the fire was due to the evaporation oa jn in a in which a small laboratory gas stove had been l left ft b S In V establishments a fr frequent quent cause caus 6 f fires is 18 the rubbing 10 V ieather e er the edges of f th the aperture through whIch It passes from floor to floor V In a fancy goods house a large Iron was Vas blown oven open b by some force generated within and there Issued a as S s f t of flame fiame had d been in the vault for at least twelve hours The S steel box was filled with paper dolls S between en aeh ach pair nair or of hleb t there ere was wasa a film of A steam pIpe was placed a against the rear of the vault and the V h bear at It gave out bad V raised the temp temperature to t such a do de degree V gree that the celluloid had taken fire Guncotton cun cotton is one of the component parts of celluloid films and the explosion sion sian was the natural result of a combi combination combination nation of cit tIle the gun tern 1 One of the most stubborn I fires which evex ever visited St Louis had I Its ts origin glass win window ow Thi pane concentrated the heat of the Au August i gust st sun upon a celluloid comb ThE comb blazed biased and sputtered and poor toon I Iother other samples o celluloid which were wert around It were on tit fire e The flames corn to te the remaInder of a stock of Inflammable merchandise The overwhelming fondness of mice mic for sulphur has been the cause of many man fires A fireman told the writer that lu h had in B several vera eases cases seen nests Qi matches which the rats and the mice had made between the floors of b build buildings ings It te Is no unusual thing to lInd Ilm I that rodents have lined their abodes 3 with the brimstone anointed d sticks The Th r mice and rates will steal an sulphur match whenever they get getan ge I Ian an opportunity and take It away to t chew at their leisure The gnawing c process results In the Igniting or of the th S matches and there follows a mysterious mysterious rious and suspIcious fire The rodent roden tV t regards as a choice delicacy V If j the insulation of an electric wire contains this wa waxy y product of pert leum the rats wm eat it The bared bare wIre thus becomes a ready means of o f a blaze blazeS S In many cases the team steam fitter is re responsible for destructive fires L i a 1 steam pipe Is 15 too close to woodwork a aslou process of carbonizing takes take place A little extra heat or a d o air V may fan a flame fiame V from the hi e ewood S wood Another cause ause of is the carelessneSs of Front From time it has been a habit of the trade to seep the shavings in be I tween the joists of floors It el either er the I wire or the shavings were in insulated there would be no trouble But ButI ButIn I In one wa way or another the wire is Vex posed and communicates n a spark t tO the shavings which may be lying near neal it The sparks may smolder for days dalS arid and then in the dead ot of night there a cry of Fire t 1 Fire Traps Trap of the Rich 1 1 The houses of the wealthy ev even n in I these days of fireproof construction are greater fire traps than the mean meanest 1 est eat tenements The flues in the abodes I t or of wealth and luxury are often defoe deec t five e In many cases only the width of I a brick Intervenes between intense he beat t tand and highly varnished and inflammable I cabInet work Rich hangings and up upI upholstered holstered furniture give the food upon I which the fire feeds e ds Defective the electric 1 wirIng has many sins to answer for tor in ini i these theBe days Electricians who are sup supposed I posed to be competent wilt will crosS wires and violate nearlY every principle of common sense and electrical science Some of the thc most destructive tires fires I II I known in the large cities have been due I to carelessness in placing the wIres for I electric lighting I There i is a m mysterious property in i dust which under certain conditions produces violent explosions There baye bayer been Instances in where the r dust of the mall mail bags suspended in inthe V the rear of a close roots room exploded With V terrific force Dust explosions are of frequent occurrence in flour and drug mills V Spontaneous V covers a mul multitude V of sins of carelessness The on V gin ot of many fires In tailor shops may mayI be traced to the d dry cleaning I of clothES A rag dipped in nat V Is frequently used usei in removing grease greaser t r spots from garments The rag soaked greasEL L with Inflammable fluids is 15 then thrown I upon the floor V When the shop shOD is closed and the th thair i air Is confined the ma t tonal will of itself telf generate fire Dales Baler I I Vf of cotton placed In the hold of a ship shig I II I are often the cause of disastrous tires Frequently a spark from a cigar finds findt I a resting place in a cotton bale where when I it smolders for weeks I Otze Otic of the most prolific causes of o I tenement house fires Is the dark hall ball Frequently persons com comO In after night I and strike matches in order to find I their way In many cases their senses I I are befuddled with drink and the a burning match sticks are thrown Upon I the floor Here the matches may come com comeIn comin In contact with greasy matting or oi with bits of paper and start a fire S I whIch smolders for hours and in thE th I early mornIng spreads through thE S I house Rainy days cause all mannel manne of fires It is the of the house housewIfe housewife V wIfe to hang wet garments in thE kitchen when the weather conditions wilt will not nt admit of the drYing or of the family w In the yard OAr or upon the root roof th she le leaves veS the e damp hanging In the kitchen near the stove stoe The garments garment dry out du during ring the tho night and nd be lighter are easIly blo n gair the sto stove Q bY draughts ot of air Ther take taka tire fire and antt before many the whole ki en is is in flames Frequent recOmmendations have bae been made by the chiefs s or of cRy city fire de ck that the gas bark barket et be abolished by law Jaw the tha authorities get a chance t they ey order such to be removed or made mad nery Hundreds ot of fires hare hae been caused b by th the carness ess of persons who left these ing brack brackets eta ets in such a position that Ute the flame could come in contact with lace cur curtains S Stains With epe Ial reference apparently apparently to c causing as many tIres as pos possible possible sible the too puts a swInging bracket whore where he knows owe the housekeeper ivill wish to hang a alace alace lace curtain The combination ot of cur ur tain tam and bracket Is often fatal fala One of the most active causes or of fires Is the mantel decoration In many homes a silken scarf is hung from Crom th the mantel itself Whenever there is fire In the grate t there ere I danger of the flimsy scarf taking fire In t houses small stoves are e often orten placed before the mantel The mantel s sare are none the dul duly decorated wIth yards of and tinseled d cloth in many cases ases this tort has caught fire from the stove stowe fallen all n nto to the floor and Ignited car carpet V pet Or matting In some houses there are wardrobes and clothes the chimneys The clothing hung bf b hind the doors and inn in inthe the winter time to l steady hest from the chimney is liable to combustion In places where chemicals we are kept the varieties of fires are almost COUnt COUntness countness ness Comparatively innocent sub stanc s In themselves may come in con contact J tact and generate heat beat sufficient to start a lively blaze One of the At came to port recently wIth a cargo carSo composed of crude chore and cotton There had bad been an explosion of acids and a fire It seemed Impossible to check time flames which had communicated to the tho COT COTton cotton ton The fire however generated Rf heat at I to liberate the chlorIne front from fronta froma a quantity of blacking powder The chlorine materially aided In keeping time the fire in check although its suffocating fumes nearly caused the death or some of the sailors who went ent Into the hold holdI to fight the llamas In the storage of an all kinds of materi materials ala als too much care cannot be e The fact must be taken into consider consideration atlon that where air does not circulate V the chances of fire are greatly In Increased increased creased The of the aim sim simpie pie rules laid down by fire depart departments departments ments would frequently obvIate the th necessity of investigating the orIgin of mysterious fires investigation shows that less than 1 per cent of suspicious tires are the result of deliberate at to d destroy stroy LouiS |