On Spontaneous Combustion. 149 
morning ignited, and the floor to a considerable extent on fire. This 
happened at Hamlin & Bates’ factory ; and another instance occur- 
red at the establishment of Warner & Whetton.* Lamp oil was 
used. (1831.) A quantity of cotton clothing for seamen’s suits, had 
been oiled and hung up at Duxbury, Massachusetts, for a fortnight 
to dry, and were then taken down, rolled together, and placed in a 
shed; the next day they were found on fire. (1831.) 
The Schr. Hiram, laden with wool, when on a voyage from Bil- 
boa to New York, in March, 1825, was set on fire, in consequence 
of some linseed oil having been spilt on the cabin floor. 
Two pounds of wool greased with flax-seed oil, near Germantown, 
Pennsylvania, set fire to the building next morning. (1818.) The 
closet in which the paint and oil were kept at Boshor’s carriage 
factory, Richmond, Virginia, having been smeared with linseed oil, 
burst out in a flame. (1832.) 
Some cotton used in cleaning the cabin of the ship Birmmgham, 
became partially filled with flax-seed oil, and after some time it igni- 
ted. An express experiment proved that cotton thus impregnated 
would inflame in two hours. (New York, 1831.) 
Cotton rags, while delivering from the cellar of a store, 24 Broad 
street, New York, were found on fire. Oil had been spilt on them. 
(June, 1834.) 
Mr. Darant’s large balloon, varnished for the first time, exposed 
to the sun through the day, and rolled up in the evening, and de- 
posited upon chairs in a house in Jersey City, was found the next 
morning entirely consumed. ‘The varnish was composed of oil, tur- 
pentine and caoutchouc. (June, 1832.) 
Mr. Atkinson of Ellicott’s mills near Baltimore, stated that flax- 
seed oil spilt on [wood] ashes in an iron kettle, caused the ashes to 
inflame in twenty four hours. He made an experiment to test the 
fact, with success. Mr. Patterson, President of the United States’ 
Mint, repeated the experiment with cold hickory ashes, and one 
pint of flax-seed oil; in forty six hours after, the mixture was fairly 
ignited, and in a short time emitted flame, which continued upwards 
of an hour. After the flame had ceased, the ignition continued for 
eighteen hours, and the ashes were then poured out of the vessel. 
(1820.) 
| 
* Both at Plainfield, Massachusetts. Ample experience has taught European 
manufacturers that no oil should be used for greasing wool, but that of rape seed. 
