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The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
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A gentleman in Taunton investigates a well 10 days after a fatal damp catastrophe reported in papers. He tests air density with a stone and feather, finds it normal but noxious from fire-altered air, and warns against fires in enclosed spaces like wells. Letter dated April 28, 1762; published Portsmouth, July 6, 1762.
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Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman who lives at Taunton, to his Friend in this Town; dated April 28, 1762.
ABOUT 10 Days after the fatal Catastrophe, which was mention'd in the public Papers, I visited the Well, where the Damp had done so much Mischief, and found the Effects of it less sudden than what was observ'd some Days before. In order to see whether the Air was much rarefy'd, I let fall at the same Instant of Time into the Well, a Stone and a Feather; the Feather was as much resisted, as near as I could judge, as it would have been in the open Air; from whence I concluded that the Difficulty of breathing in the Well, did not proceed from a Rarefaction of Air: Soon after this the noxious Quality of the Well ceas'd, and it became as friendly to animal Life as any other Place. I then endeavour'd to find a Fissure in the Rock on which the Fire was made, thro' which Vapours might arise, but could discover none. from which and several other Things I forbear to mention, it seems plain to me, that the Fire wholly chang'd the Nature of the Air to quite a different Fluid, unfit for Respiration; and that a like Effect would follow from any adulterated or burnt Air.
From this, I think a very good Argument may be drawn against making Fires in any Place, where there can't be a Succession of Air, as in Wells, close Rooms, &c. since the Consequence must necessarily be fatal to animal Life. Portsmouth, July 6. 1762.
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Taunton
Event Date
April 28, 1762
Key Persons
Outcome
fatal catastrophe due to damp in well; air later became safe; conclusion that fire changes air to unfit for respiration.
Event Details
Ten days after a fatal well catastrophe from damp, the gentleman visited, tested air with stone and feather showing normal density, found no fissures for vapors, concluded fire altered air to noxious fluid; warns against fires in enclosed spaces.