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Story
November 2, 1821
Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
A city gentleman discovered smoke filling his house from spontaneously combusting pine shavings saturated with linseed oil under the store floor, after 50 years. Joists scorched but lathing intact. Warning for oil dealers. Another report of oil igniting ashes.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION.
A gentleman of this city, on Wednesday evening last, discovered that the front part of his house, in which there had been no fire, was filled with smoke. After searching for some time, it was found to issue through the floor, near the front door of his store. Upon tearing up the floor underneath it, and resting on the lathing and plastering of the ceiling, a considerable mass of shavings, part of which was burnt into a coal was found. It was hot, emitting no light, but volumes of smoke. The spirit of this mass which is not burnt to a coal, consists of pine shavings saturated with Linseed oil. The lathing on which it rested, was not burnt, but the joists were considerably scorched. These shavings have lain in the place where they were ignited upwards of 50 years and oil has been repeatedly spilled upon the floor immediately over them, but never in so large a quantity as on the morning previous to its taking fire. It would be well for those who deal in this article, to be careful in not suffering any accumulation of animal or vegetable substances to become saturated with it.
We lately see it stated in some of the papers, that a barrel of cold ashes became ignited in a few hours after oil had been poured into it.
[Journal.]
A gentleman of this city, on Wednesday evening last, discovered that the front part of his house, in which there had been no fire, was filled with smoke. After searching for some time, it was found to issue through the floor, near the front door of his store. Upon tearing up the floor underneath it, and resting on the lathing and plastering of the ceiling, a considerable mass of shavings, part of which was burnt into a coal was found. It was hot, emitting no light, but volumes of smoke. The spirit of this mass which is not burnt to a coal, consists of pine shavings saturated with Linseed oil. The lathing on which it rested, was not burnt, but the joists were considerably scorched. These shavings have lain in the place where they were ignited upwards of 50 years and oil has been repeatedly spilled upon the floor immediately over them, but never in so large a quantity as on the morning previous to its taking fire. It would be well for those who deal in this article, to be careful in not suffering any accumulation of animal or vegetable substances to become saturated with it.
We lately see it stated in some of the papers, that a barrel of cold ashes became ignited in a few hours after oil had been poured into it.
[Journal.]
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Extraordinary Event
What themes does it cover?
Misfortune
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Spontaneous Combustion
Linseed Oil
Fire Hazard
Pine Shavings
Smoke Discovery
Where did it happen?
This City
Story Details
Location
This City
Event Date
Wednesday Evening Last
Story Details
A gentleman discovered smoke from hot, smoking pine shavings saturated with linseed oil under his store floor, ignited after large spill; shavings there 50 years. Warning to avoid saturating substances with oil. Separate report of oil igniting ashes in barrel.