"The Involuntary Experimentalist," Blackwood's Magazine, October 1837, pp. 487-492

The destruction by fire of the distillery of Mr B.____ in Dublin, some time since, will be in the recollection of many of your Irish readers. A circumstance happened to me on the night of that event, which, as I believe it to be altogether unprecedented, I will now relate. I am a medical man, residiing in Dublin, and, on the night in question, was returning about half-past eleven o'clock from the neighbourhood of Harod's Cross, where I had been to superintend the administering, of a hot bath to a patient, when the reflection of the fire on the sky to the north-west attracted my attention, and drew me to the spot. Mr B _____'s distillery consisted principally of one long and lofty building, the western end of which was connected with a considerable pile of stores and offices that abutted on it at right angles, with a large addition, nearly similarly situated at the eastern end, which was just then in progress of erection. When I arrived on the spot, the court-yard presented a very animating spectacle. Three engines poured their streams on the centre pile of building, while two others played on the cross and window lattices of the adjoining stores, which were momentarily catching fire, and as fast extinguished.The courtyard was in a swim with water, which flashed back the light with an unsteady but dazzling reflection, as the firemen splashed through it ankle-deep. The captains of the several gangs, mounted on their respective engines, stood over the heads of the labouring crowd, cheering on the exertions of the pumpers below, or shouting their directions to the firemen aloft, where they appeared plying their hatchets at an immense height among the smoke and embers. Excited by the animation of the scene, I took an active part in the exertions of those around me, and soon became thoroughly heated, as well as wetted in the service. Among other duties undertaken by the volunteers with whom I had associated myself, was the removal of a number of casks, to get at which it was necessary to cross a platform of masonry built round a large, copper boiler in the unfinished end of the building. Over this platform there was a scaffolding resting at one side on the party wall which separated the new portion of the works from that which was already on fire; and through the holes in this party wall in which the ends of the beam were inserted, the flames were now communicating. I had crossed twice in safety, and was about to venture a third time, when one of the bystanders, who had witnessed my exertions, directed my attention to the dangerous condition of these timbers, several of their points of support being already burned away, so that the scaffolding hung smouldering and half-suspended from the new brick work, and threatened to pull down a great part of the walls on each side in its descent, which could not now be far distant. I thanked my friendly warner for his advice, and had taken it so far as to retire a few steps from the inconvenient neighbourhood of the flames when one of the firemen of the N_______ Insurance Company got up on the opposite side of the platform, and signed for some one to come to his assistance. I gave a look at the nodding timbers above; they seemed still too deeply bedded, in the masonry of the one building to give me any apprehension of immediate danger. I ran up the ladder that led to the platform on that side; but, just as I gained the top, a heavy, fall of masonry took place from the angle of the pile nearly overhead. I escaped by the merest chance, but the ladder was dashed in fragments, and the rush of smoke and flame that followed through the breach thus opened completely hid the prospect on the side from which I had ascended. I became confused, and rushed forward, hardly knowing where I ran; but I had scarcely taken three steps in advance, when I heard the prolonged tearing crash of the timbers overhead, and next moment saw the beams topple, and the bricks and dust rise about their ends - in another instant, I must have been crushed to pieces (pushed perhaps with the red end of a beam), for they were already descending before me - when the mouth of the open vessel, which, as I have mentioned, was bedded in the masonry at my feet, caught my eye. It was not more than three feet across; the chances were that the long timbers would fall athwart, not into it. There was an ample concave below, as appeared by the broad reflection of light on the new copper of its sides. Without bestowing a thought on how I was to get out, I dropped at once to the bottom of the hollow chamber. The metal reverberated, and the echoing sphere rung round me for a moment with a brazen clang - then crash, crash, with the dint of thunder, down came the blazing timbers - driving - rebounding - smashing all before them! I thought the copper would be crushed flat, but the masonry in which it was bedded protected it. One beam pitched end-foremost on the exposed neck of the vessel ; the metal yielded, and drew out as before the first strike of a huge punch - the whole concave groaned, and I thought it was all over with me. Instinctively I strove to cling to the side of the vessel - there was nothing to hold on by, and I reeled back to the little spot of level footing in the bottom, conscious, for the first time, that I was in a trap, out of which there was no escape. I had no time for reflection, for a shower of rubbish pattering on the head of the vessel, and falling in through its mouth, drove me again to seek for shelter at one side. How I clung so long, I cannot tell; but I did succeed in fastening myself to the overhanging concave, until a considerable quantity of bricks and mortar had fallen in. Immediately after, the main wall of the burning building - the only barrier between the space immediately above me and the flames - gave a crack, and tumbled over to the other side, causing such a concussion as made the very mortar leap off the floor in a cloud of dust, that, for a time, obscured every thing around me. Expecting each moment to be my last, with the instinct of one who awaits a blow which he cannot avoid, I shut my eyes and stooped my head, shrinking together, as may well be imagined, and trembling in every limb. The first thing that roused me was the glare of light from the flames, which now, unconfined by any partition, rolled overhead, flapping and labouring in the air, with such breadth and intensity, that their reflection made the whole concave in which I stood as bright as the inside of a gilt cup. I gave myself up to despair when I contemplated the fiery torrent which now over-canopied me - embers were failing from its borders like flakes of snow - a sound like the roaring of hungry lions proceeded from the midst of it - the heat, when I turned my face towards it, was intolerable - and I felt that to look at the sphere of burnished metal round me would soon melt the eyes out of my head. But it was only the first fury of the fire, tossed about as it was by the fall of the gable, that supplied a body of flame so huge and intense, and my presence of mind gradually returned as I found that its fury had soon so far abated as to enable me to bear the mitigated glare from the metal around me with comparative fortitude

I now began to consider some means of escape. The vessel was a hollow sphere of about fourteen feet in diameter, perfectly smooth, except at the joinings of the metal plates of which it was composed; but the heads of the rivets which held these together afforded no more hold than just enough to enable me to get footing a very little way up the curve at one side, out of the immediate glare of the flame that beat full upon the bottom. The only aperture, except the orifice at top, was that by which the contents were intended to be drawn off, but this was not much wider than the mouth of a large tumbler. To clamber out without the assistance of a ladder, or rope fastened from above, was impossible. Had there been a ledge on the rim of the opening through which I had descended I would not have despaired, for the clothes I wore would have furnished materials for a rope strong enough to support my weight, and one of the loose bricks that lay at my feet would have given me the means of making it fast above. I tried the experiment with a brick-bat attached to one of my suspenders, but though I easily swung it over the rim there was no ledge for it to catch on, and I was forced to give up all hopes of escaping in that way. I had now in a great measure recovered my presence of mind, for I perceived that there was no longer danger to be apprehended from the flame above, and I knew that the mass of brickwork which surrounded my prison was sufficient to protect me from all effects of the burning ruins of the scaffold around. I need scarcely say that I had already used every effort to make myself heard by the crowd, both by shouting at the top of my voice and beating the sides of my prison; but such was the noise caused by the crackling and roaring of the flames which still surrounded me on every side - for the ruins of the scaffolding burned fiercely where they fell, and strewed the whole platform with fire - that either I had failed to make myself heard, or could not hear the cries of those whom I called to in reply. Seeing, then, that I had no chance of an immediate escape, I made up my mind to compose myself as well I could, and wait till the fire should burn itself out and leave a passage for my rescue.

I had remained in this resigned state for some time when the thought flashed across my mind, that perhaps if I called through the aperture of the stop-cock, mentioned above, my voice might be heard. The opening was in the very bottom of the vessel, and I had to kneel down on the rubbish to apply my mouth to it. My knees did not come in contact with the metal, and my hands were defended by thick gloves thoroughly wetted, so that till I brought my face close to the aperture I had no suspicion of the dreadful truth that I was now to learn - the copper was so hot that I could not bear it against my skin! I started to my feet, every pulse flying with consternation. I dare not think of my situation. I rushed desperately up the sides of my prison. I might as well have tried to scale the vault of the sky. I shouted, I screamed for assistance - the crackling growl of the conflagration was my only reply. I sat down on the little pile of rubbish that formed the centre of what I now felt was fast becoming a brazen furnace in which I was to be tried, and endeavoured to think. I put my hand to my forehead; I was bathed in a cold sweat; I pulled the thermometer I had been using, in tempering my patient's bath, out of my pocket, - it stood at 105°! I placed the bulb of it on the metal; when I had touched it, the mercury rose with a rapidity that threatened to burst the tube, and I took it away, terrified at what I saw, and afraid to witness the whole truth. After sitting for some moments trembling and inactive, I burst into tears. I was, I confess, quite unmanned at the prospect of the torments I must endure, if, as I had every reason to expect, the metal around me should become red hot. My weakness, if weakness it could be called, prepared me, however, for seeking strength in prayer; and I prayed with a fervour long a stranger to my breast, that God would grant me fortitude to bear the trial he had prepared for me; and I thank God I did not pray in vain. Composed and relieved, I now stood up, and summoned all my resolution to look my danger in the face.

The thermometer had by this risen to 112° ; but I knew, from the experiments of Fordyce and Bankes, that the living fibre could for a short time bear a heat more than twice as great without permanent injury. A ray of hope lighted the gloom of my heart, as I ran over in recollection the various instances, with which my professional studies had rendered me acquanted, of living bodies bearing great degrees of heat. I recollected the case of the girl at Rochefoucault, who had gone into an oven where the thermometer stood at 288°. I called to mind Sonnerat's account of fishes living in the hot springs of the Manillas, in water at a temperature of upwards of 150°; and taxed my memory to recollect the names of the plants which the same writer mentions as flourishing in the island of Lucon, with their roots in a thermal rivulet so hot, that the mercury plunged in its waters rose to 174°. I considered that, perhaps, the cause of the heat now surrounding me was no more than the reverberation of so great a body of flame as that overhead on the metal, and that as the flame diminished in volume, which it plainly did every minute, the heat of the copper might be expected to abate. But the continually rising temperature of the air, indicated as it too plainly was by the thermometer which I held in my hand, soon deprived me of the vague comfort of such a surmise. I next endeavoured to form some estimate of the heat the metal must acquire before the contained air would rise to a temperature of 250°, which I supposed it possible I might be able to bear; but, what with anxiety and confusion, I could make no approximation to an answer, These various processes of thought had, however, restored a certain degree of presence of mind, as may be judged from the fact, that, dreadful as the prospect was which I had before me, I was calm enough to make several memoranda on my tablets, with the purpose of attaching them to a weight to be tied to the end of my handkerchief, and flung out in the hope of letting it be known where I was. These tablets I have now before me; I have preserved them ever since, as a memorial of moments such as I trust have fallen to the lot of no other human being. I transfer the memoranda verbatim. It will be seen that many of the words are but half-written, and that in some places entire words have been omitted: but if any one would try the experiment of writing in such a situation, I daresay his composition would be scarcely more correct. I began thus:

I am Doctor ______ of ______ St. If any one finds this, come to the copper in the new building, where I am burning to death for want of a ladder. Half-past 12 o'clock. Haste! haste! (Two such memoranda as this I had already flung out by weights attached to my suspenders, but they seem to have fallen in the flames.)

My will is in the upper left hand drawer of the bookcase. Let George _______ have the arrangement of my papers. I wish all the papers relating to _________'s business to be burned (with several other memoranda relating to my private affairs, which I omit.)

I am wrapped in a cloud of steam from my wet clothes. The thermometer stands at 130°. It is now 26 minutes to 1 o'clock. The air is suffocatingly hot: I am drenched in perspiration. I will note all I can.

15 m. to 1 o'c. Therm. 137°. 13 m. 139°. 10 m. 153°! This is horrible. I can see the mercury mounting in the tube. The moisture from my clothes has all exhaled. They are now as dry as tinder, and hot and hard to the touch.

5 minutes past 1 o'clock. Thermometer 170°. Have taken off both my coats and laid them over the hole - the rush of air from it agitated the hot atmos[phere], and made it intolerable.

8 m. past 1 o'c. Them. 177°. My watch burning-hot. Have taken it out of my fob. The pencilcase begins to feel hot in my fingers. Strange to say, my body is still cool. _________'s theory about the radi[iation] of heat must be erroneous.

13 m. past 1 o'c. Therm. 195°. 16 m. past 1. Therm. 200°! Have laid off every thing but my boots: could not bear the touch of any thing. Breathe cooler on exhal[ation] than on inhal[ation].

Thermometer 210°. Watch stopped, owing to expan[sion] of metal. Flame overhead decreasing. Light failing. Can see part of the copper changing to a dull red Water would boil now where I hold the pencil in my fingers. But for the rubbish, my clothes on [which] I stand would [take] fire. I have taken off my boots: the metal heels have left their mark singed in the cloth.

220°. I am to be roasted alive. My last wishes are with _________ and the dear ones. Oh, my God, have mercy on me and support her! I shall suffer greater pain than any other man but Phal[aris]. A dead ox would be baked if hung [where] I now stand.

228°. The soles of my feet are blistering. One spot of the copper is quite red-hot. My vital[s] are turning to sweat. Gracious God, how long is this to last! I must shrivel soon now. God grant that I may die before the hot metal touches me! Oh my dearest ______!

232°. Whoever finds this, take it to Mr ________ of ________ St., and leave all to his discr[etion]. The thermometer burns my hand - I have dropped it, and it [is] broken. The heat increas[es]. The smell of the metal is suffocating. I must soon stop.

The heat has increased very [much]. I can hold the tablets but a little longer. My vitals are drying up. The persp[iration] is coming slowly. I am blistering all over. [Good God, what have I done?] (erased). Have mercy on my soul for Christ's sake - O God, have mercy on my soul! I die, forgiving all my en[emies].

With almost the last effort I was capable of making, I put the tablets with a heavy piece of mortar (but for the mortar I would have been burned to the knees where I stood) into the end of my handkerchief, and flung it with all my force out of the mouth of my fiery prison. The agony I endured in moving my naked arm so rapidly through the hot air was almost insupportable ; it was like stirring boiling water with it. So great was the pain that I had almost fainted; and when I felt the sickness and giddiness that precede a swoon, I was almost grateful for it; as I knew that if I fell on the metal below me, I would, in all probability, be deprived of life during my insensibility. But the symptoms of fainting left me - a prey to only more acute feelings of bodily agony. I stood with blisters rising on my shoulders, and the process of decomposition by fire actually beginning on the skin of my legs. The whole fluids of my body had been drained in secreting perspiration, and in supplying my lungs with the moisture necessary to enable them to preserve the temperature of the system. It is my firm belief that, had fluids remained in my body sufficient to supply the necessary serum, I would have been one blister from head to foot. Excruciating is a weak word to express my agony.

In this state my eye fell on the veins of my arm, where they appeared, distended with their sluggish current in the red light. The flame drew back, and left me for a moment in darkness - darkness made visible by the lurid glare of the copper, which, round the surface of the stopcock, now shone with a red heat strong enough to make the outlines of my horrid prison discernible. A dark thought crossed my mind - a thought engendered by the devil, but hardly in a hell more frightful. The heavy rolling flame swung back again on the burdened night-wind, and threw a flickering glare upon the singed mass of clothes on which I stood. I dragged up the trowsers, and thrust a desperate hand into the pocket - the stuff of which it was made was smoking with the heat of the loose silver it contained - but it was not money I was in search of - it was a knife! I grasped it - I half unclasped it - it burned the finger and thumb of my right hand as if I had closed them on a coal of fire. I flung the instrument of self-destruction from me, and cried aloud to God NEVER TO LEAVE ME IN TEMPTATION.

I did not cry in vain - there were voices above me - I heard them distinctly - I heard footsteps on the platform - they were gone - no, they were returning - they were coming to my rescue. Good God! how shall I describe the awful sense of a present Providence - the almost overpowering hope - the agonizing doubts - and then the joy, the gratitude, the delirious ecstasy which I experienced within the next half minute, as, in the pauses of the flames roaring (for it still poured through. the building like a raging river), the voices of my deliverers sounded louder, or fainter, or liker imaginary sounds, or voices of real beings, until at length that ladder, which was to me the welcomest sight that ever the sun shone on, was lowered down by hurried and tremulous hands, amid the shudders of those who never expected to see more of the poor sufferer below than a heap of steaming blood-stained cinders? or how shall I attempt to describe the astonisbment, the pity, the honest pleasure of those benevolent men, when they found that, although speechless (for in all my fauces was not as much moisture as would have enabled me to swallow the smallest crumb of bread, and my tongue lay in my mouth little better than a piece of dry sponge), I was nevertheless able to climb up out of that torrid atmosphere into which no fireman would venture to descend? I cannot do either, and I will not much longer dwell on this part of the night's adventure; suffice it to say, my last missive had fortunately reached its destination, and brought my deliverers to my assistance. They carried me in blankets to the hospital; here I received all the aid that medical service could bestow, until sufficiently recovered to be transported to my own lodgings, where I remained, suffering from the effects of a degree of heat, such as perhaps no other human being ever endured and lived, for six weeks and upwards.

I am quite satisfied that had the thermometer not been broken, and had I possessed any means of suspending it (for I could not have held it in my hand much longer), it would have shown a temperature much higher than in the experiments of either Blagden or Bankes. I am sure a few minutes longer would have been certain death, so that I may safely say I have endured the highest temperature of any man on record. My bodily temperature, except on some portions of the scarfskin, at no time rose above 110° or 112°, and during the latter part of my sufferings it was a great relief to my hands to place them on any part of my person. In fact, I have no doubt there was at one time a difference of 180° to 190°, between the temperature of my body and that of the surrounding air.

_____ Street, Dublin,
July 5, 1837.