Spontaneous Combustion of "Prairies Matches"

New reports found on the fire in Waxahachie “It was thought the fires were the work of incendiaries, as in most instances no cause could be traced whereby the buildings could have taken fire from accidental causes, but finally matches in old Uncle Billy Oldham’s store in Waxahachie too fire whilst lying on a shelf, right under the sight of the clerks and proprietor, in broad daylight. The cat was out of the bag; the explanation of all the mysterious and alarming conflagrations was plain spontaneous ignition.”¹

News from Denton’s Vigilante Committee made a similar discovery. C. A. Williams later said that “the day was an oppressively hot one and there is not doubt in my mind but what the fires were all caused from the matches exploding by reason of the hot weather.”²

“Prairie Matches” or white phosphorous matches were widely distributed in the United States after 1836. Most consisted of a fifty-fifty mixture of potassium chlorate and antimony sulfide mixed as a paste and thickened with a little gum and rubbed onto the ends of small sticks. The mixture ignited easily, against any rough surface and under high air temperatures.

1. Is it possible that the fires were an accident?
   
   
2. You disagree that the fires were an accident and continue to investigate, believing the fires were part of a larger abolitionist plot in the state.