DYNAMITE IN AMERICA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 959, 2 June 1883, Page 2

DYNAMITE IN AMERICA.

The notorious manufacturer of explosive machines in Philadelphia, George Holgate, has been interviewed

conceding his business, by a reporter; on the staff of Record. He remarked that,’ from the description of the effect of the- explosion of the infernal machine outside the Government office in London, it must have been caused by a power much greater and more destructive than dynamite. Holgale made no secret of the business in. which he is engaged, and it is stated that h ; has, probably ticikde mote internal machines than any other , e man J.n, the., linked--States, Quite recently- he has sold four explo-. sive mach'nes to persons in Philadelphia. Each of these contrivances can be placed in a cigar box, and possesses an explosive force equal to poolbs of gunpowder. - He nas also constructed and sold two burning machines, which can be set for any number of hours, and when sprung create a flame equal to 100 gas jets, and an intensity of heat equal to 1,000 such gas jets. “ I know nothing,” he said to the reporter, “of the uses to which my machines are put. Ino more ask a man when he buys one whether he proposes to blow up a Czar or set fire to a palace, than a gunsmith asks his customers whether they are about to commit murder, or a match merchant asks if his purchaser is about to become an incendiary. I make the machines for those who want them. I do not believe in killing kings with bombs, nor do I think it proper to assassinate statesmen with knives ; but I would not have the cutlery business stopped because bad men make improper use of the dagger. If the Nihilists are in earnest, if they possess half the courage .they are credited 'will be supremein a few leaf's. 11 ' ! P <3° not believe the Czar will be crowned.” It must be perfectly obvious that the machines above described can be used for no legitimate purpose, though this fact does not appear to have struck Mr George Holgate. Nor can they be compared wkh knives and guns, .which are articles of necessity.