INFERNAL MACHINES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1029, 19 December 1883, Page 4

INFERNAL MACHINES.

The most powerful infernal machine made is what is known as the “ eight day machine.” Like the “ ticker ”it can, however, be set from one minute upward. A machine of this description recently made in Philadelphia was 1410 high, 6in square, and contained the equivalent of 3,0001 b of gunpowder. It can, however, have either a square or spherical shape. It,is made ot galvanised iron or stout tin. The clock movement is so arranged that it can be taken out and away from the machine and connected again at a moment’s notice. The operator, if he desires to divert suspicion, carries the empty can in his hand and the clock movement in his coat-tail pocket. The explosion is caused by detonation. A sliding bar of brass, drawn by a screw attached to the movement, when it arrives at the slot in the small' brass disc, springs upon a delicate glass vial made of a hair tube. The vial, which contains a powerful acid, and is hermetically sealed, in breaking allows the acid to escape. This causes the detonation, and the explosion follows. The wire on the top of the movement, which is heft| jp.. place by a rubber band,' cqnnectS with Ihecap. The acid runst intoWhlorate of potash combination. Tms*'machine can be sunk in water or secreted in any liquid or combox of oranges, a keg of nails, or a loaf of bread. The force of the explosion would be sufficient to tear the largest building in the world to atoms. If placed in the basement of the Capitol at Washington and set off, not onensfPoe would be left standing upon another. A most peculiarly constructed and dead machine is “ the little exterminator.” It is two inches high and four inches square, of thin sheet brass, nickled on the inside and outside, and has no lid, only a minute hole in one corne;r. The machine is filled with a volatile, the fumes of which cause instantaneous death. The principle is the same .as that of the ancient Chinese “stink-pot,” used by them so effectively in the warfare with pirates. A thin brass tube runs through the small hole in the corner, having upon its outer end a screw cap. Upon the cap is a delicate watch movement. A spring falls into a slot and [releases a minute steel spring saw, which is operated by the movement, and saws off the delicate tube. This establishes direct communication with the oxygen of the air, which ignites the volatile. TOie most sickening perfumes pour out from the box, killing every person within a§ radius of one hundred feet. The sensation of this volatile is like that caused by cayenne pepper. There is an intense burning in the mouth, ears and* eyes, and around the head. Respiration is snatched away as if by a puff of hot air. Experiments have been made upon cats. They died in less thanJhree seconds. There is a large class of infernal machines* .known :as “bottle machines,” The most ordinary are closed in pint beer bottles, which can be conveniently carried in the coat pocket. The neck of the bottle is hermetically sealed with a rubber; cork, through which runs a brass tube divided into two parts by a thin metallic disc, usually made of brass. The top compartment of the is shut off from the air by means of a screw cap, through which, in turn, fups a -key. Also contained in the upper compartment is a small vial of powerful acid. By turning the key the Vial is broken and the acid falling upon the disc eats into the powder, which is packed closely. The time of explosion depends upon the thickness of the disc.'/ The acid, the instant it comes in contact with the powder, explodes it. • A large : number of these machines Were made for the Nihilists, to be used at the coronation of the Czar. The newest invention, and one which has met With much favor at St Petersburg, is.what is called the “ hat exploder.” Two exceedingly thin circular discs of sheet brass having a layer of powder an inch thick, are soldered and riveted hermetically together, and sown in the top of an ordinary hat. The entire • weight of the machine, although it contains the equivalent of Bolb of powder, lis.pnly 16 pz. The hat is waved or -athrown up into the air. Falling, it explodes. : The device looks for all the ’’World like two pancakes stuck together. ~ A great many hand-grenades are made m New York. They are hollow balls of iron, through which runs a tube, surmounted ? by a button. The button is lead. The grenade falls by force of gravity upon the side on which is the heavy lead button. The button is pressed, breaks a vial of acid, and the acid causes the explosion. A grenade 3 in in diameter contains the equivalent of xoolb of powder. The eight-day machine has been made to contain Greek fire, which is set iOff by the clockwork, burning . down the building in which it is placed. In this instance there is no explosion. It ,is wonderful to what extremes of ingenuity the inventors of infernal ma- , ; chines have gone. Machines have been and are being made in the shape of ' chunks of cbaV They explode when ; throWn on the fire. One manufacturer f ‘ has made a novel machine in the shape of a satchel. The handle connects with 7: vial : inside, or with a spring falling into a slot Lifting the satchel or touching the handle explodes it. Not . long ago, in New York, a machine of v the pancake pattern was so constructed ‘ ail to be made into .shoe soles. Walking on the spies for some time causes them to explode, and woe be unto the unfortunate possessor. The demand for inVernal machihes increases constantly, and from the most unexpected quarters. ,s ,i J - -