THE “HAYWARD HAND GRENADE.”

Poverty Bay Independent, Volume I, Issue 52, 22 September 1885, Page 2

THE “HAYWARD HAND GRENADE.”

The public trial of the “ Hayward Hand Grenade,” which took place on the firebell section on Saturday last, before a large crowd of spectators, proved most eminently satisfactory. A high hoarding was erected, and well coated with coal tar and kerosene, while at the bottom was a quantity of light wood and shavings, well saturated with the same inflammable material, A light was applied, and the whole mass was speedily in such a large volume of flame as to cause the spectators to surge back to a respectful distance. When the flames were roaring and shooting forth in large volumes, Mr Isitt threw one of the grenades, which struck and burst about half-way up the hoarding, and, as if by magic, the whole upper portion of the flames was instantly extinguished, leaving but a “handful ” of fire at the bottom, which a second grenade reduced to a few smouldering embers.

Although Mr Isitt only claimed for the grenade the virtue of suppressing insipient fires, yet we must confess to having experienced great surprise at the effect which one grenade had upon so large a volume of flame, and feel convinced that the “ Hayward Hand Grenade ” is of far more efficacy in suppressing fire than any other known 1 agency’ of the kind, and there can be no possible doubt but that if every dwelling-house were provided with a few of “Hayward’s Grenades” the chances of total destruction from fire would be reduced to the barest minimum.