INFERNAL MACHINES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2768, 7 August 1883, Page 3

INFERNAL MACHINES.

(Neio York World.) I In New York city to-day and m Philadelphia infernal machines of every conceivable pattern are being manufactured, ' m many instances within a stone's throw 1 of the head-quarters of.the law. Every day there go out from the ports of those 1 two cities not less than two dozen of these ' machines, any one of them of the power [ of that which caused the recent explosion ia the Government buildings m Loni don. Once m a while a machine is I discovered on board a ship about to sail. i The officers seize it, but the other eleven f machines on the same ship they fail to I find for good and sufficient reasons. The . one machine was so placed that the > Custom House officials could not reaion- > ably overlook it. It was carelessly packed, • thereby giving the impression that all oi 1 such machines are carelessly packed, ot 1 that they can be easily discovered. In 1 this way the law is thrown off the scent. How easy is such an undertaking will 3 most clearly appear from a description , of a few of the machines, such at ] are m great demand among the Feniani , and Nihilists of Russia. The most com' 1 mon form of infernal machine is thai a known as the "tioker." To all intenti > and purposes it is an ordinary tin can, f very like that m which, astral oil is sold, f The can, for such it is,' is made of hoavj

o galvanised iron, one-sixteenth of an inch >' m thickness. It is oue foot high, and four d inches square. This machine as well as fc ' all of those now made m this country, are y filled with a new powderinvented by George Holj<ate, of Philadelphia. It hag the form of ordinary gunpowder, is of a dark brown U color, only explodes m connection with c the simultaneous application of fire and Ij power, and is estimated to be two hun--0 dred times as powerful as giant gunt powder. The can holds, therefore, the c equivalent of 9001bs of powder. Upon g one side and near the top of the can is a 'attached, by means of brasa screws, an n ordinary clock-spring movement. Above y this movement, and connected with it, is 1 a small round brass wheel, about an inch m diameter, having upon one portion of the 0 circumfereuco a slot or notch. A spring ' presses upon tho edge of the wheel, which * revolves. When the slot is reached m the circuit, tho spring falls into it with a ' snap, which m turn releases another 1 spring falling upon a nipple upon which is a gun cap. Tho nipple is of iron, and j oxtends down into the powder, and the 3 explosion of tho cap instantaneously sets , off the compound m tho bottom of the i can. The machine can be set anywhere i between one minute and thirty-six hours. When all is ready, the operator closes tho lid, fastens it with an iron locker, and deposits it whero ho may desire to cause the oxploaion. It can be kicked, rolled around, or hammered, but until the spring falls into tho slot and oxi plodes the cap there is no danger m its ■ handling. By putting tho ear close to I tho lid, the melancholy tick-tick of the i clock oan be heard, but this is not noticeable at a distance of six feet. Tho 1 machine ia air tight, and water or any 1 like fluid has no effect on the explosive compound, even were it not hermetically sealed. It can be securely packed m a barrel of lard, a barrel of petroleum, a box of tobacco, a bag of flour, or with any of those articles of export which are not likely to attract attention. The pjwer of such a machine depends, of course, upon tho nature of the confined space m which it is placed. The most powerful infernal machine mado is what is known as an "eight-day machine." Like the " tickor," it c«n, however, bo set from ono minute upwards. A machine of this description recently made by Holgato, of Philadelphia, was fourteen inches high, sir inches Bquare, and contained the equivalent of 3000 lbs of gunpowder. It can, however, have either a square or spherical shape. It is .nado of galvanised iron or stout tin. The clock movoment is so arranged that it can bo taken out and away from tho machine and connected again at a moment's notice. Tho operator, if ho desires to avorfc suspicion, carries the empty can m his hand and tho clock movoment m his coat-tail pocket. The explosion is caused by detonation. A sliding bar of brass, drawn by a screw attached to the movoment, when it arrives at tho slot m the small brass disc, springs upon adelicato glass phial, made of a hair tuba. Tho phial, which contains a powerful acid, and is hermetically sealed, m breaking allows the acid to eacapn. This causes tho detonation, and tho oxploaion follows. Tho wire on top of tho movement, which is held m place by a rubber band, connects with the cap. The acid runs into a chlorato of potash combination. This machine- can be sunk m water, or secrotod m any liquid or compound — m a box of oranges, a keg of nails, or a loaf of bread. The force of the oxplosion would bo sufficient to tear the largest building m tho world to atoms. If placed m the basement of the Capitol at Washington and set off, not one atone would be loft standing upon anothor. A most peculiarly-constructed and deadly machine is tho "Little Exterminator." It is 2 inches high and 4 inches square, of thin sheet braas, nickelled on tho inside and outside, and has no lid, only a minute holo m ono corner. Tho machine is fillod with a volatile substance, the fumes of which causo instantaneous doath. Tho principlo is tho same as that of tho ancient Chinese " stink-pot," used by them so effectively m warfare with pirates. A thin braas tube runs m through tho small hole m 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 minuto steel spring saw, which is operated by the movement, and saws off tho delicate tube. This establishes direct communication with the oxygen of tho air, which ignites tho matter. The most sickening perfumes pour out from the box, killing every person within a radius of 100 feet. Tho Bensation of this volatile is like that caused by cayenno peppor. Thero is an intense burning m the mouth, ears, and eyes, and around tho heart. Respiration is snatched away as if by a puff of hot air. Experiments have been made upon cats. They die m lea* than threo seconds. There is a large class of infernal machines known as " bottle machines." Tho most ordinary forms are enclosed m pint boer bottlos, which can bo conveniently carried m tlio coat pocket. Tho neck of the bottlo is hermetically sealed with a rubber cork, through which runs a brass tubo divided into two parti by a thin metallic disc, usually made of brass. Tho top compartment of the tube is shut off from tho air by means of a screw cap, through which m turn, runs a key. Also contained m this upper compart--1 ment is a small phial of powerful acid. By turning the key the phial is broken, and the acid falling upon tho disc, eats through to the powtJor, which is packed closely. The time of explosion depends upon the thickness of the disc. The acid, the instant it cornea m contact with tho powder, explodes it. A largo number of these machines wore made for the , Nihilists, to be used at the coronation of the Czar. The newest invention, and one which has met with much favor m 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 vivetted hermetically together, and sewn m the top of an ordinary hat. The entire weight of tho machine, although it contains the equivalent of 801bs of powder, is only 16oz. The hat is waved or thrown up m the air ; falling, . it explodes. The device looks for all the ■ world like two pancakes Btuck together. A groat many hand grenades are made m New York. They aro hollow balls of iron, through which runs ' a tubo surmounted by a button. " Tho button is lead. . The grenade falls > by force of gravity upon the side on T which is the lead hoavy button. The 1 button is pressed, breaks a vial of acid, 3 and the acid causes the explosion. A 3 grenade 3h inches m diameter contain* the r equivalent of lOOlbs of powder. The 1 eight-day machine has been made to con- " tain Greek fire, which is set off by the 1 clockwork, burning down the building m 1 which it is placed. In this instance there 1 is no explosion. 16 is wonderful to what 3 extremes of ingenuity the inventors of in--3 fernal machines have gone. Machines 3 have been made and are being made m the * shape of chunks of coal. They explode * when thrown on tho fire. Holgate has * made a novel machine m the shape of a r satchel. The handle connects with a vial 1 inside, or with a spring falling into a slot. * Lifting the satchel, or touching the ' handle, explodes it. Not long ago, m 1 Now York, a machine of tho pancake 8 pattern was so constructed as to bo made 8 into shoe soles. Walking on the aolea for •• a certain lime causes them to explode, and fc woe be unto the unfortunate possessor. The demand for infernal machines .! increases constantly, and from the f most unexpected quarters. There aro

living at New York and Philadelphia representatives of all the revolutionary societies m the world. They are not confined to Europe, but extend through Mexico and South America. A considerable number of eight-day and thirty-hour machines have been mado m Philadelphia and sent to San Domingo and Hayti. A large order is now awaiting shipment into Mexico. Peru alone, of the South American countries, has used them. There were sent at one time into that kingdom a* dozen of the eight-day machines, and this within six months. Italy, Germany and Austria buy plenteously. From certain indications it would appear that some sort of movement is speedily contemplated m Italy. An unusually large number of machines have been bought m Philadelphia to be sont to that country, and orders are coming m every day. Holgate was asked the other day what would be the effect of the Explosive Act now before the Pennsylvania Legislature. He Baid, "It will be inoperative. My machines are not infernal machines until they are made so. Anything can be made into an infernal machine — an orange, a hat, a boot, a coat, a ahovol, a pound of svgar — anything m fact. To crush tho business m this way is impossible."