The Sun.
London, England, 1849-07-19 00:00:00

THE FIRE ANNIHILATOR•

Such is the title given to a wonderful machine in
vented by a gentleman named Phillips. A demonstra
Lion of the cup ibilities of the invention took place a few
days ago, at he Gas Works, Vauxhall, and was attended
with the utmost success. It is impossible, when we for
a moment think of the numberless lives lost by fire, to
overrate the value of this important invention, yet it is in
form simple, and, what is better (for the million), cheap
and portable: for instance, it may be placed in a closet,
or in the hall, as a piece of furniture, and may be con-
veniently carried by a female, being about the weight of
a loaded coal scuttle. Annihilators of larger power, we
are inform. d, will be easily portable by a man, and the
machine for the protection of large establishments may
be conveniently constructed by fitting up a convenient
part of the premises (say five feet square), the vapour
being conveyed, by means of flexible tubing, to such part
of the building as may be on fire. A number of expe-
riments took place, among which we may mention that
a model of an ordinary house was filled with pieces of
wood immersed in turpentine, shavings, oil, pieces of tar
barrel, and other materials of the most inflammable
nature; fire was applied, and the flames rose with a per-
fectly roaring noise; the annihilator was applied, the
vapour rushing from which with a hissing sound abso-
lutely tore down the flames in less time than we have taken
to describe the model building and the materials used
Again, a very pretty model of an East Indiaman was ex
hibited, likewise charged. Flame was applied to the ship,
and the fire raged lore and aft with great violence. The
vapour was again employed, and with similar success. It
is solacing to the feelings to contemplate any means of
protection against the horrors of a ship on fire during
its voyage, having regard only to the ordinary crew, but
to imagine such a calamity happening to an emigrant
ship, such, for instance, as the ill fated Ocean Monarch,
crowded with passengers, how truly may this invention
be termed invaluable. It is well known, that on such
occasions it is found impracticable to apply water to the
part of the hold where the fire may be, but as the
principle of this invention is the emission of a humid
vapour with prodigious force, it would necessarily pene-
trate all the interstices between the articles of the cargo,
and not only effectually save the ship, but preserve many
hundred human beings from a fate too horrid to con-
template, and from which escape might otherwise prove
hopeless.
In cases of fire happening in houses, or single rooms,
the machine must be placed as near as circumstances will
permit, and the tube or mouth of the hose inserted into
the doorway, or into the window, and the lever or pin,
by which the charge is ignited, being then struck, the
vapour is discharged, and in a few seconds, the fire, hoowne-
ever fierce the flame, is entirely extinguished. at tar
vapour and a most important thing it
I or
vapour may be safely inhaled without any
:s t
the least ill effects, which the inventor proved to de
monstrathioant by placing the hose in his mouth,. and im-
bibingrcedt oues a most unsavory draught.
The inventioton a mrastylwaalysotrabion, abpyplimederseulyccecsasrlruyllyngtoa
fires occurring,
derwely-sized machine in the luggage-van.
m°w. must conclude, as we began, by stating it is a most
woribrful isregiios.