The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1850-07-08
PAINE'S LIGHT.

respecting the alleged discovery of Henry NJ PANE as
published by the Boston and New York papers. Fol-
lowing will be found letter from Capt. Paine in
ation to it.
WoRcEsTER, Mass, Tuesday, June 25
We, the undersigned, met at the Worcester Ho-
tel this day by appointment-Mr. Green the agent
of Mr.. Pedrick, having gwen to Mr.. Roome the as
surance that Mr.. Paine would this day be present
and prove the satisfaction of such scientific gen.
tlemen as he mr. Roome) might invite, that his
| discovery Of method of decomposlng water
and generating Illuminating gas was genuine andval
liable.
Having been introduced to Mr.. Pedrick, the part
ner of Mr. Paine, by Mr. Green, the latter stated
that he was sorry Mr. Paine could not be present,
having been called from the city by a previous en-
gagement Mr.. Pedrick invited us to visit the ma
chlnery of Mr. Paine, at his room in the Worcester
Exchange building. We accordingly proceeded to
do SO and were there introduced to younger broth
er of Mr.. Paine.
In the centre of the room we saw dsjonted
piece of machinery, said by Mr.. Pedrick to be the
machine with which Mr. Paine decomposes water.
MIR. Pedrick and Mr.. Paine, Jr explained as far,
they sad they could do So the action Of this ma
chine, but from its disjonted and imperfect state we
could form no definite idea of its mode of operation.
Thence we accompanied Messrs. Pedrick and
Green to the dwelling of Mr.. Paine, the brother of
house we were ushered into front parlor A two
| light gas bracket stood the mantle. Mr.. Paine
Jr., lighted one Of the burners, which gave very
bright light On smelling the gas, as it passed
through these burners when not lighted, it had the
odor Of oil or resin gas. We were then shown into
a basement room in the of the house. In this
room supported on four bricks, was box about two
feet square and ten inches high, said by Mr.. Paine
Jr to contain the magnets-two strips of copper,
/ to ha no cd Tho hox-t
circular tin vessel about two feet high and about
eight inches in diameter, resting the top of the
box, and this tin vessel Mr.. Paine, Jr. called the
decomposlng vessel. From this vessel pipe passed
through the wall, and we were told connected with
a gas holder placed on the outside of the building
From this pipe branch leading to small tin
cylinder of the capacity of quart measure.
In this cylinder Mr.. Paine, Jr. said the gas used
in the house carbonized A small plugged open
ing attached to this cylinder leaked DR.. Torrey tas-
ted the liquid which dropped, and ascertaned it to
be water. Another branch pipe leading from the
one connecting the gas holder with the decomposing
vessel, turned off in another direction and bending
downward, passed through the cork of a wide-neck-
ed bottle and dipped into spirits of turpentine-this
bottle was of glass. Another tube was inserted in
the cork, with burner attached to its upper end
Mr.. Paine having lighted the gas, it burned with a
bright light, proving it to be carburetted hydrogen
Mr. Paine and Mr.. Pedrick both assured US that
the gas was hydrogen, produced from water by the
e machine before u.s. and that it. was carbonized by
being passed through the turpentine alone
Mr.. Roome then asked Mr.. Paine, Jr to discon
meet the pipe from the bottle Of turpentne and prove
the gas TO be free hydrogen by burning it-This Mr.
Paine refused to do saying that his brother had for
v hidden his dsconnecting any pipe.
lie Mr. Blake then asked Mr.. Pedrck if he would per
init the pipe that dipped into the spirits of urpentn
to be drawn through the cork far enough to raise
AZ above the surface of the turpentine.
l. After some conversation between Mr.. Pedrick an
+, young MIR. Paine, during which the latter left til
room and returned, Mr.. Pedriclx consented, an
the pipe was raised requested; on applying
49, match, the gas burned with very feeble light
- showing the presence of free hydrogen. Mr. Room
=. then asked that the pipe be again immersed in tn
- turpentine and the burner lighted as before Nj
. Paine, Jr objected, but as we all insisted upon tn
=, experiment being made it done, and the fam
- from the gas after passing thro' turpentine wa
~ proved beyond all doubt in minds to be hydro
gen only and not carburetted hydrogen as at first
~ and TO be totally unfit for illumination Mr. Paine
~ Jr. witnessing the result of the last experiment
appeared confused and declared that the light burne
: as well as before, but Drs. Torrey and Chiffon toll
- him that the light did not burn as well as before bu
u was much paler to which we all assented Mi
Paine then shut off the gas and positively refused
al permit further examination.
nd (Signed,)
JOHN TORREY, NJ d. Prof Chemistry in Colleg
Of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
JAMES r.. Chiffon, NJ D. Practical Chemis
v New York.
a. CHARLES ROOME, Engineer Manhatton Gas works
o. New York.
b. GEORGE DARRACOrT, Agent Boston Gas Co.
/ J. II. BLAKE, Engineer and Chemist Boston,
- LETTER FROM HENRY M. PAINE.
b. To THE EDITOR OF THE SPY:
Dear Sir:-As there has been great deal said o
late, about the visit of committee Of gentlemen for
n New York, to inspect the Hydro, Electric Light, anc
of many erroneous statements made, will you do me thu
k kindness to publish the following correct statements