Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-01-10

available agent for extiuguishing flame. But
upon Hame-the really destructive property OF
fire-water, as Mr.. Phillips clearly showed, has
no effect whatever. All that the water does, Is
to saturate the Burning materials, and prevent
the further emission of nfammable gases but,
before this can be done effectually, considerable
time must necessarily elapse, as In ordinary Ca
ses of fire, water can be applied only partially
the flames in the interval, increasing with tear
full rapidly Besides, many materials, ana 'hose
especially Of the most inhammabe nature coui-
pletely resist the effects of water For ihS'anoo'
water poured upon OIL turpentne, tar sugar'
and other highly inAammable substances IN
state of combustion only increases the evil;
whereas Mr.. Phillips readily extingushes them
by a machine easily portable by man Or wo-
man. which can be put in motion in an instant,
and from which stream of acrated vapor IS Tor
chilly elected in which flames cannot exist. Inc
experiments were first shown on a small SCALE
Spirits Of turpentine were set on fire IN an IRON
vessel water was poured on the fame, and no
effect was produced brs on stream OF Vapor
from the machinery being directed upon IT. the
fame was instantly extinguished. A model oil
house was next exhibited, in which wood sat
urated with rosin and spirits of turpentine was
ignitcd; this burning mass was also extnguish-
ed with facility; and then model OF ship,
filed with similar infammabe materials, was
used. The flame here poured out Of the hold
to q considerable height but were as readily eX-
tinguishcd as before; and it is right to inform
our readers, that the machine employed in these
three instances did not exceed in size pint
cup. Mr. Phillips next explained the consruc'
ton of the machine, and the method OF using 1t.
The machine for ordinary use two or three OF
which he would recommend to be kept i'll readl-
ness in dwelling houses is about 10 inches IN
height by 10 in diameter, and weighing nearly
DO lts. 1t consists of an outer iron case, with
chamber at the bottom containing Water-two
cylindrical cases one inside the other, perforated
with holes; in the inner case is placed the charge
which generates the vapor; in the centre of the
charge is q hole of three or four inches IN depth'
into this hole is placed glass bottle containing
the printing Of the charge; this being broken
ignition of the charge takes place. This Is Ell
fected by small iron piston, placed in the cov-
er of the machine, being driven down fo'cibly.
To prevent an accidental ignition of the charge,
this piston is protected by wooden plug at the
Top of the cover. and which is taken out on the
machine being wanted, the smaller end of the
plug serving as an instrument for striking down
the piston, and thus breaking the bottle, ignltlng
the charge, and causing all instantaneous ennis
sion of the vapor, in which, as we have before
said, flame cannot exist. Mr.. Phillips next prov
ed the efficiency of his invention on large and
imposing scale. Nor is the utility of Mr.. Phil
lpss machine confined to the bare extinction of
the fire. The vapor which issues from it acts
also as purifier of the atmosphere, which has
been rendered by the fire destructive of life