Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-07-04
fCorresp',ntsat ofthe Boston Transcript
A New Fire AnnihiIator.
NEw Yong Mondav fn,o q fosf


your readers such description oft, as my limited
knowledge of It's peculiar construction and operation
Will allow. 1t is known Phillipss Fire Annihi-
lator and Is successful operation and use in
England. SO entrely has it answered the expecta-
lions of its inventors that it has already been in
troduced into the residence of the nobility from the
queen doWn-and also into the Crystal Palace
Lord Brougham recently stated in Parliament that
ne intended soon to submit proposition, that no
vessel be allowed to go to sea, without supply of
these Annlhllators On board mention these facts
toshow that am not talking about thing of possibili
ties and probabilities, but of actual permanent, /
practical existence. -.. }..
" Phillips Annihilator' extnguishes fire without
the use OF water The machines of various Sizes
depending upon the use to which they are required
to be applied. Those ordinarily used for the pro-
lection OF dwellings and stores, about the of
coal scuttle, and weigh about twenty pounds each
ihey are made OF strong sheet iron, somewhat in
the form OF pail with strong cover, and with va
rlous compartments inside. Within these several
divisions placed a number of chemical prepara-
tons, which, when brought into contact by simple
mechanlcal contrlvance, produce an immense volume
OF gaseous vapor or steam, which rushes out from
an aperature in the cover and fills the room. This
vapour coming in contact with flames instantly ex-
tnguishes it, although it can be breathed with per-
feet lmpunlty room that is filled with fame and
smoke, to be inaccessible under ordinary Cir
cumstances, readily be entered with of these
machines in operation.
The Annihilator instantly invelops ITSELF and the
person holding it, in atmosphere which can be
breathed at the same time keeps at bay and extin-
cuisines all flame in the apartment. l have not
examined the chemical preparations, or the results
OF their combination to state the precise chem
cal effect upon the fame in extinguishing it, But
that such is the effect no one can doubt who has
paid any attention to the accounts given in the En-
gEsh journals. The London Times, in giving a re-
port of some experiments witnessed, says Before
this experiment shown Mr. Phillips gave sort
of explanatory lecture, illustrated smaller scale
He stated that the great advantages passed by the
gas employed by him water were follows -
The gas was evolved at temperature of about 100
degrees Fahrenheit, and came in contact with flame
having a temperature OF about 800 degrees, and
| under which temperature it could not exist. The
gas absorbed part of this heat, and not only in
proportion to It's original Volume, but expanded as
much as hundred times more each part still retain
| ing highly absorbent powers
| Now, water thrown into a body Of flame only act
ed on the part Immediately in contact with it, and
although it mi ht be used at say 80 degrees Fahren
heit much lower than the gas yet it found that
very small part assumed the form of vapori in
ing in contact with flame and spread through it :;
the greater quantity fell down by it's superior ght
| and was wasted, Mr.. Phillips then showed an ex-
pertinent to prove this He lighted coal gas in the
| hold of model of ship and poured jug after jug
of water on it without any effect, but Immediately
the vapor was brought in contact with it the flames
was extinguishedn
| The cost of such q machine as I have mentioned
|
charged for one dollar. One such machine is album
dainty sufficient for protection ofany ordinary dwell
ing house store Larger machines to WHEELS
and to which hose be attached and used for large
fires cost from two to three hundred dollars
each
The following description Of a series of striking
experiments with the Annihilator by Mr.. Philips,
will be read with interest 1t is taken from the Lon
don Shipping Gazette:
"We attended another demonstration Of the pow
and nj
Mlbank on Tuesday last, the spot chosen (Alessrs.
Johnsons stone-yard) being especially for the con-
venence of members of the Legislature and other
public Our business in attending these exper-
ments frequently is to find out causes of failure
should such occur; but the more we are convinced
Of its unerring certainty, rendered also more vaua-
BILE by the facility with which it is applied under
every conceivable circumstance which may attend a
confagraton. The first exhibition in wood
framed house, filled with planking and shavings
turated with turpentine and tar; when fercely ig-
nited, the flames pouring out at the windows and
through the roof the application of two hand ma
chimes quenched the fire completely in three min
utes.
The second trial was on a tank twenty feet long
and nine feet WIDE constructed of wood and filed with
CAST this the most nf1ammable material known
was set fire to- and allowed to attain the greatest
possible intensity driving the spectators to dis
lance a steam of vapor directed from machine
chased away the flame; and this experiment, like
the first was completely successful The third, how
ever was more important affair, and the more par
cularly Interesting to us, it is to the shipping
interest that earnestly commenced the invention
The hold of vessel of about $50 tons, moored of
the wharf, filled with sugar hogsheads turpen
tine barrels rosin barrels, SC, all being filed with
shavings, which turpentine and rosn plentiful
y sprinkled the whole set light to from below anC
the matches opened to give the fire frer play. When
the combustion was complete and the flames ascen
ded high above the decks, two men, each bearing
No. 3 machine, by directing the nozzle of the appa
ratus to the aperture succeeded in dispeng every
trace of burning in far less time than it takes to
cord the fact and as the vapor in this case descen
ded to do it's extraordinary work of annhatng thu
S mighty antagonistic element. it indubitab!y
manifest to every beholder, that it mi ht with
and certainty be applied under every possible con
tingency on shpboard both life and property beins
rescued from the awful danger all but instantaneous
: ly on the application
: A similar description of the above experiments
given in the London Times, Chronicle, Post, Adver
S tiser, Journal &c. all expressing entire satisfaction
o with the results witnessed
t In conclusion, will glance at a few of the advan
tages of this invention water in extinguishin
: fire
First. 1t is directly at hand, and can be applie
It at once without giving any alarm. In nine case
e out of ten fires when first discovered confined
= one room. and although the room may be so fille
If with smoke and flames to be entirely Inaccessible
T. with the ordinary apparatus of water yet with on
e of these fire annihilators in hand the can b
II entered with safety and the flames at once extin
l. guished The gas thrown out envelopes the person
is holding the machine in a vapor which is breathe
J. readily and at the time drives the flames ava
and extinguishes them. With the present tardy ar
"a rangement, alarm is given, and before waite