The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-21
PHILLIPS FIRE ANNIHILATOR.

The invention Of gas which can instants-
neously quench fame, and yet be inhaled in
safety by the human lungs is certainly one Of the
most wonderful inventions Of this wonderful age
When brought into general use, It will effect
great changes In the business OF insurance,
diminish the annual loss Of property by fire, and
prove general and permanent benefit we COM
mend to the attention Of our readers the following
extracts in relation to this invention.
The London Times, in describing an exhibition
or demonstration of the practical uses Of this
invention, by setting fire to house and immedi-
ately extnguishing it with this machine, says:
The lecturer instanced the case Of q terrific
eruption which took place some years since in the
Mediterranean, when an island was thrown up
from depth of so fathoms The flames reached
a height of three miles, but as soon as vapor
arose the flames were extinguished on all the
points where it was seen; and, having witnessed
this fact his attention had been drawn to the sub
ject more closely. The vapor with which he could
extinguish burning mass was 80 powerful, that
were St. Paups Cathedral in flames in the interior,
he could infa ate it in two or three minutes If re-
quired. The vapor was perfectly iuuorions, and
tended TO purify the air, and under lite shield man
could approach close TO any flames, and extinguish
the fire. 1t drew out all noxous gases, and In the
case Of foul drains IL there we're a vent given, II
would purify them Immediately. In answer 10
question put by lady, Mr.. Phillipssaid that the
materials would last any time. The portable
Fire Annihilstor is less in size than an upright
ooal-scutte, sixteen inches In height by eight
inches in diemeter
The London Standard says;
II was astonishing to see with what ease the fire.
men, protected by the vapor emitted from the cyl
inder could deliberately and with impunity wdlk
INTO the middle of tire, whose heat caused distant
spectators to recoil and succeed In pouring the
vspor into the interior of the building This
combination OF gases is By no means injurious ia
animal hs--qats The contrary although 1t is ndom-
itably anti-combustive The fame Of gas, or Of
such combustible substances or fluids as cannot
be overcome Except by immersion) by means Of
water, are simultaneously extinguished by 1t.
The following remarks, which are perfectly con-
elusive on this point, are from The London o.
serpey:
II the results produced uubounded satisfaction
and astonishment the explanation of the nature
an( construction Of the Annihilator gave almost
equal delight; the immense power Of three or four
pounds OF charcoal, with two pounds of nitre and
two pounds Of plaster or gypsum, when converted
from solid TO gaseous state, and combined
with quart Of water, appeared To realize the
extreme Of scientific calculations, while the cheap
ness of the charge, Its preservation for years In
perfect readiness, the facility Of operating by q
smart touch on button, and the aaozious nature
Of the rapor, IN mich Lord Dudley Stuart and tho or
three oih1 genfiemeR tmmersed their faces wuhom
Inconvenience were considered the browning practi-
cal merits Of the invention; the only disappoint-
ment especially among the ladies, was that these
protectors are not ready for purchasers.
The London San fully settles this part of the
question as follows:
One thing and a most important thing IL is, IL
that the vapor may b. safely inhaled without any
mischief or the least i'll effects, mich the iapeaior
Propec 10 denomination By placing The hose In his
mouth, and inb,bing rha appeared 10 MS most
Hsapory dyngh.
The Bridgeport Conn Standard contains the
following article on this subject, which cannot
fail TO arrest the attention of the public:
FRE AssIHn.AroR We find that the nevsps.
pers, both In this country and 10 England, are
paying great attention TO this modern miracle.
Several Of the machines (which cost about sod
esch) are placed In the Queen's Palaces a Lon
don and Windsor, at which latter place . kre WAS
recently extinguished by one Of the machines.
which weuld otherwise have consumed property
worth million Of dollars The great Crystal
Palace salsc protected BY these machines In fAot