The true Democrat., 1855-08-14
The InfernaI Machines at SebastOpol and
 in the Baltic.

The London Times correspondent gives the the Russians have stre"eJ tho grounds with about their outworks
 l was shown here Cat the Mamelon) one of these extraordinary fougqses, small mines, which are exploded at the touch of the foot, and which the Russians planted thickly about their advanced works. 4 strong case contain. ing powder Is sunk in the ground, and to it is attached thin glass tube containing su phurc or nitric acid. This portion of the tube IS just laid above the earth, where it can be readily hid by few blades of grass or stone. If . person steps on 1t he bends the tin tube and breaks the glass tube inside. The acid imme- diately escapes and runs down the tin tube till
 it arrives close its insertion into the case and there meets a few grains of chlorate of potash; combustion instantly takes place, the mine ex- plodes, and not only destroys everything near it, but throws out a quantity of bltumen, with which 1t Is coated h a state of ignition, so as burn whatever it rests upon. Later in the day l very nearly had practical experience of the 'vorkng of one of these mines for an English sentry. who kindly warned me of, did not in- dicate the exact direction till he found 1 was in danger of firing it, when he became very com muncatiyc on the subject. One of them blew up during the armstce, but don't know what damage it did. We have lost several men by
 them When the ground is occupied by the Russians they mark them by small flags which are removed when the enemy advance. It makes it disagreeable walking in the space be- tween the works.
 The following is description of one of the machines which are sunk in the Baltic, which bo oou,al rnI,nb a,nrah ahapcipp f ha allied fleets
 Each machine consists of a cone of galyan- zed iron sixteen inches in diameter at the base and twenty from base to apex; it is divided in~ to three chambers, the one near the bf se being largest, and containing air, causes it to float with the base uppermost; in the centre of this chamber is another, which holds a tube with a fuse ill it, and an apparatus for firing it. This consists of two little iron rods which move in guides, and are kept projected over the sides of the case by springs which press them out wards.
 When anything pushes either of these rods
 nwards. 1t strikes against lever, which moves like pendulum in the fuse tube, and the low CT end of the tube breaks or bends a small lead en tube, containing a combnstible compound, which Is set on fire by coming in contact with some sulphurlc acid held in capillary tube, which is broken at the same time, and so fires the fuse, which communicates with the pow der contained in the chamber at the apex of the cone, and which holds about nine or ten pounds
 At the extreme apex is brass ring to which is attached ,ope and some pieces of granite, which moors them about 3 or 10 feet below the surface, so that the only vessels they could hurt the gun-boats float quietly over them, and now we know what then are they have been disarmed of all their dread But they prove dangerous playthings; the commander in- chief was examining one of the fuse tubes that was supposed to be spoit for it was full of mud and water, when he accidentally touch ed the lever, and it exploded in his hands, scattering the mud into the faces of all present, and literally throwing dirt into their eyes, but doing no hurt.