The Kanzas news., 1857-12-05
A Singular Disclosure.

| II 10 HO -SSCf0b tIdt ISuSSld, curing 0er
late war with England and France. had at
her command the inventive talent of the
United States. Men of superior science and
ability were detailed by the Emperor Mich
olas to search the Patent Office, and inves-
tigate everywhere the latest improvement in
military art; and whatever promised well
carefully tested and generously rewarded.
Among other things. it was suggested
to the late Russian Consul General at New
York that the terrible Greek fire of the an
clients had been re-discovered by young
inventor of New York, who was experiment
ting on Its application to a new system of
military defences.
The Consul General knew Mr.. Mont
Storm, the young inventor in question;
and, on bringing forward the subject, was
informed that whatever service he could
fender the inventor, he placed, without con-
ditions, completely at the service of Russia
until the close of the war.
The Allies were then before Sebastopol,
and Mont Storms first advice was TO carry
out a series of distinct wires from the cita-
del to the Redan, Malakoff, and every re-
doubt and advanced post which could pos
slbly fall into the hands of the Allies
Caisses and huge shells of particular con-
struction, charged with powder, and burn
ing material difficult to extinguish, were to
be laid in the most destructive positions
under the outer defences, and connected
with those concealed wires. By this appli-
cation of the electric telegraph-for this it
IS IN eftect-these posts could be hurled, at
will, to instant destruction at miles and
leagues distance. Half dozen vigilant and
well-pested men could watch over and
blow up, at the moment foe obtained pos
session, any extent of fort, highway, or
whatever approach they could manage to
plant with these formidable shells.
Something of the kind was imperfectly
attempted at the taking of lower Sebastopol;
but the French discovered and cut the bad
! ly-concealed wires, too hastily put down at
the last hour. The electric wire, however,
must be counted henceforth in the list of
military appliances, and, with the aid of the
Greek fire, and what the inventor styles the
nautilus principle" it may revolutionize
the existing war-system as completely as
cannon and gunpowder displaced chain-ar
NOR and archery.
1t was, however, principally with refer
ence to coast and harbor defence that Mont
Storm valued his discoveries and combina-
tions, and he was quietly preparing his ex
periments in that line, in cooperation with
the Russian Consul General, when the news
came of the peace negotiations. Mont
Storm then concluded to lay his plan before
| Congress, and ask for it a thorough public
trial; and an accomplished designer and
machinist was engaged to prepare the nee
essary drawings and specifications. This
man was an English Mormon self-sacri-
cling devotee TO his faith, but of excellent
private character apart from that, and exem-
plary in the discharge of the business con-
fided to his care.
The first set of drawings and specifca-
tons he prepared were submitted to Secre
tary Davis, with a request that he would
refer them to some officer of ability, as the
inventor wished the preliminary opinion of
some experienced military man on certain
points before they were presented to Con-
gress. Secretary Davis complied with this
request, and an officer of the highest char
acter and capacity was consulted on the sys-
TEN. This officer and Gen. Quitman, chair
man of the Military Committee of the House
of Representatives, and two other gentle
men, formerly in the military and naval SER
vice of Texas, were the only parties entrust-
ed with the details of Mont Storms system
of defence, with the exception, of course,
of the inventors Russian friends.
Upon the suggestion of some of these
parties Mont Storm withdrew his plans from
the Government archives, where they had
been filed, and prepared to make series of
experiments on the best mode of exhibiting
the incendiary material. AS he was much
occupied with some other invention, he made
inquiry for capable man to take charge of
his experiments; and soon found one whose
quick comprehension and mechanical inge-
nuity entirely fitted him to take charge of
the business.
To compress the whole subject in one SEN
tence, it now comes out that the pattern
maker and experimenters were all MormOns;
and after becoming perfect masters of what
ever there was to learn of the new system
of land defence, they left the service of the
inventor, and carried their knowledge to
Utah. They had satisfied themselves that
old kegs, hollow trees, common boxes, any
thing in short which could be made to con-
tain bottle of the burning fluid, little
powder, and a considerable amount of mis-
siles, whether of balls, iron scraps or peb-
bles, and fragments of rock, could be con-
verted into cheap and formidable batteries,
whose discharge could be governed, at al
most any distance, to a second of time; and
the Mortnons may be prepared to try the
powers of the new system in the defles of
Utah.
It is admitted that the Mormons are man
ufacturing arms, and their arrogant defiance
of the military forces of the United States,
and the boastings of their elders that they
are ready to send to swift destruction tens
of thousands of the Gentiles, if they dare
enter their Territory in battle array, may not
be altogether without serious meaning
The absolute and final result of conflict
between the Mormons and the legal authori-
ties Of the United States must be the trium-
phant vindication of the law; but it will be