Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-11-24
A SINGULAR DISCLOSURE.


The following extraordinary statement We copy
from the Washington States:
1t no secret that Russia during the late war wJ,
England and France, had At her command ,he rnveu
tive talent Of the United States. Men of suprrrr
science and ability were detailed by the Emperor ".
cholas to search the Patent Office, and nvts'lgs,
everywhere the latest improvement. in military art.
and whatever promised well was carefully tested sad
generously rewarded.
Among other things. 1t was suggested 10 the Ina
Russian Consul. General at New York that the t"r'-
BILE Greek fire of the aucents had been re- dscovrr.i
by young inventor of New York, who exp
mentng on the application TO q new system OF ml..'a
ry defences.
The Consul General knew Mr. Mont Storm, the
young inventor in question: aud, on bringing t'r
ward the subject, was informed that, whatevcr ser
vice he could render the inventor, he placed, wlilcut
conditions, completely at the service of Russia uu
the close of the war.
The Allies were then before Ssbas.opol. and Mort
Storms first advice WAS to carry out series al DE-
tnct wires from the citadel TO the ReGan, Mank, H.
and every redoubt and advanced post which cuul
possibly fall into the hands OF the Allies. CH,,,,g
and huge shells of particular construction cIrrg"t
with powder, and burning mstersl difficult T. y
ngulsh, were TO be laid in The nost dcs:ruc;lvr ~"
stions under the outer d-fences, and connected wh
those concealed wires. BY this application OF Ito
electric teegraph-tor this it is in ef,c-th-a p"-'s
could be hurled, at will, TO instant desracou ~
miles and leages distance. Half dozen vis'."rt
at the moment foe obtained Possession, any "n"nt
of fort. highway, or Whatever approach they c"n'i
manage to plant With these formidable shells
Something of the kind was imperfecty attempt"t
at the taking OF lower SebastOpO but the Fr"pch
discovered and cut the badly concealed wir"-. too
hastily put down at the last hour. The electric wire,
however must be counted henceforth in the s' Ht
military appliances, and with the aid OF the Creek
fire, and what the inventor styles the nautilus pn
cple,' it may revolutionize the existing war--,-f-nl
taly It-Fl,
cbain.srmor and archery.
1t was, however, principally with reference I" coast
and harbor defence that Mont Storm valued III, Gi-
coveries and combinations, and he was quietly rr"
pairing his experiments in that line, in co-op"rt.'"r
with the Russian Consul General, when III" nr"'
came Of the peace negotiations. Mont Storm Tho
concluded to lay his plan before Congre-s, anu ak
for il thorough public trial; and an accomplish" Dc.
sgner and mschinst was engaged to prepare Tie no
cessary drawings and specifications. This man vnI
an English Mormon-s seltsacr;cing devo!-e {" h-
faith, but of excellent private character apart from
that, and exemplary in the discharge OF iho bu-L-s
confded to his
The first set of drsw wings and specifications h" pre-
pared were submitted to Secretary Davis, with n:'
quest that he would refer them to soms oii 'rr i
ability, as the inventor wished the preliminary 'rin
ion of experienced military man on cer'sin "a
b.fore they were presented to Congress. Srrs,'ary
Davis complied with this request and an officer "' Ia"
highest character and capacity was consulted "u Ne
system. This officer and Gen. Qutman, cllariran -!
the Military Committee Of the House Of Reprr'-nin
tives and two other gentlemen formerly in tb- mn!
tary end naval service of Texas, where the onlv ~
ties entrusted with the details of Mont Storm -r
tenn of defence, with the exception, Of cours, r la
inventors Russian friends
Upon the suggestion Of some OF thee" par' :. .H"H'
Storm withdrew HE plans from the Go"-rnm-'i ~.
chives, where they had been filed. and rreFar-d 10
make series of experiments on the best n"f""t
exhibiting the incendiary material. As he wes much
occupied with some other invention, he mad" inquiry
for capable take charge of his experiment
and soon found one whose quick conprehensson ar,f
mechanical ingenuity entirely fitted him 20 ;Hk"
charge Of the business.
To compress the whole subject in one sentenr"
now comes out that the pattern-msker and eIperm"r
tere were all Mormons and after becoming psr:r'.
masters of whatever there to learn Of the y
lem of land Defence they left the service othe inventor
and carried their knowledge to Utah. They hsd snf
is6ed themselves that od kegs, hollow trees. si com
mon boxes, anything in short which could be mad :"
contain bottle OF burning fluid, little pown~r an
a considerable amount OF missiles, whether OF bhi-
irons scraps or pebbles and fragments of rock orn
be converted into cheap and formidable h.:''rlea.
whose discharge could be governed, nj almost an
distance to q second Of time; and the MorUon- may
be prepared to try the powers Of the new sys-aI IN
the de6les of Utah.
1t is admitted that the Mormors are msnufarHrrg
arms and Ihsr arrogant deiaE the military .o7rrE"
the United States and the boastings OF their edsr iie
they are ready to send 10 swift destruction tsr II
thousands of the Gentiles il they dare thei- -
ritory in battle array may not be altogether "'h"f
serious meaning. The absolute and final r"ru't ct
conflict between the Mormons and the Legal huihpri-
ties of the United States must BIZ the triumphant vn-
dcation of the law but it will be well to look rho
roughly into their capacity give trouble, aud be nH
the alert for every contingency.