Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-03-27
THE AssAssINATOR's BOMBS.

The bombs or hand -grcnadcs made use of by
the conspiratorS of the Rue lepelletier were Of
the most perfect and destructive character ever
invented. They are many times more powerful
than those made use of in the Crimea, which at
the time were claimed to be the most powerful
in existence. One of the bombs used in the
late attempt was found on the ground in front
OF the Grand Opera, and near it Il revolver and
one was found, as already mentioned, on the
person of Pierri. These have been examined
by two of the best armorers of Paris Mcssrs
Devisme and Caron, and by several army Off
GERS. From the report of these gentlemen am
enabled to give correct description of these
terrible engines of destruction.
They are entirely new in their model They
are hollow, are made of turned steel, and filed
with powder that had not vet been tested at
the moment of making the report but which is
supposed to be Illuminating mercury, the most
powerful of all explosive materials. To form
an idea of these projectiles. imagine cylinder
four and quarter inches long by two and a
fourth diameter and terminated at each of its
cxtremitics by spherical cap or calotte. One
OF these calottes is armed with twenty-five chin
neys, disposed Urgently, adjusted with screw,
and covered each one with a Huted percussion
cap similar to those in ordinary use for guns
and pistols. The shock of these caps against
the pavement conveys the fire to the interior of
the bomb The cylinder, for some reason not
very clear, was covered with a light envelope
resembling bronze.
In examining the calotte which covered the
other extremity of the bomb, it was found that
the envelope was formed of two parts, and that
at about an inch from its extremity, part of
the cylinder could be removed, which acts by
friction on the first. There is no doubt that the
inventors of this terrible machine wished to
avoid, in filling it, the direct scrcwing of the two
parts one on the other, and the horrible explo-
sion which might have resulted therefrom. So
that, in all probability, the part of the cylinder
filled with the Illuminating powder is closed by
means of cover placed simply in groove.
The outside cap is then adjusted on this cover,
and RECEIVERS it, while a strong steel screw, the
head of which is two thirds of an inch in diam
eter, appears on the outside, presses on this last
cover, and closes the bomb Theoretically.
An examination of pieces of the bursted bombs
shows that in the part where the chimneys were
placed, the cylinder had thickness of three
fourths of an inch 1t is probable that the up
per part, on the contrary, is very much thinner.
This, indeed, would be necessary in order that
the part which contains the chimneys and per
cussion caps, by being heaviest, should strike
the pavement first, and thus determine the ex-
plosion.
The fearful effects produced by these bombs
exclude the idea that their interior is filled with
ordinary powder The explosive matter is al
most certainly illuminate de nerc,ue, substance
of which the projectile force is at least fifty times
more powerful than ordinary powder. 1t is this