The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-25
THE GREAT SAFE TEST.
A SHORT HISTORY
PROFESSIONAL SAFE-BU RNING
In Connection with the
BOSTON STEA VI PATENT.
The Little Game Laid Bare.
THE YANKnE TRHCK ExPOsED.
The Niger in the Fence Smoked Out.

pany and their Agents in the Viciaity of Phila-
delphiG.
The movement began first by conspIrlng with the
Secretary of the Agricultural Fair at NorrIstown to
burn Sal at the Fair. They prepared two safes
expressly for the test, made by Evans & Watson
and one furnished by the Boston Company, made
with sx.inch composition walls no;udiog the patent
with inner wood doors, and everything for pro
tection The very first notice other Safe-makers had
of the burning Mr.. Longacre, Secretary sends other
makers written notice that Safes OF different manu-
nctureTs TO be tested the ground on the
following Saturday, and that ii each maker did not
have mis- Safe on the ground by Wednesday m Jrniug
from safes then made other parties would furnish
them, These notices received on Monday pre-
vous, thus preventing other parties from preparing
any safe for test but themselves 1t was next ad-
vertised In the papers that the different were
70 burn Safes Saturday at Norristown. and
1t understood the Fair ground that the
different makers parties to the burning, when
the fact was that before any notice given they
surrepttousy bought safe from each maker for the
express purpose. and bad them the ground bsFor
the notice was given on onday knowing, of course
that no Safe maker would accept such a ouesided
proposition to test Safes. L arrived at NOrristOwn
soon after IL NJ. Saturday. The burning was over
learned The Safes mostly burned in the night,
and told that Lilies Safe door was fAstene ed
back by awocden wedge after the fire was over, 1t
being neither latch ed locked noticed that the
Safes on either side Of the Steam Patent Safes were
much harder burned than they were the iron being
warped, twisted, ana burnt much more thar the
steam safe, L noticed also good number of bricks
thrown under the Boston steam sac, doubt to pre-
vent the heat acting the bottom. came at once to
the conclusion that there "niRger in the fence
"A lIttle game-a Yankee trick W ch should be eK-
posed. noticed. al that the composition walls to
the steam safe. including water cans were about
inches. with an inner wood door attached to book
case, etc. decided to have one of Lilies safes got
up with six-'nch composition walls and the same
inner door aud 10 test with the patent equally
and fairly, both principles being equally protected
and soon after announced to the public that pro-
posed to test the 22d of October Lilies SAFE with
six-inch comp 'sition wa Is with the Boston steam
Patent. with walls the same thickness. and to
test them thoroughly and fairly 1 then gave
Messrs. Evans q Watson notice that they could
furnish the best cafe they could make on their
principle, and that committee could be appointed
in the usual ito that test was fairly made
of fcourse). Evans & Watson announced their accept
ance, but upon conditions which I would not accept
as would allow the placing the safes To burn
In their hands, that OF perienced
as my whole object might be lost that is, to smoke
out the niger. found could not be ready on the
22d fOctober account OF the burglar test some
days before the 22d postponed the take place
the 9Th OF November and then stated publicly that
the safes would be burned In q furnace, thoroughly
and fairly. Evans d Watson, knowing that would
burn in furnace, and would leave that point to
committee, again announced their acceptanoe. had
the furnace prepared at my own expense. On the 5h
sent pOhte note 10 H. q w. that IL was desirable to
have the safe placed that afternoon In the furnace TO
be able TO finish 1t. The verbal reply was could
mind my business and they would theirs. The fur
mace remained open for them until A. M. the nex
morning. They would not put their safe In the fur
mace upon any terms whatever, bat came there pre-
pared TO burn safes in their usual way-that is pro-
essionally. Burn their safe prepared expressly for
test with six-ioeh composition walls. and all the ex-
tras with Lilies Safe (havIng three inch compoSi.
tion wal, with their dis-interested committee and,
though last, not least their Boston Company's pro-
fessiona sae-buVAer. who travels the country Is
employed expressly for that purpose-and admit no
Is master in his profession. He manpulates to
great advantage, He is a magician. Blz couldlnOt
match him In his line. Why, he can burn the Steam
Patent Safe for five hours, and not scorch fine
shaviBgs under Its bottOm 1t is clear BlItz is non
plussed. The professional safe burner is ahead SAN
1t is all simple TO the professional others when
the secret 10 out.
J. The wind being strong northwest, the two safes
illus shielding the steam Patent Safe ''O''
under the Steam Sale and the fire. Is Started ana ss
hs sT SIDE al Se only s
Wind conld reach it at a. the bottom ana packed 50
the bottom While the wood was ali on Ore on the
drafI, The heat was tremendous.
large bed Of live Goals piled up around and under
Lilies and small quantity around the Steam safe,
the north side and the struck under the
on the south sde WHAT tSe eXpa9a
tion7 Simply this-ShaVings packed full under the /
bottom and wood pack ed SO close and much Of It
on The north or wiudward side, the draft chOked
and the fire could not burn the bottom.
thinks with this exposition every candid man
sent win understand why the shavings were not |
iessonal sAfeburner to those who make safeburning
But" says the professional. did not put under
Wings and did not put around Il the larges quantity
OF wT0d Die not Try my best 70 get the largest
but the small amount OF cOalRnd especially the
scorched shavings-rlse up Ike BdnQoS 0h0it. the
bloody hand aud he may well say, "AvRunJ. quit my
sight let the earth hide thee; never shake thy OOry
locks al me out ddmn'd Spot-out sayi" But the
scoeed ShdVngs are there still, and there they will
i now introduce the certificate of a respectable
young man a fireman employed by Messrs Evans /
buildings near by ana To put out the fire and cool the
Sales This certificate, think, not only fully sustans
vantage in having professional safeburner TO make
the business q success:-
FIREMANs CERTIFICATE.
i hereby certify that was employed by Evans d /
Watson as fireman, with the necessary apparatus for
putting out fire Rt the Sale burning the 6th OF No
Sales, and watched the progress OF the fire very
uculsTly. and the result i noticed when the wood
large amount of fine Goals all around aud under LIZ
lies Safe, very small quantity about the Steam
about the safe. noticed also, that the wind blew
slrong from the northwest aud that Lilies Safe had
q strong draft upon Il from the north and west side
that the draft could not strike the Steam Safe only
on the north side. Dotced, also that the man who
ended the fire was very particular TO keep during
the fire. large quantity Of wood the north side OF
the Safe, standing up endwise, very cOmpact which
evidently choked up the drart and prevented the
aclOn Of the fre near and along the bottom OF the
he eafes In reference to the wind from the Wav and
manner the fire was managed from the appearance OF