The Portland daily press., 1868-05-11
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE
Attempted Deception
IN PROVIDENCE.

AN HhOVIDENCE.
An attempt was made by means of a shaI.akal, in
rro'iueice' on the ia ut to injure the good repu
taon, and check what was considered as the DANGER
popularity OF the Sanborn Steam Fire-proof SAFE,
Messrs. Valentine & Butler, whose safes so notori
ously failed in the Portland and other fires and in
every test with the Steam Saie have been determine
ed to make sort of show to regain, if possible
their lost ground. They chose Providence Tor the
field OF operations wnere their safe lately suffered
mortifying deieat ond did their best to hoodwink
the public by bogus trial.
Read the Following Facts:
1. Messrs Valentine & Butler declined an invita-
ton to perfectly fair trial. Such trial would not
answer their purpose They knew that in fair trial
lney would again be defeated as before. They knew
tnen ana now know perfectly well, that such safes
as they sell to customers win not last half so long in
fire as the Steam Safe.
2. They made safe specially Tor the trial, not
like those they make to SELL thus deceiving the public
by showing ase sample; ;and they admitted in pri-
vate conversation that sale like the one they burn
ed would be wet and unfit for use. Also an ANALYSIS
of portion of the filling from this trial safe shows
that 1t emits a caustic gas that would destroy
the iron OF safe. Ifalowed TO make safe for
trial merely, without regard to its fitness for use,
will agree to make one that will last in fire for
week, OF any length of time. But we put on trial
only such safes as We offer to the public.
8. They did not allow the propretors Ofthe Steam
Safe to have any part in this trial. nor them the
public to choose any part ofthe committee, but select
ed men in their own interest, and had everything
their own way; notwith standing we offered to pay
the whole expense il they would accept our invita-
ton, and out-burn us in air trial. Ii they COULD
out-burn us in fair trial why did they not do this
and save near $1,000 by it?
d, 4. They did not take the Steam Sale, which they
burned, directly from the agency to the trial, but it
in the hands of their friends weeks, and I'm
their own possession during the night before the tri-
5. The Steam Safe burned was not in perfect con-
dition. The water from the tubes flowed in streams
from the crack OF the door after the fire lighted.
ON opening the safe the cause was discovered. The
caps of part Of the tubes found be fastened
with HARD SOLDER instead of the FUsIBLE METAL
which the company for this purpose Conse-
quenty, the tubes burst and the water was wasted.
Facts are stubborn things. These facts, and
they ell their own story, and enlightened eommu-
nifty will understand it.
imposition upon the Public.
The object OF this exhibition was, of course, to
make it appear if possible that safes bought OF VAL
entine Butler superior to the Steam Safe. To
thSJ SN"PtO'
they fixed up safe, for the trial. which was such
one as could not, on account of the lmpractcable
nature OF its filling, be put into use, and lett the pub
lie infer that like those they make TO se-a
cheat which the public will know how 10 appreciate.
The fact to the real character oil this bogus SAM
pie they admitted privately, and we give proof OF it.
| Fatal Admissions.
The undersigned hereby certify, that at the time
of the trial of safes lin Providence, April o. 1868
and subsequently, we heard members OF the firm o
Valentine & Butler state, that the safe furnished by
them was moi constructed like those they had made
hitherto sell to eusomes that they did not pro.
pose to build safes like that for sa4c in brie that
| it made expressly tor the trial, and, moreover
| that the Steam safe was a great Improvement ON
the usual plan OF constructing Safes and that it could
| easily burn up any Valentine & Butler Safe they
had ever sod OF burn up any other safe Of any other
make in the country the being Of equal size
| and thickness ofwall, or words to that effect.
| E1 Icy WM. CARLTON IRELAND,
"WALTER b. CHAPLIN,
1 "W.Ai. ROBINSON.
providence, April 2s, 1865"