The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1868-05-20
: From tho Anderson lntelligoneor.
The Burglar Gun. :.


the certainty and efficiency with which
u performed its functions. or itt adn,i.
rable adaptation 10 our wants.. in times
Of sdch general decentralization, We were
led ioihe conclusion, that, sooner or Ia,
tet, 1T must come into general use. and
take rank as one of the most ysIusbie
discoyegies. of the times. - :;
The credit ofihis Invention 10 due TO
the Ion. John Wilson, Of Anderson,
8. G. And itis understood that the
idea was suggested 10 bis, mind BY the
actof an audacious burglar who enter.
ed his Office in the night.time with 10.
tent TO commi, felony, and ma le clean
sweep Of the contents OF purse and
poke, book We predict, however,
thata similar experiment will not be
,nads,upon bis honor during ,'he re
matnder Of his lifetime. Ills name.
henceforth. will be insepsrsbly connect.
ed with, aud always suggestive Of this
fitbful, sleepless sen,inel, and his
worldly effects much better secured
against burglars and thieves, than they
could have been by. locks, and bolts,
and bars. -. = T, ,,n.....''
This burglar gun, ike all fully per.
fected inventions, unites in an, eminent
degree, both simplicity and efficiency /.
These are the leading elements Of their
usefulness, and most convincing proofs
Of the genius cf the inventor. The
whole structure consists Of q gun or
pistol, resting on - pivot, or upright
rod proceeding from the centre Of o hol.
low metallic drum. about the size and
sbape ofa peck measure. Within ,his
drum 10 planted the machinery that
gives rotary motion tothe rod, on which
the gunrrests, so that il is made to Gre
IN any one Of four directions, Instantly
and With fatal effect. -Four very deli
cate wires proceed from this., internal
machinery in opposite or different di
rections, 10 any point that may be re.
lected Within the range OF the weapon.
These wires, always in. state Of slight
tension, cannot he touched .without an
immediate discharge from the pistol.
But, BY far the most astoniehing fea.
ture Of the performance ia, that The dis
charge is always. precisely in the direc.
ton oftbe wire touched. For, although
the gun may be pointing in 40 oppo-
site direction, in the course Of either Of
the other wires, il INSTANTLY responds 10
the burglar's touch, turns ON .i,s pivot,
and fires at him.
The writer il not acquainted With the
ingeniously planned mechanism by
which the Inventor has impaired such
precise perceptive powers to his bant
ling, but is well assured that il has been
done at cost Of much thought aud
unsurpassed ingenuity.
n But, in forming an estimate Of the
merits Of tlIis invention. the great, ques.
tion to be solved 10 advance is. as 10
the practical advantages to be derived
from il: and ihe propriety Of its use as
q resource against burglars and thieves,
in moral point Of view. AS respects
the first, Il is beyond all question one
Of the most reliable safeguards, aud un.
compromising sentiuels, ever placed in
charge of the property Of q CITIZEN. 1t
etfectual|y supercedes the necessity Of
all other means Of security. Locks
may be dispensed With and doors thrown
widely open, and get the answer of the
sentinel, could the inventor ha, Q impart
ed the power Of .peech. to the question.
" Waterman, what Of the night" would
always be. THE day 10 da%ning, and
all Is we'll" '' '.' Sis, 49,
It's efficiency has been tested in many
localities, and in every instance With
complete success. No inclosure, no
garden or orchard. has ever been enter
ed or approached where the presence Of
this gun was suspected. There is q
terror even IN doubts as TO its where.
abouts, that bauls the wretch to or
der" Was this weapon introduced 10
general use, We are not prepared to say
il would mske men honest, or inspire
rogues With q distaste for stealing-the
present .Gemoralised condition Of the
country illustrates al such expectations.
We see men ell around us, once regard.
cd ss high-toped and honorable, thrust.
ing their roRuish paws into the pockets
Of their more honest neighbors and Tor.
mer friends. and growing proud end
consequential on Hl-eotten gains. The
love Of money has been sown broadcast
10 the human heavt; and like the tabled
Upss, sbeds the dew of death upon
every budding virtue. No, no; Il is
impossible to make men honest; but
Wilson's gun will prevent them from
stealipg--can diminish. II not entirely
sbaie trials. for grand and petit Larceny,
before our criminal courts-lesssn The
number Of conviets in our penitentisry ;
and sbove and beyond ell else, il can
protect the property OF honest people
against burglars and robbers through
all coming time.
la IN tha m nRal ri0ht of o. o;,;,a. a..