The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1869-12-08
Salauanders.

The Sanborn Patent Safe is a late iuven-
tion which claims, by the Introduction Of
water within its walls, to render secure
against fire all papers, books, etc, that may
be placed therein. One of these Safes We
have seen in a counting-room Of one of our
merchants, and we hear that preference was
given to 1t, over every other kind of safe, by
the agent who was charged to send out the
very best article made
Its peculiarity consists in its having cop
per vessels, filed with water, placed in lin
ing between the inner wall and the book
case. Fusible solder seals these vessels, and,
when subjected to a FIRE, the solder melts
prior to the boiling Of the water. The heat
fills the various chambers containing the
water with steam; this steam, as II becomes
dense, meets the caloric coming in from the
safes sides. expands, and passes out at the
cracks about the door.
We notice that trial, in San Francisco,
was made of several safes, of which the
Chronicle thus speaks:
yesterday was what may be termed a
warm day for al least three safes In this city.
AT a quarter to 6 o'clock, YESTERDAY morn
ing three safes were surrounded with wood
and the match of the incendary applied. The
safes in the flames were OF the following
make: Tilton & Mcfarland. Boston; J. Kit
tredge San Francisco, and the Sanborn Pa
tent Steam Safe, OF New York. The safes
met with the following results: At IL o'clock,
the Kittredge safe began to show signs OF
inward destruction. Smoke was seen Issuing
from the cracks about the door, and it was
evident that its contents were being con-
sumed. No more wood was, therefore, piled
around this safe. The TiliOn 4 Mcfarland
safe was the next to show signs of inward
decay. At noon, smoke was plainly visible,
issuing from its crevices. 1t was allowed to
keep It's place In the flames with the Sanborn
safe till 2 O'Clock, when the hose was brought
to play upon the burning mass, and the fire
extinguished.
"The work of opening the cafes was ac-
complished as soon as circumstances would
permit. The first safe opened was the Kit
tredge Its contents presented the appear
ance of black mass OF cinders and ashes.
Next, the door OF the Titon & Mcfarland
safe was burst open, and its interior presented
a similar appearance 10 its predecessor The
Sanford Patent Steam Safe WAS now pried
open, and its interior presented quite a con-
trast to those OF the other two. Books and
cards were drawn forth uninjured. The car
pet on It's uOoF WAS uneihgtus anu It's entire
wood work was In as complete a state Of
preservation as If il had been slowed away in
a storehouse, and not subjected to an eight
hour furnace
''The scene of this trial test was witnessed
throughout the day by hundreds of our ciii-
zens. The extreme heat prevented many
from venturing near the burning mass As
the time for opening the safes drew nigh the
crowd increased, and Immediately after the
busriing open OF the first door general rush
was made to see the result. couple OF po-
licemen who were present were utterly un-
able to stem the crowd Of curious ones.
Some came down the inclined plane on the
narrow board pathway, while others tumbled
over the embankment. The general feeling
of the crowd, as they stood amid the water
and ashes viewing the safes, was well ex-
pressed by a country gentleman who stood
with eyes open viewing the debris aud ex-
claimed: That ere safe Is buster"