Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-06-30
CAR ExrERMINArORs.
How the Various Internal Machines
are Manufactured and
Operated.
Strange Sources from Which
Orders are Received'.-The
Demand Greater than
the supply.
PhIlsdslphIa Cor. Chicago Herald.

made is what IS known as the elgD
day machine Like the ticker" i
can, however, be set from one minute
upward. A machine OF this deserip
ton recently made in Philadelphia
was fourteen inches high, six inches
square, and contaiaed the equivalent
OF three thousand pounds of gunpow'
der. 1t can, however, have either q
square or spherical shape. 1t is made
of galvanized iron or stout tin. The
clock movement is 80 arranged that il
can be taken out and away from the
machine and connected again at a
moments notice. The operator, if he
desires to divert suspicion, carries the
empty can 10 his hand and the clock
moveme Mt in his coat tail pocket. The
explosion is caused by defamation. A
sliding bar Of brass, drawn by a screw
attached to the movement, when it
arrives at the slot in the small brass
disk, springs upon a delicate glass
vial made OF a hair tube. The via,
which contains powerful acid, and is
Theoretically sealed, in breaking allows
the acid to escape. This causes the
defamation and the explosion follows.
The wire on top OF the movement,
which is held in place by rubber
band, connects with the cap. The
acid runs into a chlorate of potash
combination. This machine can be
sunk in water or seoreted in any
LIQUID or compound-in box OF oran-
ges, a keg of nails, or loaf of bread.
The force of the explosion would be
sufficient to tear the largest building
in the world to atoms. If placed in
the basement Of the capitol at Wash.
ington and set off not one stone would
be left standing upon another. A
most peculiarly constructed and dead
ly machine is the lit
tie exterminator" 1t is two
inches high and four inches square,
of thin sheet brass, nicked on the in
side and outside, and has no lid, only
minute hole in one corner The
machine is filed with a volatile, the
fumes of which cause instantaneous
death. The principal is the same as
that Of the ancient Chinese stink pot"
used by them SO effectively in warfare
with pirates. A thin brass tube runs
in through the small hole in the cor
ner, having upon its outer end screw
cap Upon the cap is delicate watch
movement. A spring falls into a slot
and releases the minute steel spring
saw, which is operated By the move.
ment, and saws of the delicate tube.
This establishes direct cOmmnni-
cation with the oxygen OF the
air, which ignites the volatile.
The most sickening perfumes
pour out from the box, killing
every person within radius OF one
hundred feet. The sensation Of this
volatile is like that caused by cayenne
pepper. There is an intense burning
in the mouth, ears and eyes, and
around the heart. Respiration is
snatched away as if by puff of hot
air. Experiments have been made
upon cats. They die in less than three
seconds.
There is a large class Of internal
machines known as bottle machines
The most ordinary are inclosed in
pint beer bottles, which can be conve-
niently carried in the coat pocket.
The neck of the bottle is Theoretically
sealed with Q rubber cork, through
which runs a brass tube diYided into
two parts by a tin metallic disk,
usually made Of brass. The top com
partment Of the tube is shut of from
the air by means of Q screw
cap, through which, in turn, runs
key. Also contained in this upper
compartment is a small vial Of power.
ful aid. By turning the key the
vial is broken, and the acid falling
upon the disc ests into the powder,
which is packed closely. The time OF
explosion depends upon the thickness
of the disc The acid, the instant it
comes in contact with the pow
der. eEplodes it. A large number
of these machines we're made for the
Nihilists, to be used at the coronation
OF the Gar. The newest invention,
and one which has met with much
favor in st. Petersburg, is what is
called the that eXPlOder." Two
exceedingly thin circular discs
Of sheet brass, having a layer
Of powder an inch thick, are
soldeEed and riveted Theoretically
together, and sewn in the top OF an
ordinary hat. The entire weight Of
the machine, although it contains the
equivalent Of eighty pounds Of powder,
is only sixteen ounces. The hat is
waved or thrown up in the air. Fall
ing. it explodes. The device looks
Tor ell the world like two pancakes
stuck together. A great many hand
grensdes are made in New York.
They are hollow balls Of iron, through
which runs 9 tube, surrounded by a
brass button. The button is lead.
The grenade falls by force of gravity
upon the side on which il the heavy
lead button. The button is pressed,
breaks a vial Of acid, and the acid
causes tho explosion. A grenade
three and one.half inches in diameter
contains the equivalent OF
one hundred pounds Of powder.
| The eighty-day machine mas
been made 10 contain Greek
IRE, which is set Of by the clockwork
burning down the building in which il
is placed. 10 this instance there is nc
explosion. 1t is wonderful to what ex.
tremeS OF ingenuity the inventors Of
internal machines have gone. Ma,
chimes have been and are being made
in the shape Of Jumps Of coal. TheJ
explode when thrown on the Gre. One