The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-10-30
NEVER HUNT BURGLARS.
Make Noise and Scare Them
from tho Promises.
Various Kinds OF Devices That Alarm the
Intruder ms Well as Ills Intended Vic
tim - Automatic Alarms for
BAnhs and Offices.


Burglars in the houscl Get IT. .aick"
"Let 'em burglc"
"But l hear them rattling the silver
I'm sure we are being robbed. Dogo down.
stairs"
swell, / would rather lose your silver
than my life, so guess I'll stay In bed"
The conversation may have occurred be-
tween Jones and his wife at three o'clock in
the morning, after she had been awakened
by strange sounds coming from the dining
room.
Was Jones c0wardl
That is open TO argument, for there are
good many people who have concluded,
from recent events, that 1t Is wise policy TO
avoid encountering a burglar plying his
trade.
Most persons in such case would make
q lot Of noise In the hope Of frightening the
intruder of; some nervous women might
pull the bedclothes over their heads SO they
could neither sec nor hear and let things
take their course; some men might march
boldly downstairs, and perhaps be shot or
stabbed by desperate robber.
Obviously IL Is better to keep burglars
out Of your house, The question Is: How
can 1t be donei What the people want TO
know is: How can they be protected
against the visits OF midnight maraudersi
"Every body should know" said police
detective 10 New York Journal reporter,
"that the police can not stop burglaries. The
best they can do is TO catch the thieves after
they have done their work.
~ Think continued the detective, that
every body who can should have some kind
of burglar alarm. 1t doesn't matter what
1t is-any thing that will make a noise.
And my advice to people is, II you think
there is thief in the house, tramp around,
rattle things in lively fashion. Nine times
In ten you will scare him of. II you 20 to
chasing after him unprepared to make
desperate fight, you are pretty apt TO have
trouble"
The principle OF dealing with burglars as
laid down by the detective has been recog-
nized as the correct one, and devices for
giving alarm 70 the inmates OF a house Of
the entrance Of sburglar have long been In
use. Patents have been granted In Wash
lngton for over one thousand devices. The
principle in all Of them is substantially the
same. The difference is only In the modus
operandi.
OF course electricity is brought into play
In the most approved modern burglar
alarm. Wires run from every door and
window In the house 10 the alarm ap-
paratus, which In city house is generally
placed In the second floor hall, or IN the
sleeping apartment Of the head Of the house.
There Is an indicator similar 10 annuncia
IA L. Uuha., ha hanan IL
closed for the night, a switch is turned, and
the arrangement is in order II door or
window is open, the big alarm bell will
ring, and the indicator will show exactly
which door or window is open. Thus you
can determine whether the servants have
left things in proper order. or course at
no time in the night can any door or window
be opened without setting the bell going,
ard 1t will ring until you stop II. The bells
commonly used are large enough 70 arouse
every body in the house. But the burglar
Is the first 10 hear the sound, and he scam
pers of as lively as he can go
Tins electric burglar-frightene some
tunes goes OF without sufficient provoca-
tion. Mice or rats have been known TO IN
terrupt the circuit by tampering with the
wires, or pushing open door not fastened.
Under these circumstances there is apt TO
be CONSERVATION upstairs, and perhaps q
solemn procession Of white-robed figures
armed with guns and pistols 10 the OF
the trouble as shown by the indicator.
Ono OF the most ingenious devices OF the
kind is an idea Of an actor, known for his
partiality TO fine jewelry and diamonds. 1t
is pick-pocket alarm. In his vest pocket
he carries French battery no larger than
match safe, with tiny bell attached TO It,
The electric circuit runs through his watch
chain. No one could steal his watch from
his pocket without breaking the circuit and
ringing the alarm bell
The mechanical burglar alarms are de-
vised principally for travellers, as electric
ity has largely supplanted them for use In
homes. 1t gives the traveller some feeling
Of security 10 90 10 sleep In hotel with the
knowledge that II any one opens the door
or window bell will sound an alarm. The
appliances for doing the work he can carry
In his valise, or, may be, In his pocket.
A drummer recently displayed 10 some
friends novel device which. .ho uses In his
travels. When he goes TO bed be screws II
10 the door-jam. 1t is simply tube with
o weight in it, A Illuminating cap that
goes OF with loud report is put 10 the tube.
When the door opens 1t strikes trigger
which releases the weight and the cap Is
discharged, the drummer awakens and the
intruder thinks he is shot.
Mechanical alarms can be purchased
which are wedge shaped. They are simply
put on the floor In front Of the door. Open
ing OF the door depresses spring and clock
work rings loud alarm. Scores Of Other
devices do the same work In as many differ
ent ways.
The general public does not know how
many OF tho banks, jewelry houses and
other places Of business where valuable
goods are kept are protected against
burglary. Watchmen sometimes fall asleep
or wander Oh, or are not trustworthy. 81
an ingenious electrician established a cen
tral protection office, with wires running
from II 10 various places OF business.
Safes were provided with electric-lineC
cabinets, anddoors and windows were con
nected with the circuit. Any dlsturbanc,
Of them whatever rings an alarm In th,
central ofice, and men are hurried over u
see what the trouble is. II the business
house ls entered by an employe after beinI
closed for the night, the alarm goes In jus
the same, and record is made Of the fact
Buttons in Her Nose.
According 10 Cincinnati Enquirer cor
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