Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-10-08
NEVER HUNT BURGLARS.
Make @ Noise and Scare Them
 from the Premises.

Various Kinds of Devices That Alarm the
 Intruder as Well as His Intended Vic-
 tim-Automatic Alarms for
 Banks and Offices.
 Burglars in the house! Get up, quickl"
 ssLet lem burgle"
 "But I hear them rattling the silver. I'm sure we are being robbed. Do go down. stairs"
 "Well, 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 coward?
 That is open to argument, for there are good many people who have concluded, from recent events, that 1t Is wise policy to avoid encounterlng burglar plying his trade.
 Most persons in such 8 case would make 8 lot of noise in the hope of frightening the intruder off; some nervous women might pull the bed-clothes over their heads so they could neither see nor hear and let things take their course; some men might march boldly downstairs, and perhaps be shot or stabbed by a desperate robber.
  out of your house. The question is: How can it be done? What tho people want to know is: How can they be protected against the visits of midnight maraudersi
 s'Every body should know" said police detective to 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.
 'sI think" continued the detective, "that every body who can should have some kind of burglar alarm. It doesn't matter what it is-any thing that will make noise. And my advice to people is, if you think there is thief in the house, tramp around, rattle things in Q lively fashion. Nine times in ten you will scare him oil. If you go to chasing after him unprepared to make 8 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 to the inmates of 0 house of the entrance of a burglar have long been in use. Patents have been granted in Wash ington 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 to the alarm ap- paratus, which in city house is generally placed in the second floor hall, or ID the sleeping apartment of the head of the house.
 There is an indicator similar to annuncia tors used in hotels. When the house is closed for the night, switch is turned, and the arrangements in order If door or window is open, tho 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. Of course at no time in the night can any door or window be opened without setting the bell going, and it will ring until you stop it. The bells commonly used are large enough to arouse every body in the house. But the burglar is the first to hear the sound, and he scam pers of as lively as he can go
 This electric ar-frightener some times goes off without sufficient provoca- tion. Mice or rats have been known to ln- terrupt the circuit by tampering with the wires, or pushing open door not fastened. Under these circumstances there is apt to be consternation upstairs, and perhaps a solemn procession of white-robed figures armed with guns and pistols to the scene of the trouble as shown by the indicator. One of the most ingenious devices of the kind is an idea of an actor, known for his partiality to fine jewelry and diamonds. It is pick-pocket alarm. In his vest pocket he carries French battery no larger than a 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 tor travellers, as electric ity has largely supplanted them for use in | homes. It gives the traveller some feeling of security to go to sleep in hotel with the | knowledge that if any ono opens the door or window bell will sound an alarm. The appliances for doing the work he can carry l in his valise, or, may be, in his pocket. A drummer recently displayed to some l friends 8 novel device which..he uses in his l travels. When he goes to bed he screws it l to the door jam It is simply tube with weight in it. A Illuminating cap that goes of with loud report IS put in the tube 1 When the door opens 1t strikes 3 trigger which releases the weight and the cap is l 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 l ing of the door depresses spring and clock l work rings loud alarm. Scores of other devices do the same work in as many differ ent ways.
 The general pubic does not know how
 many of the bsnls, jewelry houses and other places of business where valuable
 goods are kept are protected against burglary. Watchmen sometimes fall asleep or wander of, or are not trustworthy. Sc 1 an ingenious electrician established g cen ,tral protection office, with wires running from it to various places of business. li Safes were provided with electric-linec
 cabinets, and doors and windows were con
 nected with the circuit Any disturbance
 of them whatever rings an alarm in the
 central office, and men are hurried over te
 see what the trouble is. If the business
 house is entered by an employe after being closed for the night, the alarm goes in jus the same, and record Is made of the fact Buttons in Her Nose. According to Cincinnati Enquirer cor