The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-07-26
skillful Safe Blowing.

Some time ago urm announced III
the papers as an advertisement that it
had produced an absolutely burglar
proof safe, and to back UP the state
ment offered the sum Of one thousand
dollars in gold to anyone who could
get into the safe in the time usually
allotted safe blowers, says a writer in
the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. The
money was to be placed inside the
safe, and it became the property Of
the openers the moment the feat was
accomplished. This challenge was al,
lowed to 20 unnoticed for some time,
but finally one day a letter was re-
ceived from. New York city, written in
a disguised hand, in which it was pro-
posed that the writer and his comrade
should make trial at the safe, but the
firm must agree to grant immunity to
the authors Of the proposition, as the
climate of Massachusetts had not been
to their liking for several years, The
missive was signed by "Teddy the
Piper" and an immediate reply was
asked. The firm, anxious to put the
safe to practical test, made all nee
essary arrangements with the New
York "gents," and immunity was to be
granted them if they should be sue
cessful. A day was set for public
trial, and promptly at nine o'clock in
the morning two nattily-dressed young
fellows stepped off the train and asked
to be directed to the Offices Of the COM
pany. They carried nothing about
them except small hand bags, which
they seemed to guard with special
care. A number Of citizens and rival
manufacturers had been invited to the
test, as the inventors felt confident Of
the impregnability Of the safe and
wanted to get the benefit of the ad-
vertisement. The young men were
ushered into the Office and the terms
of test were announced. The New
Workers were to be given one hour in
which to do the work, and no unusual
noise was to accompany it. Nor were
they to have any other assistance than
is usually afforded to the practical
safe blower. The one thousand dol
lars was placed in the safe and it was
publicly guaranteed to them should
they be successful.
At eleven o'clock sharp "Teddy the
Piper and his pal went to work
Their first act was to remove their
shoes and coats. The latter were
placed in front of the safe to drown
the noise of footballs. The next thing
was to open their handbags, out Of
which drills, chisels, a "hog- -jawed"
screw, powder and fuse were taken.
The hog-jawed screw was the first tool
taken up. It was a peculiar instru-
ment, having two thick, heavy jaws
like bulldog. The jaws were con-
trolled by a screw of terrific power,
easily worked by short piece of steel
which could be inserted into notchcs.
The part of the instrument containing
the notches resembled wagon hub
without the spokes. The whole affair
could be taken apart and put in a
handbag no larger than those usually
carried by ladies. This tool was set
on the floor and it's iron jaws placed
around the knob of the safe. The two
men worked with the greatest quiet
and rapidity, one laying out the tools
and the other adjusting them. The
screw placed OH the knob, it was rap
idly frightened up, and inside of two
minutes the knob was literally dragged
out by the roots. 1t came with slow
wrenching noise which must have
reached the hearts of the manufactur-
ers.
No time was lost, however. One of
the men had the powder and fuse
ready, and the former was inserted in
the hole. The coats were picked up
and thrown over the front of the safe
to smother the noise, the fuse was
lighted and the operators stepped be-
hind the safe. In moment there
was a mufled explosion and the entire
front of the safe was split open in
Jagged creases. The whole system of
bolts and inner machinery was cx
posed to view. a few raps with a
chisel and Teddy gave the bolts a
sharp jerk. They responded to his
touch and he swung open the door.
Reaching in he seized the bag of coin
and in few minutes the professionals
were ready to depart.
AS Teddy was about to leave one of
the firm asked him: ''Can a safe be
made burg glar-proof p
eyes, replied Teddy.
Chow ?" the manufacturer asked in
a pleading tone.
eff l would tell you that my bust
ness would be gone, }" replied Teddy,
and bidding the party polite good-by
he and his companion left the city on
the next train. The job took just
twenty minutes,