The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-20
SKILLFUL SAFE BLOWING
The Clever Work Of Two Expert
Cracksman.
BY Their knowledge CT the Methods
Employed IN Burgsarizins Safes
They Secure q Prize Of One
Thousand Dollars.

! BY Their knowledge CT the Methods
Employed IN Burg.arizins Safes
They Secure q Prize of One
Thousand Dollars.
! Some time ago firm announced in
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 ac-
complished. This challenge was al
lowed to go unnoticed for some time,
but finally one day a letter was re-
ceived from New York city, written in
disguised hand. in which it was pro-
posed that the writer and his conrade
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
Enissive was signed by Teddy the
Piper" and an immediate reply was
asked. The firm, anxious to put the
safe to practical test. made all neces-
sary arrangements with the New YorI,
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-
vertisemen.. The young pen were
ushered into the Office and the terms
Of test were announced. The New
Workers were TO be given one hour in
which 20 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 dollars
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 10 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, ''hog-jawedn
screw, powder and fuse were taken
The hog awed screw was the first tool
taken up. 1t 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
That part of the instrument containing
,he notches resembled a wagon hub
without the spokes. The whole affair
could be taken apart and put in a
handbag no larger than those usually
;arried by ladies. This tool was set On
he floor and its iron jaws placed
around the knob of the safe. The two
men worked with the greatest q5iiet
md rapidity, one laying out the tools
nd the other adjusting them. The
Grew placed on the knob. it was rap
dly frightened up, and inside of two
minutes the knob was literally dragged
,ut by the roots. It came with a slow
vrenching noise which must have
cached the hearts of the manufae-
urers-
No time was lost, however. One
If the men had the powder and fuse
'eady, and the former was inserted in
he hole. The coats were picked I'D
md thrown over the front of the safe
o smother the noise, the fuse was
lighted and the operators stepped be-
lind the safe. In moment there was
mufied explosion and the entire
ront of the safe was split open in
jagged creases. The whole system of
,olts and inner machinery was ex-
'osed to view. A few rsps with a
hisel and Teddy gave the bolts a
harp jerk. They responded to his I
ouch and he swung open the door.
teaching in he seized the bag of coin
nd in few minutes the professionals
we're ready TO depart
As Teddy was about to leave one OF I
he firm asked him: Can a safe be
aade burglsr-proof?'
Yes" replied Teddy.
"How?" the manufacturer asked IN
leading tone.
IF I would tell you that nv business
-ould be gone. replied Teddy, and |
iddins the party polite goodby he !
nd his companion left the city on the
ext train. The job took just twenty |
minutes.
New Use for Rubber.
Good results are obtained By using |