Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1900-12-29
Was A Test
That Tested.
THE BANKS NEW SAFE
PUT TO UNUSUAL
STRAIN.
Struck BY a Freight Train
and Hammered with Dy-
Mantle, Etc.

IL n bank safe ever received n severe
test, the new one Just received from.the
Hubbard, ROdman, Ely Safe Co. of New
York. for the Peninsula Bank, was that
safe
Captain :. Rodman. of the firm. came
down from New York to show the Pc
ninsula Bank people what confidence he
had in the product OF his factory. But
Captain Rodman never dreamed of put
ting his safe before one Of the big mogul
engines that was pulling heavy freight
train down grade on the {. & o. track.
That was what was done, however, al
though it wasn't down on the pro-
gramme.
Captain Rodmaninvited the wholec city
over 20 the vacant lot opposite the depot
20 see him explode nitro glycerine and
dynamite on his safe. so the spectators
saw something better than they had an
ticipated.
As the men were unloading the safe
Saturday preparatory to taking 1t into
the field for the tests, the heavy article
got away from them and slid down on
the main track OF the { & O. Railway.
Just then. 10 the horror of the spectators.
= heavy through freight rain, laundering
| down the grade, struck the two ton safe,
and landed 1t fifteen feet away from the
track Many expected TO see a wreck
either of the train OF of the safe. The
latter was not damaged in the slightest
The engineer stopped his train, to see
what they had struck The traiumen
Said they felt theimpact distinctly, show
| ing what a tremendous blow mast have
been given the object they struck But
that was not what Captain Rodman had
come all the way from New York for,and
he proceeded TO give a few tests down on
the programme.
After the safe was gotten into the field
the first test was made TO see If nitro
giyoerine could b. gotten 10 enter the
cracks or joints arr / the door of the
safe This is the methods burglars ike
Topeka Joe practice. If the nitro
glycerine can be gotten inside, no safe on
earth win resist the explosion A cup
Of putty was made over the joint Of the
door. a quantity Il uitroglyceriue pour
ed IN and allowed TO stand fifteen min
uteS. The explosive was then touched
of. The door was opened and the test
made with FIRE. There. was no nitro ely
cerine IN the joints.
The next test was made By putting q
cup Of putty on top Of the safe and eight
ounces of nitro-glycerine poured IN. Al
eiectric current was turned on, and z
sharp report, accompanied by the usua
conclusion followed. 10 more injury
was done than 20 knock of a little paint
and putty around on the front of IN,
, safe.
= The last test withexplosives was mad
; | by putting two pounds OF dynamite ant
E one half pound of nitro-giycerine on
D plate Of the same material and thickness
. Of the safe and exploded Nomoreinjur
5 was done than 10 drive the plateinto ia
a ground.
: Previously plate OF the steel, of whic
5 the safe is made, was tested by power
D ful steam drill, and found impenetrs
, bic
The bank authorities are thorough
{ satisfied with their safe, and are prett
& sure that it is Topeka Joe" proof 1t
y now IN the bank full OF cash. and look
7 very pretty in its handsome jacket, r,
> splendent with all the colors Of the pain
er's art.
Cashier Philips thinks a safe that Wi
resist eight ounces OF nitro giycerine, IT
peka Joe only used tour in FIVE e. ploSioI
on the old one) and solid freight traii
ought TO battle even Topeka Joe" tt
safe Is made of manganese steel by a
entirely new patent