Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-11-15
THE SCIENTIFIC BURGLAR.
How a knowledge of Chemicals Helps
Him to "Crack Cribs"

The burglar of 40 years ago car
ried a James" or crowbar, and set
of "twirls," or skeleton keys. With
these he was ready to tackle any safe
of the old fashioned sort.
Safemaking became a science, and
the Jimmy" useless, so Bill Skies
of the next generation. provided him
self with dynamite cartridges, or
small charges of "soup," or liquid
nitro -glycerin. which he forced into
the crack under the safe door, and
fired by means Of small pocket bat
terry.
The safemaker took step in ad-
vance, and, behold, the craks were
stopped, and no Granny or crevice left
into which any form of explosive
could possibly be injected.
But chemistry and electricity have
both come to his aid. Wherever a
burglar can manage to strip electric
light wires he has at hand a simple
method of producing degree of heat
sufficient to pierce the hardest steel.
He uses a carbon pole, safely insu-
lated, and produces an arc powerful
enough to melt anything.
On August 81 last an attempt was
made on a safe belonging to a firm
of Birmingham jewelers.. which con-
tanned 100000 worth Of diamonds
and other valuables. A great hole
had been melted through two inches
of solid steel, and if the thieves had
not been disturbed at their work they
would infallibly have secured the
"swag." These men used the oXy-hy-
drogen blowpipe flame, which pro-
duces the most intense heat known
to man, next to the electric furnace.
All that is necessary is small cylin-
der of compressed oxygen, such as
doctors use for patients suffering from
pneumonia, a length of india-rubbeI
tubing, and a blowpipe. The india
rubber tube is connected with the
nearest gasjet. the oxygen is turned
on, and mixed with the gas, and the
result is a flame with a temperature
of over 1000 degrees Fahrenheit
which will melt the Harveyized steel
of battleship.
Another dodge of the up-to-date
Safe-robber is the use of a chemical
compound known as thermit. This
consists of a finely powdered mixture
of aluminium and oxide or rust Of iron
At a certain temperature, well
known to Bill. the aluminium begins
to combine with oxygen, all the lat
ter is taken up from the iron, and the
result is oxide of aluminium and me-
tallic iron.
The heat evolved by this chemical
action is so terrific that under its i'm
pact steel runs like melted sealing
wax.
Fortunately for the public at large
thermit has, from the burglars point OF
view, two formidable drawbacks
Magnesium must be employed to light
the cartridge, and burning magnesium
produces a brilliant glare Of light
Again, thermit itself, in process OF
combustion, sends off huge columns OF
sitting smoke which is apt to betray
the operations of the safe breaker.
Some little time ago, policemen ar
rested a suspicious looking character
leaving house in Brondesbury at an
early hour of the morning.
It's just as well to tell you I'm a
burglar" said the fellow.
This man had in his possession a
bottle of methylated spirits, another OF
some other chemical, and brass APP
paratus with a blow-pipe attachment
The use of the latter puzzled the po-
lice, but the burglar frankly explained
its use.
You see," he said, Il just smear the
glass of the window above the catch
with the stuff in this bottle, then
turn the flame of soldering. lamp on
it by means of the blowpipe. AS
soon as the glass melts, I put this
hooked blade through. pull back the
catch. and there you are. Answers.