The sun., 1919-07-24
DIATOMIST OFFERS
BOMB TO STOP RIOTS
Inventor of Earth Blankets
Tells How He Could End
Washington Outbreaks.
JUST A WARNING, HE SAYS
After Explanation, Frank Gil
crest Gets $18 Forgotten
Change From Cab Fare.

After reading yesterday OF the race
riots in Washington, Frank A. Gilcrest
inventor OF the 3-cent diatomaceous
earth blanket. remembered between bites
of caviar and toast in his room in the
Hotel Blltmore that he also was the in
ventor of a bomb which he will offer to
the Government II quiet is not restored
Sitting in his undershirt at his break
fast at 2 80 o'clock in the afternoon
Mr.. Gilcrest described his bomb as
molecular thing with terrific expansive
power He had forgotten about 1t until
he read of conditions in Washington.
The manufacture of the bomb is quite
simple II one knows how to go about IT,
Mr. Gilcrest Is the only one who knows
how to go about It. He said that II 1t
were necessary he could go to any drug
store within two blocks and get the nee
essary ingredients for his bomb. The
effects of the bomb exploding are terri
BILE. according to Mr. Gilcrest
"If I were to drop one of my bombs
out of this window" Mr.. Gilcrest
spread his arms in the unfitness of the
English language to express the abso-
lutte in disaster in such an event.
II suppose you know he said, the
power of alcohol"
The reporter admitted having a fad
alcohol" said Mr. Gilcrest, lis moro
powerful than dynamite
The reporter agreed with him.
Mr. Gilcrest then went into compll-
Gated dissertation on the relative explo-
sive. anatomical and molecular abilities
OF alcohol. ether and gasolene He did
not say the three were contained In his
bomb. but remarked that II any one
knew how to combine them successfully
the result OF their combined expansion
was rapid and destructive. Mr.. Gilcrest
knows how to combine them.
Asked II there was any diatomaceous
earth in his bombs he said:
mo that is entirely different That's
a $4,000. 600 project. I am going 10
make blankets and clothing out Of that
and give them to the Serbs and Rus
slams. II told you was going to build
houses with 1t you would think the
blankets and clothes were hard as
rocks
Are you going to build houses with
it?'
1T can be done" said Mr.. Gilcrest.
There are more heat retaining qualities
in a one inch brick of diatomaceous
earth than in fifty inches OF any other
building material. I could provide COM
Portable homes. better homes than you
see about here, at very low cost. There's
plenty OF the earth. you know
What is the shape OF these bombs of
yours?'
We'll. Mr.. Glcrest replied. looking
around as II to find something compare
BILE. the shape varies according to what
want to use them for. II l want TO
pierce a twenty story building the shape
is something like that OF a-of-ah-
bomb But II want to use the bomb on
seething mob the bomb is lat"-he
patted a circular piece of the air-"ano
the-the expanding power is broadened.~
Now" he went on, IT don't want to
have to use these bombs. He pulled
nervousy at his cigarette. III these
rioters behave I'll give them blankets.
II they don't, I'll take a day of and
make few bombs and offer them to the
Government"
He insisted that this be just as n
warning. Mr.. Gilcrest did not expect to
have to take n day of to make bombs.
He does not want to. He IL too busy
now with other things-his blankets-out
in the California desert. He has in
vented a refrigerator to keep him cool
out there.
Mr.. Gilcrest has not slept for days.
He is nervous. He says he is going 10
take n rest He regretted that the Han
over Bank had not answered his request
for two messengers to be sent to him
with money. The reporter gave him his
SIS he had neglected to wait for last
Monday when he gave the reporter $50
to pay his 81 taxicab bill.