The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-20 00:00:00

THE EXPLOSION AT IVEIVCASTLE.

The Northern Daily Express reports at length the
inquest on the seven persons who were killed by the
explosion of nitro-glycerine at Newcastle. The coroner
deemed it necessary to inquire into the death of Mr.
Mawson, who had the direction of the proceed.ngs. The
principal witness as to the events was Sub-inspector
Wallace. He gave a very clear statement, which re-
capitulated the facts already recorded. The following
statement in reference to nitro-glycerine, however, is of

great public interest :
Lsaac Lowthian Bell, sworn, said : I have made che•
mistry my special study for many years. I am proprietor of
chemical works. Nitro-glycerine is not used in our iron
mines. We made the attempt to use it, but abandoned
it, owing to the effect it had upon the health of the men.
I have been in mines in Norway where it was used. The
existence of nitro-glycerine has been known for twenty
years, yet it has only recently been introduced
to public notice, only since 1864 ; consequently but a small
practical acquaintance has been gathered of it. The chemical
affinities of nitro-glycerine are so slight that very trifling
circumstances, such as the variation of only a few degrees of
temperature during its preparation, is sufficient to cause
a considerable change in the nature of the product. As
may be supposed, its component parts separate with im-
rneanrable velocity. Hence the violence of its explosion,
which has been calculated at ten times that of gun-
powder. I think gunpowder, gun-cotton, &c., are most
properly excluded from storage in towns, yet their pre-
sence is comparatively free from danger as compared with
nitro-glycerine. Fire alone can ignite gunpowder, and
although gun-cotton can be ignited by percussion, it must
be of great intensity. Nitro-glycerine, on the other
hand, particularly if impure, is liable to spontaneous
combustion at ordinary temperatures, as was found to be
the case with some exploded in a room where the tempe-
rature had never exceeded 86 degrees. The gas, as
given off, if confined to the vessel containing the nitro-
glycerine, exercises pressure upon that remaining.
Unless you continue nitro-glycerine under set
pressure, it is liable to explosion. It was found
by Kopp to be liable to explosion under the least
shock or slightest movement. Again, if this substance is
brought from a cool place and exposed to a temperature
of 68 to 75 Fahr., decomposition takes place, pressure
ensues, and, on removing the vessels containing it, ex-
plosion may be the consequence. To this cause has been
attributed several explosions at Stockholm. Exposure to
a temperature of 46 degrees Fahr. causes nitro-
glycerine to crystallise, and the result in solid matter is
liable to explosion on the slightest disturbance. Upon
one occasion, in Silesia, a workman attempted to separate
a portion of nitro-glycerine; explosion took place, and
he was blown many feet into the air. Nitro-glycerine
also, when exposed to a temperature sufficient to cause
ebullition, is also very prone to explode. It is said that
the presence of two spirits deprives nitro-glycerine of
its explosive qualities. To separate the two spirits
from the nitro-glycerine, water is added, and the nitro-
glycerine resumes its explosive character. If, as I
am informed, the blasting oil as manufactured by Nobel
(Harbruch) is diluted with wood spirits, it would appear
from the evidence we have heard that cold, by ponderat-
ing, is capable of preventing the nitro-glycerine from
becoming wood spirit. He had a copy of the instructions,
on page 5 of which it was stated that nitro-glycerine could
be stored for an indefinite time without loss in weight or
deterioration in quality. He thought that such an inti-
mation as that was very likely to mislead persons who
were in the habit of using it. He knew chemists who
affirmed that nitro-glycerine as found in commerce was
more or less subject to decomposition, and consequently
liable to produce the results he had just given. It also
stated that the peculiar property of blasting oil was, that it
would not explode, and even while in an explosive state its
carriage was safe. He thought, so far from that being
true, it was liable to explode while being brought into
contact, and consequently should not be carried by any
railway company, as they well knew the shocks it would
sustain in the truck.- It also states that the blasting oil is
liable to crystallisation in cold weather. It certainly does
state that you had not to heat it upon a stove, but it does
not give any precautions for it when it is frozen, nor about
its explosive power when in that state. I think the thirty
canisters originally stored in the town, if each contained
two gallons, would hold about 960 pounds of liquid. Had it
been pure nitr )-glycerine, it would have been equal to
41 tons of gunpowder. Percussion, motion, or moderate
temperature might have caused the explosion of it at any
time. Its explosion would have been sufficient to
blow down 115;000 tons of solid rock. The effect on
buildings so frail in structure as houses, when viewce
in comparison with solid stone, is fortunately only
matter for conjecture. The component elements o.
nitro-glycerine are carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxy-
gen ; it is, in fact, similar to gun-cotton. Glycerine is used
instead of cotton. Glycerine is used as the " base." I
would suggest that nitro-glycerine should be manufactured
at the place where it is to be used. Having heard the
evidence given as to the explosion,my opinion is, that after
the empty tins had been conveyed to the second hole,
either by movement or possibly by spontaneous conibus-
tion, the crystals of nitro-glycerine had exploded. Com-
bustion had p been eau ied by the stuff slipping or
moving a little. 1 believe the article is not manufactured
anywhere in Britain.
The Coroner, in summing up, said they had had the
whole of the evidence brought before them, and lie proceeded
to inform them of the b_•arings of the law on the subject
of nitro-glycerine. An Act was passed in the year 1866,
and, having reference to the previous one passed in 1862,
relating to the state of petroleum, should be incorporated
with that. He thought that when the Government heard
of this inquiry they would perhaps take more stringent
measures towards its safe storage. There was an Act which
imposed a fine of 1.!20 per day upon any one storing petro-
leum without the license of the local authorities. In 1866
another Act was passed by special reason of this nitro-
glycerine. Such goods are to b,e kept marked, and notice
of their character given to the local authorities. Such was
the law. He did not think it was necessary for them to
inquire into the proceedings of Mr. Spark, as the affair
was out of his hands altogether. If the explosion had
occurred in the White Swan-yard the inquiry would b.--
assumed another aspect.
Mr. Sparlerose and was going to speak to the coroner,
who told him to sit down. The Coroner, at the requeL
of the jury, read several excerpts from the Acts of Parlia-
ment. The jury retired, and after an absence of a quarter
of an hour returned the following verdict :—" That death
has been caused by the explosion of nitro-glycerine acci-
dentally, and the jury are unanimously of opinion that
the law in reference to the storing of nitro-glycerine
t4145Q...ba4 Insp grossly yioiated.' •