American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-07-31

ExPL&HyENEss OF SALTPErRE. Notwith-
standing the general belief that the terrible eX-
plorion Al the late fire in New York was pro-
dacad by(gmpowder, we think it more proba-
bic that Vt was caused by satpetTe, a large
quantity tbf which, it is known, was stored
N the bull ding where the explosion occur
red X is important that the question whe-
ther or not saltpetre will explode, shall be set
fled, as if be established in the affirmative,
Il will become necessary for the authorities of
the several cities of the union to adopt similar
regulations in regard to the storing of satpetre
lts nov exist in reference to gunpowder. A
communication on this subject, from A. A,
Hayes, Esq, of the Roxbury Laboratory, ap-
pears in Il Boston paper, in which he says, that
.ealtpetre or the nitrate Of potash, or soda,
alone does not burn, or explode by heat, now
ever intense. 1t parts with one Of its colisti
tuents, oxygen, by heat, and it is TO the combi
aation of its oxygen with other bodies, that it
owes its power Of burning with therl. Wood
and tibrous substances do not burn with salt
pctre, until they have become partially char
red; they then produce deiiagra!ion, or burn
with sparks" The experiment thus far would
seem to confirm the position Of the dsbelieyers
in the explosveness OF saltpetre, and we pre-
sumo that it is from this experiment that they
50 strenuously insist that the late explosion in
New York was caused by gunpowder and rot
by satpetrc. But Mr.. Hayes, by further ex-
periments, has proved that saltpetre will e1-
plode; and we think has satisfactorily shewn
that the disaster in New York was thus pro-
duced. We make the following quotation
from his letter, as it contains information of
very important character:
"a large quantity of saltpetre, enclosed in
gunny bags as it is usually stored after fire was
communicated to it, would burn with the bags
emitting much smoke and sparks, precisely as
pager, which has imbibed saltpetre, would. It
would not be consumed; only the small guam
tity required to burn with the bags, would be
changed. Ifan addition of burning wood, or
charcoal were made, to the extent of one fifth
the weight of the sltpetre, an intense and con-
tinued dehagration would result, and all the
saitpetre would be changed. No explosion
pou!d t0L!oo, from applying fire to mixtures Of
charcoal, or ,oood and sattpetye; the rapid COM
6ustion called dehlgration would be produced,
but unlike explosion, time would be required
for the mutual actions and where the quant-
lies we're large. many hours would be necessary
before they would cease. The recent destruc-
ton OF life and property in New York; the loss
of homeward bound Indiaman and her cargo.
By similar cause, have created an anxiety
which has led to many inquiries respectino the
origin of the explosions attending the burning
of saltpetre. need not remind you of a case
which occurred at Central wharf about ten
years since, when the Hartford packet was de.
stroyad. The testimony obtained in the last
instance led me to make some experiments ON
the effects produced by dropping water on a
burning mixture of saltpetre and chacoal. Il
yyas ascertaned that 4 very small weight OF
uater, relatively to the saltpetre, caused explo.
s;ons; which might be made successive, so long
as the materials remained. The quantities Of
the substances acting being increased to be-
tween ono and two hundred pounds, the addi-
fion of water, in the form of spray, caused an
explosion which destroyed the vessel and shook
al the buildings in the vicinity. The temper
4tare of a burning mixture of saltpetre and
charcoal, at the points of contact, is superior TO
that of white hot iron, and the form is that Of
a hubbling fluid. Water falling on the mass is
Instantly converted into steam. having the elias
tic force Of that used in steam guns; exceeding
gunpowdo: ID destructive energy. The red