Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-09-17
of this much vexed question, Mr.. Hayes

says ~
"Saitpetre, or the nitrate OF potash.
or soda, alone, does not burn, or ex-
plode by heat, however intense. Il
parts with one Of its constituents, oxy-
gen, by heat, and it is to the combinn-
tion Of its oxygen with other bodies,
that 1t owes its power Of burning with
them. Wood and fibrous substances
do not burn with saltpetre, until they
have become partially charred, thes
then produce defagration, ,or burn with
sparks.
"a large quantity Of saItpetre. en-
closed in gunny bags, as il is usually
stored, after fire was communicated to
liz. would burn with the bags, emitting
much smoke and sparks, precisely as
paper, which has imbibed saltpetre,
would. It would not be consumed;
only the small quantity required 10
burn with the bags, would be changed.
lfan addition Of burning wood or char
coal were made, to the extent Of one
fifth the weight of saltpetre, an intense
and continued defageration would re.
suit, and oil the saltpetre would be
changed. No EXPLOSION WOULD FOL.
Low FROM APPLYING FIRE TO MIXTURES
OF CHARCOAL on WOOD AND sALTPETRE:
the rapid combustion called defagera-
ton, would be produced, but unlike ex-
plosion. time would be required for the
mutual actions. and where the quan.
titles were large, many hours would
be necessary, before they would cease.
The recent destruction Of life and prop
erty by fire in New York; the loss of
a homew ward bound lndiaman and her
cargo, by . similar cause, has created
an anxiety which has led to many en-
quiries, respecting the origin Of the ex.
plosions, attending the burning Of the
saltpetre. need not remind YOU of
case which occurred at Central wharf,
about ten years since, when the Hart
ford Packet was destroyed. The tes-
timony obtained in the last instance,
led me TO make some experiments,
on the effects produced by dropping
water on burning mixture Of salipe-
ire and charcoal. 1t was ascertained
that very small weight Of water,
relatively 10 the saltpetre, caused ex-
plosions; which might be made success
sive, SO long as the materials remained.
The quantities Of the substances acting,
being increased to between one and
two hundred pounds, the addition OF
wafer in form Of spray, caused an ex-
plosion, which destroyed the vessel.
and shook all the building in the vicini-
ty. The temperature of 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 bubbllng fluid. Water, falling on
the mass, is instantly converted into
steam, having the elastic force of that
used in steam guns; exceeding gun
powder in destructive energy. The
red hot particles. dispersed by the sud-
den action, pass over considerable spa
ces, and the appearance of flame is
produced.
"In cases where water fall on highly
heated polished surface, such as melted
glass, copper or silver. steam is formed
rapidly, but silently; the water does not
touch the hot surface. The spreading
ola film, or crust over the polished
surface, instantly alters its relation to
water, and causes steam to form with
explosive violence, attended by loud
report. / do not hesitate in express.
ing my belief, that the disastrous effects
produced in New York, were caused
by water or other fluids falling on salt
petre, while burning with the bags in
vesting il. The facts which | have
stated, may have interest or Importance
in connection with attempts made to
|extinguish fire in buildings, containing
saltpetre. The danger ofthrowlng wa
Ter on the fire is manifest, while the
loss to the owner Of the saltpetre would
doubtless be greater by water than by
fire. e ,ss es
Woman- what ale Won whinnino