Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1846-11-11
MISCELLANEOUS.
,EXPLOsIVE COTTON.

EXPLOSIVE COTTON.
The following minute and;interesting
accouutlof the discovery recently made
in Germany, by which, it is declared,
thatraw cotton.is rendered more pow
erfnlly, explosive than gunpowder, IS
copied from asleiter published in aae
Washington Union, from the pen OF its
European correspondent, under date OF.
FRANKSoRT- oN-TuE- MAINE.
o. - September 80, 1916. 1
One of the most wonderful scientific
discoveries Of. modern times has been
ezrloited here and at Basic, in Switzer-
land, within the last few weeks. Pro-
fessors Baltgsr, Of the fo,mer place, and
Schonbein. Of The. latter, simultaneously
by.a similar course of experimenting,
have invented a method of preparing
7o,o cotton which, will undoubtedly even.
,uate in the discon,inuance OF. the use Of
gunpowder! The article which they
prepare has been submitted to many
severe ordeals, and its vast superiority
/. for all explosive purposes, over gunPow-
der,is acknowledged by The Gtst chemist
: and military officers in Germany. 1
can scarcely believe my own senses
when witness an exhibition Of its ex>
,raordinaly properties. ..,r,.... 500
Unon my arrival in this city | was
invited by friend, a distinguished
member OF the German Diet, to dine
with him, and no, declining his hospital.
i,ys,s liici with and was presented to
Professor Balsger, WHO mis- but proper
TO remark is distinguished for his attain
mcn,s, and who has charge ofthe public
laboratory as a chemical lecturer. Be-
fore the separation Of the patty, Profess
sor B: took from each Of his waistcoat
pockets paper containing SOME raw
cotton; a small portion of that. which
was in one he placed upon a sheet OF
white paper, and near ii; some gnnpo~>
der Hpea another sheet. He touched
then, a.llhe same moment with the burn
ing end .ofIa cigar, and with the quick>
ness OF the lighlning's blast, The cotton
was, consumed. without. smoke or oder,
or ashes, or even the slightest stain upon
the snow white shee, Of foolscap while
the ignjlion of,he guppowdcr seemed ,o
be slow, although Of. tie best quality
ywhiehSthe paper was burn: and COLO
red; and the room filled with smoke =
He then took small quantity OF gun
powder; and placing it upon paper, en-
,irely covered it with prepared cottor
from the other paper.-Touching the
cotton with the blaze Of a match, it ex
ploded without burning the gunpowder
Subsequently,; at my apartments, ht
exploded Cotton upon the palm Of m,
hand, without my feeling the sensation
of heat, such was the remarkable rapid
i.y of its igniiing. -
A=shoittime, it is stated by The inven
tors, is only required for the preparation
of The article, and The process is so ex
ceedingly simple" thatit can be manu-
iactuledby common laborers,, and with
out any danger whatever of combustion
IT. can be fit for use in few hours afte
ethe co,touais taken from the bale,. an
Without the aid. Of machinery; and i
may be thoroughly saturated with waite
without affecting the properties injur
iously. As soon as re>dried, it is agai
fit fof t,se.. There is nothing to appre
hend 10 froaaI iist spontaneous. combus
ton, nor Wifi Il ignite by friction in il
transportation, or in the loading Of fire
arms or Become'inaamed under len
pera,ure of 2O0sdegs! ciesius. 1T wi
catch fire either from a Blasesorcfaom
spark. Ga;3G ,t5,0 !. ala9inG7aa
The fact has been ascerfainea fro
repeated experiments, that's ilies fort,
.igih part ofa6 ounce Of the prsPatt
cotton, viii spioPel bullet, 4 from (
American, rifle as far and as fast as y
twelth part of ahh ounce Of gunpowds
The sixteenth part Of an ounce will dri'
thres, quarter ounce ball a. distance
sixteen hundred PAGES Moreover, 4
barrhesl never requires sc:ieainfiiing. For
shots without iiitermissssion have be-
made, and without any p'etcep,ibloe a