The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-08-30
The Internal Machines at sebastopoI and
in the Baltic.

in the Baltic.
The London Times correspondent, gives
the following account of the small mine,
which the Russians have strewed the ground
with about their out.works:
| was shown here (at the Manelon) one
of these extraordinary fougasses, or small
mines, which are exploded on the touch o.
the foot, and which the Russians planted
thickly about their advanced works. A strong
case containing powder is sunk in the ground
and 10 it is attached thin tube of tin or lead,
several feet in length in the upper end oil
the tube there is enclosed thin glass tube
containing sulphuric or nitric acid. This
portion of the tube is just laid above the
earth, where it can be readily hid by few
blades of grass or stone. If a person steps
on il he bends the tin tube, and breaks the
glass tube inside. The acid Immediately
escapes and runs down the tin tube till il ar
rives close 10 its insertion into the case, and
there meets few grains Of chlorate of pot
ats. Combustion instantly takes place, the
mine explodes, and not only destroys every
thing that is near il but throws out quapti-
iy of biiumen, with which it is coated, in a
state OF ignition, so as to burn whatever it
rests upon. Later in the day, very nearly
had practical experience of the working of
these mines, for an English sentry, who
kindly warned me of. did not indicate the
exact direction till he found he was in dan.
ger of my firing ii, when he became very
communicative on the subject One ofthem
blew up during the armisIice, but don't
know what damage 1t did. We have lost
several men by them. While the ground is
occupied by The Russians they mark them
by small flags, which are removed when
the enemy advance /; makes it disagree
able walking in the space between The
works.
The following is description of one of
the machines which are sunk in the Baltic.
which have caused so much apprehension
among the alisd fleets:
Each machine consists of cone of gal
vinized iron, l6 inches in diameter at the
base to apex; it is divided into three cham
bers, The one near the base being largest,
aud containing air causes it 10 float with The
base uppermost. In the Lenter of this cham
Der is another, which holds tube with a
fuse in it, and an apparatus for firug it,
This consists of two little iron rods, which
move in guides, and are kept projected over
the side of,he base by springs which press
them oulwards.
When anything pushes either OF these ods
inwards, it strikes against a lover, which
m oves like pendulum, in the fuse tube, and
the lower end of the lever breaks or bends
small leaden tube, containing combuslible
compound, which is sci on fire by coming 10
contact with some sulphuric acid held in a
capillary tube, which is broken at the same
time, and SO fires the fuse, which communi-
Gates the powder contained in The chamber
at the apex of the cone, and which holds
about or 10 lbs.
At the extreme apex is brass ring, 10
which is attached rope and some pieces Of
granite, which moors them about nine or ten
leet below the surface, SO tha. the only ves-
sells they could hurt, the gun-boats, float qui-
city over them, and now we know what they
are, they have been dsarmed of all their
dread. But they prove dangerous pIaythings;
the Commander in-Chief was examining one
of tho fuse tubes that was supposed to be
spoih, for it was full of mud and water, when
he accidentally touched the lever, and i, ex-
poded in his hands, scattering the mud into
the faces of all present and literally throwing
dirt into their eyes, but doing no hurt.