Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-07-24
THE INpEnNAI. MACHINES AZ sEaasro-

| Ia n ~ ~
| rh Iondnn Times corrpspoutlcnt gives the t"i
lowing account of tho small mines, when me Nu
Sims lave sircwcd the ground with ABOUT 'hcr ou'
| works. r,,o.. nv
r,,rl;usfv f,,uoases or small mines which are fA
ploded at the touc of the foot, and winch te lns
| slams planted thickly about their advanced w"'ks
| 4 struur case containing powder Is Sunk III t''
| ',round and to il is attached thin glass tube con
| flaming .uphurc or nitric acid THIS portion Oh tl''
| trbc is lust laid above the carth where It can ~
| readily hid By few blades oil grass or stone. ~
nrr.on stems ON il he bcniS the tin tube and break
the glass tube inside. The acid immediately escapes
and runs duwn the tin tube till it arrives close Ia it'
insertion into the case, aud there meets few gram.
| of churatc of p0tashi; combustion Instantly rake
place, the mine cXp0lrs, and not only destroys every
thing near il, but throws out quantity ot btumen
with which it is coated state of ignition, 20 ~ to
burn whatever it rests upon. Later III the day, We
ry nearly had q practical experience Of the working
| of these mines, for English sentry, who kindly
warned me off, did not Indicate the exact direction
till he found was in danger of firing II, when he
became very communicative on the subject. One of
them blew UP during the arnisllcc but don Know
what damage il did. W. have lost several men by
them. When the ground is occupied by the Rus
slams they mark them by small Has, winch are re-
moved when the enemy advance. 1t makes II DIS
agreeable walking in the spHce between the works.
The following is description at one ut the ma
chimes which IRE sunk in the Baltic, which have
caused much apprehension among tho H!llcd
fleets
Each machine consists of cone of galvanized iron
sixteen inches in diameter III the base and twenty
from base to apex it is divided into three chambers,
the one near the bu-e bein; largest, and containing
air. causes it 10 ioat with Ihc bnse uppernos IN the
centre of this chamber is another: which holds tuoc
with fuse in it, and apparatus for firing 1t. ms
consists of two little iron rods. which move III guides
and ARE kept projected the SIDES OF the case by
springs which press them outwnrds.
When ANYTHING pushes either of these rods inwardS'
il strikes against lever. which moves like pendulum
in the fuse tube aud the lower end OF the tube breaks
ur bends small eaden tube, containing cOlnolstI-
bile compound. which is SET on fire by coming III con-
fact with some sphurc acid held ina capillary tube
which is broken at the time and So irrS inc
fuse, which communicates with tn" power c4ntnnch
i'm the chunbcr mt the npcX OF the cnnc ana WHICH
holds about nine or ten pounds.
Al the exit enc apex il brass rIng TO when Is AZ
tachcd II rope and pieces OF granite, which
rnoors them about OF 10 feet below Ir surface 50
tha, tho only vessels they could hurt, the gtn-boat-
float quietly over them, and now we know what tnty
are they have been di,arncd of all their dread But
they prove dangerous plnythlnS'; The COMMANDMENTS
Chief wns examining of the fuse tubes thar WIS
SUPPOSED to be spolt for it full OF mud and wa
ter when he accidentally touched the lever, AMI II en-
poIcd in his hands, scattering the mud into the faces
Of all present, and literally throwing dirt into their
eyes, but doing no hurt