Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-26
THURSDAY. AFRIL 90, 1866.
THE NITRO-GLYCERINE EXCITE
MENT.



MENT.
From the New York Tribune.
Acting on information furnished him by
Fire Marshal Baker, Mayor Hoffman re-
quested that official 70 bring before him all
persons who owned OF had in store any of
the combustible known as nitro-glycerine
The Marshal accordingly took before
the Mavor Charles Nobel, German chem
ist. the manufacturer Of the article and Jas.
Daveau, who became partner Of Nobel
for the manufacture and sale of the same.
Nobel stated that he arrived in this city
on Monday last, bringing with him u cases
of nitro-glyeerine, which were then in the
Custom House bonded warehouses.
In company with Nobel Marshal Baker
proceeded TO the bonded warehouses
Nos. SO and 5S Greenwich street, and there
found 10 cases. These were removed, much
10 the relief Of the occupants who, until in
formed by the Marshal, had not the most
distant idea that any of the dreaded COM
pound was in the buildings. None could he
found willing 10 remove the cases, and the
Marshal and the owner therefore performed
that supposed perilous work.
The remaining two cases were found TO be
in the Assayer's Office, No. SO Broadway,
they were in the Chemical Department, on
the top floor. Thither they went, and after
considerable search, for the boxes were only
marked "G. H." they were at length found,
and. together with the others found in
the warehouse, safely removed beyond the
city limits
Mr.. Nobel states that the above is all that
there was in the city, he being the sole man
uiacturer and that having been brought
over by him. He further claims that the
steamer European, lately destroyed by some
explosive substance at Aspinwall, causing a
terrible loss Gf llfe, was not blown up by
ntro-glycerine, a. be j. positive she had
none on board lie is rather inclined to the
belief that il must have been gun-cottan,
The amount contained in the boxes which
exploded at San Francisco with such fearful
results. is stated by Mr. Nobel at about ~
hounds. The amount seized by the Fire
Marshal amounts to about 800 pounds.
From this our readers may infer the amount
of damages which would have been caused
by its explosion within the city limits,
THE EXPLOSION IN SAN FRANCIsCo-NITRo-
uLYCERIEE-THE LAW AsTo EXPLosIvEs
In The United States Commissioners Of
Gee, yesterday, before Commissioner Bolts,
the United States agent, Otto Burstcnben-
der the terrible aoudent which OCCURRED
recently in San Francisco by the explosion
of a barrel of nitro-glycerine, otherwise
known as Nobers blasting oil, which had
been delivered for transportation TO Wells,
Fargo & Co. without declaring its nature,
has led the present criminal proceeding
.nder tbG United States statue requiring all
explosive burning fluids and materials which
ignite by friction 10 be securely packed and
distinctly marked on the outside with the
name and description Of the articles and
making It misdemsaDor TO pack or ship
il without such marking.
G. b. Middlebrook, the tallyman IN the
freight department Of Wells, Fargo a. Co.,
and whose duty it is TO take an account Of
all freight that arrives, testified that a few
DAYS before the sailing Of the New York Ia
vessel carving passengers as well as freight
box was brought to the Company's office
marked w. III. Mills, Los Angeles, Fast
DO produced receipt for its delivery on peir;
,his receipt was given TO the parties who
get bill Of lading On surrendering II at the
office; if this had been shown NE should
have inquired what kind Of oil it was, as we
reject all oil Of explosive qualities; if i had
been whale oil carefully put up We should
have received il Wells, Fargo Co. CON
duct the entire freight business Of the Steam
ship Company, and they restrict us from
scarrying explosive articles: ! remember the
box: il was a wooden box about Is inches
square aud four feet high it could not go
into a state-room; the fast freight is put ON
board last, that box therefore remained by
my door ssyeral days; ! am satisfied that
the marks ON. Ex b" were those upon it;
if it had been marked Nitro-Glycerine |
would not have carried it; Fast means TO
40 right through with freight and passen-
gers; other freight remains 10 days at the
lsthmus.
Mr.. John w. Atlron, Superintendent Gf
Department in Wells 4 Fargo's Office, tes-
titles 10 the usual course of receiving freight;
that if it had been marked oil he should
inquired and refused it he should have re-
fused sperm oil in pine box he was famil-
lar with the premises in San Francisco
where the explosion occurred the steamer
lands ) miles off; if the clerk found the
box stained his duty would be 20 send il TO
the Office for a survey; my information is
that he did so send this and another box for
examination they were placed in the ware
house he sent over for Harris, the steam
ship clerk, 10 come with him 10 examine il (;
they went into the warehouse and the next
thing was the explosion; our agent then
telegeaphed 10 us that the explosion had
been traced directly to this box the damage
10 the property is $780, 000-as far as / could
learn, aud there are some seventeen or eigh-
Teen lives LOST.
Joseph W. Brazier testified that Mr. W.
II. Mills. a California miner, formerly CO.
cupving the same room with him, had
bought, in March, some 100 lbs of nitro
glvcerine; there was an association of which
James Daveau was President and the wit
ness Secretary and Treasurer, and John ).
Noungs. w. II. White, the accused, and j.
II. Prentice, Directors, ca led the New York
Blasting Oil Company, not yet organized
they sell the oil in limited quantities; since
iLe accident q the Wyoming Hotel they
have kept the oil al the corner Of une hun
dred and sixteenth street, and Third avenue,
10 have il out Of the way; when they sell
any they send up there and cart II down !
witness had known a package 90 express,
marked "Legendre Evans, Mills, jefferson
county, \. y with nothing ON the wooden
box containing il to show lis character wit
,,ess got the money iQr il from Mills he
bought cartridge boxes at sqae lime Jointly
With Raymond; sometimes the oil came in
glass cases, sometimes in square tin boxes
containing 27l pounds; this purchase of
Mills was about the middle of March; Mr..
Prentice went to the magazine and ship
ped it,
Exhibit II was in the handwriting of Da-
ycau: il was in Barstenbinder's name because
The oil is not the Company's, but in store,
.lbicci 10 bis order; the accused was gene
hye weeks to axe Superior, and got back
shout the lst Of April any member of the
Association ooald deliver the oil without his
consent.
The Commissioner held the accused for
further examination, and admitted him to
bail in the sum Of S2,500. The examina-
tion was adjourned to the 23d inst, at l
o'clock A. NJ
CARD.
To hs Editor Of the n !. Tribune:
SIR Since my arrival in this city | have
learned with deep regret of the two acci-
dents which have occurred lately with nitro
glycerine. Although the cause of these
explosions are ugkp0wp, | nope ~ convince
S6mpetent and scientific authorities, tha,
ritro-glycerine is a substance less dangerous
10 handle and store than gunpowder. tt
that end propose making il a few days, a
series Of convincing experiments, Of which
the time and place win he inserted in your
esteemed paper Until then. ! respeesfgliY
ssE fhe pubic 10 suspend their opihions, .,
ynch experiments viii enable them clearly
! A. l.. I Il l..