Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1866-05-11
NitrO-Glycerin--Th Cause of its
Premature Explosion.
BY PROFESSOR CHARLES A. sEELY


In recent number of the Scientific am
ericdn it is suggested that the late disastrous
explosions of nitro-glycerin were the result
of spontaneous combustion. As the subject
is one of great interest at the present time,
1 trust the facts l present herewith, now
published for the first time, will be accepta-
bic.
The morning after the explosion of nitro
olvcerin in Greenwich street (Nov g. 1869
| went to the Wyoming Hotel and made a
careful inspection of the premises, being as
sisted by several of the gentlemen who were
wounded. At this time the cause of the eX
plosion and the explosive material were
profound mystery Inquiries elected the
following facts:
A few minutes previous to the explosion,
the men, a dozen or more, occupying the
bar-room, which was on the level of the
street. observed peculiar odor which by
some, at first, was taken to be due to n leak
age of the gas. 1t was soon apparent. how
ever. that the odOr was not of gas, and as it
increased i'm strength, search was made for
its cause. The odor was traced to a small
baggage-room, and there it was found to be
issuing from small chest or packing-boX
provided with rude handles of rope. The
box was brought out into the centre of the
bar-room and placed upon the floor But
the stencil became stronger and very often
sive and some of the gentlemen saw what
they supposed to be smoke and yellow or
reddish flame Issue from the box. All were
then alarmed, and the box was hastily car
ried to the edge of the sidewalk The men
who carried the box had hardly time to re-
enter the bar-room and turn round to look
at the box through the glass doors when the
explosion took place
The small size of the box, the absence of
smell of sulphur, and the terrific effects of
the explosion, indicated something different
from gunpowder. We searched in vain for
some relic of the box or its contents
| directed inquiries most minutely and
particularly with reference to the Odor. I'm
fortunately none of the gentlemen were fa-
miliar enough with the odors, which we of
the laboratory know so we'll so Us definitely
to describe that which they had perceived;
but | was able to get so many positive state
ments that when they were put together, |
felt warranted in concluding that the odor
was that of nitric gas, and that the yellow
smoke or flame was nitric gas. Under this
state of things, was inclined to believe that
the box had contained gun-cotton, and that
here was Il case of spontaneous combustion,
with which am quite familiar. As ordina-
ry gun-cotton, however, alone could not pro-
duce the mechanical effects shown, it was
necessary to suppose that it was combined
with chlorate of potash or that the box also
contained illuminate. This theory proved
to be incorrect, but its plausibility was sin
gularly confirmed, when next day it became
known that nitro-glycerin, a substance so
much like gun-cotton, was, in fact, the eX-
plosiye. | made very near guess.
| have made the above narrative so min
ute, for the reason that the peculiar odOr,
and the red fumes observed at the Green
wch street explosion, so characteristic of the
spontaneous combustion of compounds like
gun-cotton, seemed of little consequence TO
others who examined the case. | desire it
to be put on record that there is sufficient
reason for believing that this disaster was
chargcable TO spontaneous combustion.
1t is also proper to add, that as good
citizen, shortly after the occurrence, | brot
the subject before one of our scientific soci-
cites, and sent a communication to one OF
the daily papers, in which | gave warning OF
other explosions, in case proper precautions
were not taken. Unfortunately the commu-
nicaton was not published; its publication,
possibly, might have prevented the fearful
catastrophe at San Francisco and Panama
AS above intimated, | am familiar with
the spontaneous combustion of gun-cotton
| am acquainted with the particulars of sew
eral cases which occurred unintentiOnally
and the conditions are now so well under
stood that we know how to bring it about at
will, and with certainty. The conditions are
simply that the cotton, slightly acid, be kept
SO that the acid fumes and the heat, gener'
ated by the reaction Of the acid, shall be
prevented from escaping. For example
take an ounce of gun-cOtton, slightly acid
and contained in "A bottle, and pack in with
cotton, wool or saw-dust, in close box
within few weeks, in warm weather, it will
be pretty sure to take fire. An actual case
Of this sort is described in the AmericD
Journal Of Ph0tOgrdphH The spontaneous
combustion theory completely explains the
many "mysteriousn explosions of gun-cot
ton which occurred within few years after
its discovery.
The constitution and properties Of gun
cotton and nitro-glycerin are so similar tha
e little argument is necessary to show that the
& latter also is liable to spontaneous combus
ton To put the question, however, bcyonC
dispute, have made experiments which de
monstrate that nitro-glycerin is subject Il
the same accidents from spontaneous chang,
as gun-cotton. Other theories, which hav,
appeared III lhe newspapers, 10 account lO
the Greenwich street explosion, are atogeth
er insufficient. We have, us yet, very littl,
information with reference to the explosions
at san Francisco and Panama, on which t.
base perfectly satisfactory explanation
, But unless we can have something 10 th
contrary, they too, must be accepted as case
: of spontaneous combustion. In the investi
+ cations of this nature, ! would recommcn'
that inquiries be most particularly directet
! concerning the temperature to which tn
packages had been exposed, and ms TO tn
escape of acid odors or fumes, previous t.