The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-18

DUALINE-A SOLEMN PRobLsM AND A QCAN-
DARy.-Thc Missouri Republican remarks
that the recent terrible explosion of a dualine
mandatory near Milwaukee. in which the
proprietor and four of his assistants were
blown to atoms and the building and its de-
structible surroundings scattered over an
area Of country half a mile square, brings to
mind d circumstance that how lies at the bot
tom OF the Mississippi river.
Dualinc is fully as powerful, though sup
posed TO bc safer explosive than nitro
glyccrinc. II is mixture Of the latter with
paper pulp, sawdust, and some other sub
stances, which allows of its being handled in
n solid state, and in this consists its claim
upon safety. 1t is manufactured in round
sticks. and the greatest care aud precaution
must he exercised, as the slightest conclusion
or even the rough breaking of the stick will
explode it with terrible violence. Indeed,
it j. open to question whether it is any more
secure than the liquid nitro-glycerine.
Twenty pounds of this stuff would, if pro-
pcrly confined, raze to the ground any block
of buildings in the city.
Except in extremely hard rock or iron ore,
where it is employed to some extent on nc
count CT It's enormous force, there Is bit lit
tie of it used, very few being willing to
handle it.
Recently q firm engaged on some heavy
rock-work up the river purchased small
quantity and took it 10 their works. After
its safe arrival there the rroprietors grew to
dread it so that they reinquished their inten-
ton Of using it. The next question was,
what should be done with the dualine? 1t
would not answer to bury it, they could not
explode it, and its safe disposal became quite
4 perplcXing subject. At last one of the gen.
tlcmcn determined TO bring 1t to st. Louis
and ret rid of it as best he could. He brought
it down By boat TO avoid the jolting Of the
cars, and, arriving at the levee, locked it in
his statcroom, and sought out parties here
whom he hoped &c dispose &c It to. BG: in
| this latter respect he failed, for no one would
| receive it.
The gentleman was i'm quandary for some
| time. There the Internal stuff lay in his
| statcroom, awaiting only The slightest iar TO
blow the boat into splinterS and those on
board into eternity. He did not dare to take
| il in his hands and carry it around, nor en-
ploy any person to take charge of it. AS a
last resort in this rerplcXity he attached a
| rope to the compound and lowered it into
! the river. where it now lies.
| As water does not affect dualnc, and as it
| retains its explosive force for an indefinite
| length Of time, it becomes matter of serl-
| Gus conjecture what may yet become of this
torpedo. Should the keel of steamboat or
any heavy substance thrown overheard come
| in contact with it the matter would forever
| be set at rest, as well as any animate Object
or structure within hundred rods, as its
| force when confined under water is far more
| powerful than under ordinary circumstances.
Through the influence Of the rivers current
il NAV now have drificd out into mid.stream,
over toward cast St. Louis, or perhaps have
been swept southwards. Wherever it is, il
rests Il fearful and lasting agent Of deattand
destruction. Years hence it may BIZ heard
from. and make sensation for some future
day and generation.