The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1873-02-20
FearrnlIr Desfrnrflre Assnt

The Missouri ReDuJlicdH remarks
the recent terrible explosion Ofa dua-
line manufactCEy near Milwaukee, in
which the proprietor and four Of his
assistants were blown 10 atoms, ard
the building and its destrucible sur
rOundings scattered over an area Of
country half mile square, brings to
nlnd circumstance that now lies al
the bottom Of the Mississippi River.
DuaHhe IS fully Is powerful, though
supposed 10 he safer than nitro-gly-
cerIne. IL is a mixture Of the latter
with paper pulp, sawdust and some
other substances, which allows Of It's
being handled in 4 solid state, and in
this consists its claims To safety. It
Is manufactured in round sticks, and
the greatest care and preeautiun must
be exercised, as the slightest cOncGs-
ion will explode it with terrible vi
olence. Indeed, it is open 10 question
whether it is any more secure than
the liquid nitrO-glyeeriue. Twenty
pounds OF this stuff would, if proper
ly confined, raze to the ground any
block in the city.
Except in extremely hard rock or
iron ore, where it is employed tOsOme
extent on account of its enormous
force, there is but little Os it used,
very few being willing 10 handle it.
Recently a firm engaged on some
heavy rock work up the river, pur-
chased a small quantity aud took 1t to
their works. After its safe arrival
there, the prOprietOrs grew to dread it
so that they relinquished their iuten-
tioD of using it. The next question
was, what shall be done with the
duaIlne? 1t would not answer to bury
It they could not explode it, and its
safe disposal became quite perpleN-
ing subject. At last one Of the gem
tlemen determined to bring it to st.
Louis and get 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 dock, locked it in his state
room, and sought out parties here
whom he hoped to dispose Of it to.
But in this respect he failed, for no
one would receive it. The gentleman
was in a quaDdary fol some time.
There the Internal stuff lay in his
state room awaiting the slIghtes jar 70
blow up the boat into spliuters, and
those on board into eternity. He did
not dare to take it in his hands and
carry il around, nor employ any per-
son 10 take charge Of il. As a last re-
sort, in this extremity, lie attached
rope to the compound and lowered 1t
into the River where it now lies.
As water does not effect dualine,
'".' -- r retains its explosive force
:fs,i ..e '~E-i time, il be-
.iass..-7, "a matte ul seIIUus conjecture
what may j,t -s-uim= nf the torpedo.
Should the keel Of a steam boat 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 with
in hundred rods; a5 IFS force when
confined under wafer is far more pow
erfui than urs,eg ordinary circUm-
stances. Through Lhs influence Ofthe
rivers current it may now have
drifted out into mid-stream over to-
wards East st. Louis, or perhaps have
been swept sOuthwards. Wherever
it is, it rests a fearful and lasting
agent of death and destruction. Years
hence it may be heard from and make
3 sensation for some future day and
generation.