Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-02-22
DiaboIicaI Duallne.

The Missouri Republican remarks that
the recent terrible explosion of duallne
manu- actory near Milwaukee, in which
the proprietor and four of lis assistants
were blown to atoms,and the building and
It's dostructihle surroundings scattered
over an area of country half u mile square,
brings to misd u circumstance that now
lies at the bottom of the Mississippi river.
Dualine is fully as powerful, though sup
posed to be Il safer explosive than nitro
glycerine. 1t is mixture of the latter
with paper pulp, sawdust and some other
substances, which allows of its being
banded in a solid STATE, and in this con-
sists Its claim to safety. II is manuiac.
tured In round sticks, and the greatest care
aud precautiOn must be exercised, as the
slightest cOneussiOn, or even the rough
breaking of the stick will explode Il with
terrible violence. Indeed. il is open to
question whether il is any more secure
than the liquid nitro-glycariue. Twenty
pounds of this etuti would, il properly
confined, raze to the ground any block OF
Buildings in the city.
Except in extremely hard rock or iron
ore, where il Is employed TO some extent
on account of It's enormous force, thee is
but little used, very few being willing to
handle il. Recently, a firm engaged on
some heavy rock work on the river, pur-
chased a small quantity and took II to
their works. After It's safe arrival there
the proprietor grew TO dread il so that they
| rellnquished their intention of using It.
The next question was, what should be
done with the dualinei IL would not
answer to bury ii they could not explode
/ 1t, and its safe disposal became quite o
/ perplexing subj ct. At last one of these
/ gentlemen determined to bring II TO st.
Louis and get rid Of IL as best he could
He brought IL down by boat to avoid the
iolting OF the ears, and arriving at th.
levee dock locked il in his state-room, and
sought out parties here whom he hoped "a
dispose of ii to. But in this respect he
failed, for no one would receive It. The
gentleman was in a quandary for som,
time. There the Internal stuff lay in hii
state-room awaiting the slightest jar L
blow the boat into splinlers and those oI
board into eternity He did not care t
take IL In his hands and carry il around
nor employ any person to take charge .
Il. AS a last resort In this extremity, h
attached a rope to the compound and low
cred it into the river, where 1t now lies.
As water does not effect dnallne, aud q
il retains its explosive force for an indeA
mite length Of time, it becomes II matte
Of serious conjecture what may yet bg
come of this torpedo. should the keel @
n steamboat o. any heavy substance throw
overheard come In contact with it th
latter wonld be forever set at rest, as wei
as any animate object or structure With
a hundred rods as its force when cor
fined under water Is far more powerft
than under ordinary circumstance
Through the influence Of the rivers GU
rent il may now have drifled out into mi
stream over towards East ST. Louis, {
perhaps have been swept Southwark
Wherever it Is, il rests a fearful and las
, ing agent of death and destruction. Yea
hence It may be heard from and make
sensation for some future day and gene
alton.