The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-05-20
Experiments with Nitro-GIycerine.

The manner III which nitro glycerine
is used to raise bodies to the surface of
the water is described by the DUBUQUE
(Iowa) Times in chronicling a recent ex-
pertinent in the Mississippi River at
that point, as follows:
The friends of the drowned man sent
to Hazel Green, Wis, for John Drawer,
skillful manipulation of the dreadful
fluid known as nitro glycerine, and the
only man in this part of the country
who can be prevailed upon to handle it.
Mr.. Drawer came, and was upon the
ground with his can of fluid, tin tubes
and fuses. The preparation for dis.
charge Is very simple, but the liability
OF the treacherOus mixture blowing the
handler up into the skies when he
grows IN the least careless in handling
it is great. A fire was built and a wash
boiler, half full of water, heated, and
the can of nitro glycerine set into it to
bring it to the right temperature, so
that it would do its work, well. A piece
of fuse three feet long was then cut and
a percussion cap placed upon each end,
pasted over with common yellow soap
as a protection from the fluid or water
A tin tube, about as large around as q
hOe-handle and nearly a yard long, was
then filled with the dangerous fluid, by
pouring it IN Just as you would water.
Both ends of the fuse were now placed
into the tube and run down into the
fluid little. Then a wooden plug, cut
to accommodate the fuse, was forced in
| and sOaped over to keep the water out.
A good Oarsman and Mr.. Drawer took
| possession CT the skiff and moved out
on the river rod or two, then the
double fuse was lighted, the tube drop
ped overheard, and then the skiff was
pulled away from that spot with all
speed possible, while half a dozen
men and our report disappeared up
the side of the hill, making frantic
efforts to secure the protection of some
giant boulder Orlsubstantial oak. We
had hardly secured protection when the
charge exploded with loud, rumbIing
noise, shaking the trees, rocks and hills.
The sand and rock from the river bot
tom flew in every direction, while vol
ume after volume OF boiling, kissing
and foaming water rolled up and sport
ed IN the air. The charge was but a
pound and a half and the result both
wonderful and terrible. The second.
fourth and fifth charges were let off in
the same way at different points along
the bank with the same terrify ing effect.
blowing up the river bottom and at one
time sending a large volume of water all
of a hundred feet high in the air, The
third and sixth charges were prepared
In the same way, but instead of being
sunk were placed upon a small raft
made of heavy plank nailed together.
In order to have a good view and be
secure our reporter, in company with
two others, proceeded down the rail-
road track a quarter of a mile and
climbed the top of high point of rock.
From this point we could readily see
Mons. Drawer as he went down to the
river bank, lit the fuse and pushed the
raft out into the river, and then hunted
the other side of the railroad track in a
hurry. The raft hOated prettily for a
moment, curl of white smoke ascend
ing from the burning fuse-a fitfuI
sputter-a fiash-and the charge ex-
Ploded with ringing report that echoed
and re-echoed, causing the waters to
surge, the trees to shake and the hill
upon which we stood, a quarter of a
mile away, to tremble as with the effect
of an earthquake.
We are convinced that when nitro
glycerins was estimated to have four
teen times more force than powder no
mistake was made.
LANCER OF L hOIRACTED SLEEP. But
here, as IN so many other cases, the evil
of deficiency has its counterpart in the
evil of excess. Sleep protracted be-
yond the need of repair, and e. croach-
ing habitually upon the hours of wax
ing action, impairs more or less the
functions of the brain, and with them all
the vital powers. This observation is
as cid as the days of Hippocrates and
Aret@us, who severally and strongly
comment upon it. The sleep of IN
fancy, however, and that of old age, do
not come under this category of excess.