The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-05-14
Experiments with Nitro.Glvcarine


The manner III which nitro-glycerine
is used to raise bodies to the surface of
the water is described by the Dubuque
([OWa) 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,
a 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
aud fuses. The preparation for dis
charge is very simple, but tae 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 protection from the fluid or water.
A tin tube, about as large around as a
hOe-handle and nearly 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 a 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 a 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 reporter disappeared up
the side of the hill, making frantic
efforts to secure the protection of some
giant boulder or substantial oak. We
had hardly secured protection when the
charge exploded with a 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 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 terrifyi ing effect
blowing up the river bottom and at one
time sending a large volume of water al
of 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 small raft
made of heavy plank nailed together
In order to have a good view and be
| secure our reporter, in company will
two others, proceeded down the rail
road track a quarter of a mile anC
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 iuse and pushed tAt
raft out into the river, and then hunted
the other side of the railroad track in
| hurry. The raft hOated prettily for
moment, carl of white smoke ascend
ing from the burning fuse-a fitfu
| sputter-a fash-and the charge ex
ploded with ringing report that echoed
and re-echoed, causing the waters t.
surge, the trees to shake and the hill
upon which we stood, a quarter of
mile away, to tremble as with the effec
of an earthquake.
We are convinced that when nitro
gIycerins was estimated TO have four
teen times more force than powder n
mistake was made.