The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-09
..RENDRocK" POWDER.

Last FRIDAY Mr. j. r. Rand OF the firm OF J. r. Rand
l. Co. the manufacturers OF the ssrendrockn powder
which caused such terrible explosion at the Bergen
tunnel Saturday night made arrangements 70 Try
experiments as TO the value of the powder In
tearing stumps Of Of the ground Tho expert
ments took place yesterday about eleven and hall
miles from Jersey City. contiguous to Stitt's station
which Is the line Of the Paterson and Newark
branch Of the Erie Railway. The place selected
clearing belonging to Mr.. Thomas W. Satterthwate, al
No 80 Clinton place, New York, who about l50
In the vicinit; and who Intends to make park
Of the location where the experiments tried.
Mr. J. X Rand, Mr. C. II. Scott, the agent of the CON-
pany and tho HERALD reporter arrived the ground
selected about four O'Clock yesterday afternoon and
found number Of aborers at work digging out stumps
of old trees. Mr.. Saterthwate and several property
owners OF the ncighborhood were also present.
Stups Of oak and chestnut selected for tho
trial. Holes inch In diameter having boon bored into
the top roots of these Captain Scott who conducted the
operation produced his terrible powder which, by the
way, lay in the parof the buggy in which Mr. RAND
Captain Scott and tho reporter rode for five mica
somewhat the reporters surprise when 1t was taken
out. This "rendrock" powder was done up in
how safely it could be handled Captain Scott took one
OF these cartridges, threw II against a rock
near BY and then kicked 1t IN tho air Tho
explained. fuse brought out about two feet in
length and cap containing Illuminating powder was
liked upon end, which then inserted into tho
cartridge which was covered with oil paper ono ol
these i've cartridges then placed the hole
made ut the root OF ono OF the stumps. The fuse
lighted by Captain Scott and every for
tree from behind which he peeped anxiousy while the
fuse burned. A loud explosion was heard, and pieces
OF the stump weighing three and four pounds each were
thrown Ia every direction ty feet In tho air but nobody
hurt, thanks to the shellerng trees. On exami.
nation II found that the stump selected had been
TORN PiEcES
but not fully uprooted Several others tried sub
scquently with greater sdccc5s. One in particular
tough oak stump, bored through to its centre.
ounces OF the powder When the experimenters
turned after the explosion they found that IL had
taken completely out Of tho ground, roots and all
II was then proposed To try its effect on stone Three
cartridges were placed upon imbeddea rock and
covered with clay. The fuse lighted but this time
evidently not wishing to have piece Of rock
moniousy descend upon tho tops OF their heads, But
the explosion took place without any great effect
casting rock into the air ils force seemed to be
directed downward altogether, and It
SPLIT TIN ROCK,
30 that It could be removed by ons man with little
trouble To further show the nature Of this powder
quantity laid upon and lighted match
applied 10 t. II burned quietly, like ordinary gum
powder, without any explosion whatsoever. In TACT,
the experiment proved pretty satisfactorily that tho
powder would not explode without the cap containing
the Illuminating POWDER which produced the nscessary
conclusion.
1t was argued by Mr. Rand and his agent that after
the exhibition made OF the powder and It's Effects there
could BIO only one conclusion arrived ut as TO the
CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION
on Saturday nght-that some connected with the
work tho tunnel and fully acquainted with the man
of exploding the powde operated on the
twenty kegs stored in the magazine on Bergen Hill