The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-07-14
III UMAN

d" DAt1A LIJ@5y~
Experiments thai Gire Remarkable Re
suits.
1t has been known for some time that
the human body becomes much charged
with electricity in the attitudes and ex-
ceedingly dry atmosphere of the high
plateau between the Sierra Nevada and
Rocky mountains, but it has heretofore
been unknown that such accumulated
electricity is a u of great danger to
persons handling e~xploders. Two very
serious and sad accidents have hap
pened within a few months at the
mouth of the Sutro tunnel. both
through the sudden and apparently
unaccountable discharge of a number of
exploders in the exploder house. In the
first case, Henry J.. Foreman, formerly
connected with the signal service bureau
at Washington, a gentleman of scholarly
attainments, a good mathematician and
astronomer, was engaged in examining
some of these exploders when two hum
hundred went of, completely destroying
his eyesight and otherwise seriously in
juring him. These exploders are large
copper gun.caps, an inch and a sixteenth
in length and three-sixteenths of an inch
in diameter, and most kinds are charged
with illuminate of mercury.
Two insulated gutta-percha wires con-
meet with each cap, through which the
electric spark is sent (after they are
placed in cartridges of the different COM
binations of nitro glycerine) which sets
off the cap, and the conclusion caused
thereby explodes the powder. The Sec
ond accident referred to happened but a
few weeks ago in the same place and
probably in the same manner, by which
Thomas Coombs lost his left hand and
part of his arm. He was engaged in
forming ten exploders into a coil around
his hand, when suddenly they went of,
shattering that member in 80 fear
full a manner that it had to be amputated.
These sad occurrences led Mr.. Sutro
at once institute some careful ex-
periments, for he was strongly i'm
with the belief that it was
body electricity, and not conclusion,
which had caused these explosions. EIec-
&c e%xploders made by different parties
TeFu-E~D one: after the other, and
in a strong wooden box in Mr..
parlor. This room is covered
With a heavy Brussels carpet, walking
'Ver which causes the human BODY
o be speedily charged with electricity.
Hancock, the chief blaster, assisted
n the experiments, and held the wires
While MI. Sutro walked round the room
wo or three times with slippers, sliding
is ieet gently over the carpet. After
DING this he approached the end of QUE
t the wires with his forefnger, and in
a loud report was heard,
exploder having been DISCHARGED,
his first experiment was with n of the
Francisco giant powder company's
zploders. Now one of the Electrical
obstruction company's was tried, with (
~efecting its discharge. Next of G
gorge NJ. Mowbray's, of North Adams. t
ass. which did not go off on the first P
but it did ON the second with a Ii
ny loud report. After this another of G
e giant exploders wa tried, which '
mt off by the time Mr.. sutro's forefn- le
r had reached within two or three Is
hes from the end of the wire. II
These experiments have clearly estab- m
ned the fact that exploders may be set a
by electricity accumulated in the hu- 81
n body, and the men about the tunnel an
re at once informed of the fact. In La
lctlons were also issued for handling 10
N hereafter, and a sheet-iron plate al:
the floor OF the exploder-house, to tel
Oh is connected a wire reaching into DO
water flowing from the tunnel. aV'
men in handling exploders now uri
ID on this iron plate, and have in all
ctions to wet their boots before enter exl
and to put on India-rubber gloves Is
re touching the exploders. If these clst
autions are properly carried out there hea
be no danger of explosions hereafter. is
electricity accumulated in the hui der
body will at once be carried off sore
ugh the iron plate, while the rubber den
es, being noaconduetors, form an ams
protection. No accidents his
the explosions have occurred inside pria
tunnel, for, since the place is very arti
no electricity can be retained in the in P
!. But little doubt exists that both peri
Foreman and MI. Coombs have met ness
their misfortunes in the manner live,
ated.-Auhro (Nee.l Mdependent. to ,
Thu
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