The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1877-06-03

iDjuring him. These exploders are
| large copper gtIn.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 col :
meet with each cup. through which the
electric spark is sent lafter they are
placed In cartridges OF the different
combinations Of nitro -glycerine) which
sets OF the cap, and the concussion
caused thereby explodeg the powder.
The second accident referred to hap
pened but O few weeks ago, In the same
place and probably In the same manner,
by which Thomas Coombs lost bis left
hand and part OF his arm. He was en-
gagged In forming ten exploders into q
coil around his hand, when suddenly
they went off, shattering that member
In 80 fearful manner that 1t had to be
amputated. These sad occurrences led
Mr.. Sutro to at once institute some care
full experiments, for he was strongly
impressed with the belief that it was
body electricity, and not concussion,
which had caused these explosions.
Electric exploders made by different
parties were taken, one after another,
and placed In O strong wooden box,
| which was again placed In another box
In Mr.. Sutro's parlor. This room
10 COfel6u Wtbu ID uSHNy bTuSSelS
carpet, walking over which causes the
human body to be speedily charged
with electricity. Mr.. Hancock, the
chief blaster, assisted In the expert
ments, and held the wires while Mr..
Sutro walked around the room two or
three times with slippers, sliding his
feet gently over the carpet. After doing
this he approached the end OF one of
the wires with his foreflnger, and in
simultaneously loud report was heard,
the exploder having been discharged
The first experiment was with one of
the San Francisco Giant Powder Com
trical Construction Oompany's was tried.
without effeoting its discharge. Next
one of George M. Mowbray's, of North
Adams, Mass, which did not 90 off on
the first trial, but 1t did oa the second,
with very loud report. After this an
other of the giant exploders was tried
which went off by the time Mr.. Sutro's
foref1nger had reached within two or
three inches from the end Of the wire.
These experiments have clearly estab-
lished the fact that exploders may be
set off by electricity accumulated In
the human body, and the men about the
tunnel were at once informed OF the
TACT. instructions were also issued for
handling them hereafter. and q sheet
iron plate was placed in the floor of the
OF the exploder-house to which is con-
nected with wire reaching into the
water flowing from the tunnel. The
men In. handling exploders now stand
on this iron plate, and have instructions
to wet their boots before entering. and
to put on IndiR-rubber gloves before
touching the exploders. II these pre-
cautions are properly carried out there
will be no danger OF explosions here
after. Any electricity accumulated in
the human body will ut once be carried
off through the iron plate, while the
rubber gloves, being conductors,
form an additional protection. No aoci-
dents from these explosions have ever
occurred inside the tunnel, for, since
the place Is very wet, no electricity can
be detained in the body. But little
doubt exists that both Mr.. Foreman
and Mr.. Coomps have met with their
misfortunes in the manner indicated.