The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-06-20
HUMAN BATTERIES.
Experiments Tint Gave Remarkable Re.

experiments IHut WHfc AAc"thhhoio TeS'
T! 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 o cause Of great danger to
persons handling exploders. Two very
serious and sad accidents have happened
within a few months at the mouth of
Sutro tunnel, both through the sudden
and apparently unaccountable discharge
of a number Of exploders in the exploder
house. In the first case Henry L. Fore
man, formerly connected with the signal
service bureau at Washington, O gentle
man of scholarly attainments, n good
mathematician and astronomer, was ell
gagged in examining some of these eX-
ploders when 200 went off, completely
destroying the eyesight and otherwise
seriously injuring him. The exploders
are large copper gun-caps, an inch and o
sixteenth in length and three-sixteenths
of IN 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
on the cap, and the conclusion caused
thereby explodes the powder. The
second 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 off,
SCATTERING that member in so fearful a
manner that it had to be amputated.
These sad occurrences led MI. Sutro to
ut once institute some careful expert
ments, for he wa strongly impressed
with the belief that it was body electrici-
ty and not conclusion which had caused
these explosions. Electric exploders
made by different parties were taken Il
after the other and placed in a strong
wooden box, which was placed in another
box in Mr.. Sutro's parlor. This DOR
is covered with a heavy Brussels carpet,
walking over which causes the human
body to be speedily charged with cleo
tricity. MI. Hancock, the chief blaster,
assisted in the experiments, and held the
wires while Mr.. Sutro walked round
the room two or three times, with slip
pers, sliding his feet gently over the
carpet. After doing this he approached
the end of one of the wires with his fore
finger and simultaneously a loud report
was heard, the exploder having been dis
charged. The first experiment was
with one of the San Francisco Giant
Powder Company's exploders. Now one
of the Electrical Construction Company's
was tried without efecting its discharge.
Next, one of George Mowbray's, of
North Adams, Mass, which did not 60
off on the first trial, but it did on the
second with a very loud report. After
this another of the giant exploders was
tried, which went off by the time Mr..
Sutro's forefinger had reached within
two or three inches from the end of the
wire.
These experiments have clearly estab-
lished the fact that e~xploders may be
set off by electricity accumulated in the
human body, and the men about the
tunnel were ut once informed Of the fact.
Instructions were also issued for hand
ling them hereafter, and a sheet iron
plate was placed in the floor Of the ex-
ploder house, to which is connected q
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 India
rubber gloves before touching the ex-
ploders. If these precautions are proper
ly carried out there will be 10 danger of
explosions hereafter. Any electricity
accumulated in the human body will ut
once be carried off through the iron
plate, while the rubber gloves, being
non -conductors, form an additional pro-
lection. No accidents from these cx-
blossoms have ever occurred inside the
tunnel, for since the place is very wet,
no electricity can be retained i'll the
body. But little doubt exists that both
Mr.. Foreman and Mr.. Coombs have met
with their misfortunes III the manner in
dicated. -Sutro (Nev.) Independent.