Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-05

catastrophe of last night will call
forth many theories as to the direct cause of
the explosion. Yet there can be but one true
cause and explanation, whether in natural phe-
nomena or those which seem accidental.
Now, when come to consider the vast
amount of machinery constantly in rapid mo
ton, mainly insulated by the lubricating OIL
which is non-conductor Of electricity, and the
-four dust covering floor, posts, wheels, IN
word pervading everything about the mill,
forming, also, non-conductor, we ma q, 7,
gantic but quite perfect electric machine, well
insulated from the earth, hence, preventing the
free escape of this peculiar force.
The Washburn mill at this time evidently
had become thoroughly charged with this rela-
tive force (or fluid, if you choose, for conyen-
ience) known as positive electricity, which IN
some way, according to the order OF natures
laws, must be eqaalized, or in other words, be
discharged or receive its counterpart-negatlve
electricity
At this moment the condition Of the atmos-
phere being in negative state favored the in
Simultaneous discharge Of positive electricity
passing from the mill to the higher strata of
air above, carrying the mill with it. All the
machinery and the infinite number OF the par
ticles of -four dust being intensely charged
with latent electricity, and this electricity be-
| ing suddenly set free by the opposite pole be-
| ing just right, created the wonderful force by
! which the mill was reduced to flinders. No
|
it's work 40 completely, except nitro-glycerlne.
The intensity of the electric charge caused by
it also to ignite, thus producing double e1-
pansive force, setting fire to everything IN
hammable, and this accounts for the
Immediate volumes of smoke, hre
and flames enveloping the entire
structure simultaneously with the explosion.
The atmospheric electricity acts on the same
principle. Sometimes the electricity passes
| from one cloud to another, then from the
clouds to the earth, and not infrequently from
the earth to the clouds, and when intensely
charged, ignltes, burning everything before
it.
This mill would never have exploded if sew
eral copper conductors had been leading from
each bur to the moist earth below, thus con
Quoting away the electricity also from the large
belts. The -four dust explosion theory does
not explain the cause, or the idea of accumu.
lation of gas ignited by lamp. This accident
would have happened without light in the
mill under the existing circumstances, there
being no conductors of electricity to the earth
l ask, are not constantly sparks of ignitee
electricity flying off from the largo belts and
machines? Copper wire conductors are the
only preventive measures against accidents o
this kind in Touring mills.
As intimated in the outset, this is necessarily
hastily written-but we give 1T to you az on
honest convictions of the cause of the terrible ca
lamity, trusting it will keep moving the ittl
light we have, and stimulate to more thoroug
investigation and scientific knowledge of thes
unforeseen changes, and make Possiblea pre-
) vention which will untold millions Q
money, lives and bereavement. Time will no
: permit here, but in some other number W
hope to see remedy proven, and should som
scientist write again, may have occasion
; give you new theory Of electricity and its law
as an assistant in this problem of preservation
Very respectfully, ). A. Kendall.