The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-03-02
NITRO-GLYCERINE.
THE DEATH-DRALING STUFF AND THE MYS-
TERIEs ATTENDING IT'S EXPLOSION.


nitro-glycerine explosions in the oil
regions, is one strange feature which the
most experienced handler or manufactur-
er OF the compound cannot comprehend.
1t has always been mystery. Not even
ssplausible theory can be advanced by
way OF explanation. It is the seeming
annihilation of the matter, especially in
tie case of a human body. Instances of
this character are almost as numerous
as explosions. Probably the most con-
spicuous example of the kind mentioned
at Red Rock two years ago. 1t will be
remembered that man WAS walking
along the public road with quantity of
glycerine in bag which he carried over
his shoulder. By some means-no hu-
man eye was upon him-an explosion
took place. A careful and diligent search
vas made for the remains of the victim,
He was a man weighing, perhaps, one
hundred and sixty pounds. All that
could be found was part of one foot
and few shreds of flesh. No any other
portions of any form or size could be
discovered. The earth was examined
within reasonable radius of the spot
where the detonation occurred, but not
a particle of flesh, bone or blood was
revesled. Of the 160 pounds of matter
scarcely one pound was recovered. A
more recent case, although of not ex
treme character, was that of Charles
Berridge, who was killed a few weeks
ago at Bolivar, N. Y. The weight of
the victim was 1s0 pounds. The remains
secured were not more than forty pounds.
Snow covered the ground and the loca-
tion of the terribly accident was ravine
with hills of sharp angle. Unusually
care and perseverance, was exercised on
that occasion to find more of the remains,
with fruitless results. Had flesh or blood
fallen upon the clean, crisp snow, OBJ
viously it must have been visible. The
angles of the hills acted as a barrier
against portions of the body being blown
to distance beyond that which men may
have supposed fragments in any size
could be hurled. Bushes and trees were
scrutinized without any evidences of
flesh clinging to them being discovered.
Men viewed the ground and timber
growth of the ravine up and down for a
great distance in vain. Assuming the
theory of atomizstion, some of the snow
and frozen earth which had been pulver-
izel hy tho great force of the defamation
was examined under glass without any
further light upon the mystery. Indis-
putable circumstances showed that the
force of the explosion was mainly upward
instantaneous vaporization of matter,
like that forming the human body, is
offered by some as solution of the
phenomenon, unreasonable as it may
appear. When one takes into consider
alton the mass of bone in the trunk, head
and limbs, and its complete and instan-
taneous disappearance, the mystery be-
comes only more incomprehensive. That
heat is not the destructive element is
apparent from the fact that oil and gas
about derricks where explosions have
occurred did not ignite. Nitro-clycerine
men have had so many conclusive proofs
of the humiliation of matter in this way
that they no longer have doubt on that
point. How it is accomplished, how
ever. they can neither explain by theory
or fact. In number of explosions in
the oil regions the iron framework of
wagons and glycerine cases have been
removed beyond the view of human eye
by the explosion of the terrible CON-
pound. The mystery is one to which
nitro -glycerine men have given much
thought and investigation without COM
ing any nearer to solution.