Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-04-03
LAMMOT DU POINT.
HIS SALCAI' t.E SERVICES nUR.
ING THE HEBELLION-A
BRAVE MAN,

Ihe late Lammot ibuPOnt, who was
killed last Saturday i'y the explosion of
nitro-glycerine at ThomDson's Point.
was one OF the most remarkable mon,
CT the present day, and was tho Dri,ci-
pie actor in one Of the most uari,,,,
achievements of the present cen,urv,
During the Crimean war, the Kussl.. -,
Government ran short of powder, and
asupply was absolutely necessary for
the defence of SebastopOl.
A large amount was purchased from
the firm Of DUPONT, de NemonrS & Co..
and after being shipped to B,I,l;lor.
was loaded on a steamship that lOrt.
The English Government, In au,icipa-
tion Of an effort being made by I:ussia
toobtain supplies from this country, had
trigates posted outside the Chesapeake
TO watch outgoing vessels, and IA .le IA.
no doubt but they We're kept fully ad-
vlsed OF all movements that were taxing
place on shore, as the steamship con-.
tanning the powder was closely watched
| by these vessels.
AFTER seven unsuccessful attempts mad
been made, the steamship win Mr..
DUPONT on board, finally succeeded in
eiudlng the watchers and made her way
TO the broad bosom OF the Atlantic. A
chase then ensued across he ocean.
through Gibraiter and up the Mediter-s
ranean sea, but the steamer succeeded
in passing through the Bosphorus and
lntO The Black sea ahead Of the pursuers-
but as 1t was nearing its tsdestination the
English men.otwar had gained on it so
much, that they hailed the fugitive and
ordered halt.
AT this time Mr.. DUPONT. who was
quite young man was at the helm and
instead OF needing he signals from the
English vessel insisted that the Steam
ship should proceed. The British cap
tain finding that the steamer still con-
tnued on its course, fired two broad
sides into it, doing considerable dam
age, but those on board managed to
keep the vessel ati0at until it could be
beached within the Russian lines. The
valuable cargo was saved, and it is said
that the Russian Government rewarded
Mr.. DUPONT with ii princely sum.
During the rebellion Mr.. DUPONT
rendered distinguished services to the
Government, and at the very COM
nenGernent was placed in position
where through his energy and genius
the country was furnished with an
abundant supply of gunpowder, and
when it became evident that the re-
beliion was likely to last for an indefi-
mite time. Mr.. DUPONT was called to
Washington to consult with President
Lincoln aud the Secretary Of War in
reference to the Means to Ge adopted, to
obtain sufficient amount rt powder to
supply the vast ar MES, which it became
evident must be + 1t in the field.
The Cabinet was greatly startled
when Mr.. DUPONT Informed it tha.
it was highly probable that the supply
OF saltpe're in this coultry would soon
he exhausted. From England alone
con ii the tgulslte amount pt obtained,
and Mr.. DuPout sailed tor Liverpool,
ami as soon as he arrived procee I'd
with the greatest pasie to Luutor.
Alter surmounting many Obstacles,
some OF which necessiJa'ed rip 10
nj, country and back 10 England,
b" finally obtained ii full supply, but
was obliged to advance the means TO
pay Tor Ii.
at ;he time of his death he had an
Interest III the works of several
Of the most extensive manufacture of
explosives in the United States, and
during the year 1882, the works of his
firm manufactured nearly one half of
the ten million pounds of these mate
rials used in the United States.
He was energetic and progressive, and
while he was at the works on the Bran
dywine invented and adopted many
Improvements for the prevention of ex-
plosions, To his ingenuity and fore
sight can be attributed the fact that
exp. .OsiOns are now so rare at the works,
and that even when they do occur they
are seldom attended with loss of life, or
destruction of property.