Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-05-07
GOING TO EUROPE.

Large Lots of Whisky Being Shipped
from Baltimore.
BALTIMORE, April 29,-A morning
paper says: s'Whisky for foreign export
is pouring into Baltimore. As the time
is approaching when the distillers must
either pay the taxes aud take it out of
bond, or send it out of the country, they
are rushing it to the eeaboard. There is
too much whisky in the country for the
demand and the distillers prefer to ex-
port it temporarily. Most of it
is going out on German steamships, and
most OF it will be soon back when the de-
mand improves, when the tax will be
paid upon it. Surveyor Naille has made
requlsitlon upon Collector Webster for
the appointment of four or five specia!
gaugers to gauge the whisky and make
up the necessary record of it's exporta-
ton. There was quite number Of ap-
plicants for the special places at the
custom-house, yesterday.
Felt His Blood Turn Cold.
Scarcely a week passes in the oil
regions without the recording of loss OF
life or property by nitro. .glycerine ex-
plosions. So susceptible is that explo-
sive to the effect of even slight jars that
the experience with load Of the mate
rial which is related by Harvey McHen-
~, torpedo shooter in the employ OF
the Roberts Company, seems almost in
cleditable. Wagons are made especially
for carrying nitro glycerine. Harvey
McHenry started for Berger Hollow in
the Bradford District, with fifty quarts
lofk ~, hi
The road through Berger Hollow is one
of the.worst in the district. McHenfy
was driving carefully along, and while
descending very long and steep bill,
the pole suddenly snapped in two, and
the wagon ran against the horses. They
| Immediately started on run down the
hill. McHenry says he could feel his
blood turn cold. When he saw that a
collision between the wagon and road
| side tree was inevitable he closed hie
eyes and waited for the explosion, from
which there seemed to be no possible
escape. The wagon struck the tree, bul
to the surprise and Joy of the teamstel
| no explosion followed.
Believing that such unexpected and
unprecedented good fortune could moi
possibly continue, McHenry resolved tc
jump from the nitro.glycerine magazine
as it went flying down the hill. BE
jumped and striking against tree dislo.
Gated one kpee and injured his spine.
The wagon had gone but few feet
when to the horror of the helpless team.
ster it was overturned. Still for some
unaccountable reason the nitro gly-
cerine did not explode. The horses fell
to the ground, and in their efforts to re-
gain and keep their feet they dragged
the wagon until it was overturned four
times. This occupied but few mo-
ments, but to McHenry, lying helpless
at spot where if an explosion occurred
there would not be tree left standing
nor the fragments of a rock, and he
himself would be torn to atoms, the
time seemed an age of agony. The
horses finally broke loose from the
wagon and ran on. That was the last
McHenry remembered until he was
picked up and carried to house near by.
Some men working at well in lot
800 yards away had seen the runaway,
and knowing the wagon to be a nitro
glycerine vehicle, they lost no time ir
placing still greater distance between il
and themselves, as the possibility o.
avoiding an explosion was not for ar
instant expected by them. When the
horses broke loose they went to Nc
Henry's aid No instance is on recorc
in the oil regions where nitro glycerine
subjected to so severe test ever failec
to explode. That none occurred in this
case is only accounted for by the faci
that the material had been stored in the
wagon with unusual care and regard fol
! safatv