New-York tribune., 1885-03-15
MAKING DEATH.
"REMINISCENCES OF A POWDER MILL

powder mills near NewourK during tue past weok
recalled Of the experiences of the writer. Who's
first venture lifes work at p0 gder manuacfrrv
near New-York.
Powder Is made frcm three ingredients, charcoal
(made from willow alder wood for good rife powder
and from poplar for blasting POWDER, saltpc,re and
sulphur The saltpere Is refined and ground as fine az
aour and with the charcoal is taken to separate bud
ing and mixed In proper proportions with the sulphur
The whole Is then taken to first mthe barrel mI
where there are number Of large casks made to
reyolve on shafts certain quantity Of the mixture
put into each cask with large supply Of common play
ing marbles; the whole Is then set In motion aud
allowed to for q certain number Of hours, TIA
marbles serving thoroughly m TX the different nsred
ents in their continual revolution with them IN the
casks The noise made by the marbles Is deafening
remember going tO this mill once Win Vao Vi Tue
xare up IN orss Ts nteor Of the n was black pc
from powder dust and In the Iew minutes re ired
Years As each flash Of vivid lightning came imagined
that tue mill had exploded; the noise OF the rolling csks
rel mill powder is taken TO the rolling mills II
which contains large IRON pan with two;hsayy whess
inside the pan. The powder Is spread over the bottom o
the pan, about one'hundred pounds making charge
The wheels set In motion and allowed 70 over
the powder from two TO three hours according to tie
quality powder desired. The attendant at these mih
starts the machinery and tnen very prudenty takes
Sak until the time is as the process Is an extremely
dangerous one. The powder not being as yer far ad.
rarely ever Kills outright the persons who happen to ~
in them. but it burns them so frg6tiqy that they nser
nttDe most fearful agony for several hours
From this wheel-ml the powder Is taken TO the prex-
house, whore there 10 powerful hydraulic press Tho
powder built up Ia tiers with hea'y CANVAS betssea
each tier and then the pressure is put OIL This hso
great presses the powder LII cakes about two feet
souare and one inch thick, aud e almost
ari ~ glass It is tDen the corning mI where
tue between heavy rollers and grou M up
in the different required. After that 10 the
drying house, where II is spread ont on trays with
canvas bottoms and subjected TO as great neat a.
Will until IL is thoroughly dried The Whole process
sended IN the glazing mill. when mnch resembles tne
barrel-mill except that instead OF using marbles wth
each ca ask and the polish Is thus given to the powder
which before this Is Cf blackish gray color On leaving
the glaze the powder ready 10 Dc packed ahd sent
one VINO has never looked upon the scene after
hea,y mill has exploded cannot IN agne the desrctinn
involved in the immense force exerted by ton two
powder The first explosion alter my conuee.
tion with the works occurred In tue pacKlbS nous
where the powder being put In kegs Tor ieiyeg "
the Government. It took place about O'Clock on .
short December morning. Just as was eating my osess-
fast A pane OF glass the window six ieet axay
suddenly slapped the side o my hea and at TIE sane
time heard aud felt tremendous report and heiyyW
which made me think the world was coming To an est
Runung out Of doors saw = heavy eolnInn of smsks
shooting IN the air; all the tree tops In the veingd
the building were full of burning pjwdes-Dags wAla
dismal winters morning. The only occupant oft
mill blown into thousand pieces, the largest bis
found being ms elI arm m, % ie's s, o. sa
from the MILL At night when the coroner arrived 70 lod
inquest he asked for the corpse. some one sleIw
pointed to q peach basket placed ON the stone WALL e
full OF small pieces OF esh and bones all that va
Jeff OF stalwar man The victims wife and aaushss
were In the house had occupied not Two hundred
feet from the mill; tue house rscked TO pieces els
neither received scratch. and the horse IN the siass
reside the house was found roaming around the yan
The next explosion that witnessed took place at
of July day. The hay IN the yard about the mills lad
been cut and eight ten had beea working arrnd
the corning mill all tue forenoon drawlns tue nay away
to the barn. At they went To dinner. aud whS
they eating the mill exploded killing only its s
ular attendant it had occurred either an h1dr earlier
later eight ten lives would have been lost IIe
mill stood the bank of pond about TWO acres III
extent This explosion forced the water completely oas
OF the por ana the dam, leaving nothing butthe
creek running through the centre, Where the budns
had stood pic was dug large enough to bold st~ossoV
At one time man discharged from the works ios
neglect Of duty A fortnight saer be met 9qe , OF %
whether the who worked night were changed =!
the hours a. formerly He was answered. In .as
affirmative. That night about III o'clock was awaGenea
by a violent pounding the door and voice pfoci1m
ing that the office was nre This building $1,000 -
and carpenter shop and used occasion stofAs
house for powder when other other places were lalI ne M
excitement getting inside Of two vests-and sta
OF the house, picking up pail Of water on my way A.
the gate met the foreman. tall ank Yankee In<ts
right" said he, hurry up and follow me-" lie thrsv
himself against the door and burst 1t open There wa
the fire flaming In one corner OF the earpen Ior saeR
large pile Of shavngs had been raked up and set on av
apparently with slow-match As we entered ias
% AT that moment T happened to think that there
about two hundred kegs OF powder stored in the cos
directly the carpenter shop and that tae ns.
between consisted only vt loose boards laid downon
oeams! Ny courage came near leaving me ana sooac
to the foreman who was before me: for GODS sshs 4
that" said he with the GOODNESS only Yankee mss
Of but we must put out the fre" Taxing H on hms
full length top of 1t. At the same time he esS
to me: Now throw on the water ana NJ ! du s,mss =
thoroughly drenching him and checking the has
materially BY tho time the other worklnen, 0, "a
running up the rrc was ont Turning ana sdslsS
by the hand tue brave Yankee exclaimed: wous
have entered this building In the lace OF sieh aapss
threatened for all the company is worll u .n snsi
the office had been robLed OF several costly rinss ~ W.
other things and then the fire was started 70 n%y , I
discharged workman the day OF the nre hsppsn5n pp,5n
remember about his interview with him anu :. xes
recalled. he was arrested and ali the goods iSes
In his He had robbed the offce ana s. ,sas sui
perhaps little caring now mauy lives might Mss
lost In consequence. the fire had not Ves axer The
result would have been terrible TO the wnoS years
The criminal was sent ~ state Prison or ana vhl
finally led me e eaSe the mills has little Esass EhSaa SS
connected with IL which may make 'mv ,n.t ~ tell y
one evening In June started for home about ~ M NJ
II bright moonlight night and warn ss a. brsdee
between two large ponds The water looking mndsss
concluded t9 take swim all by G hs,e ans was
to home when happened to glance IN tns :, shsh ~
one Of the mills only part o1 dns fVo a. the mill
resting SON sthe peak OF the roof and iae%s ts Sa
toward something that locked exactly ns ND ~
sfan,o The empty owe sockets and the grnnax al
gave 1t edccdedy E. hair rsising appei,nc e. ~ cxss
issly iveIy' i' manner. stood and looked a.
fully ten minutes. not knowing whether the vsri IN
felt inclined rs It against the rules for % hhe
duty to enter finally went home leaving insonisht III q
oesS s o ax syras IN " Ssry ' unsettled state
morning just a. sst down to breaEias al
walls of the room aud lammed one Of the wudom snS
behind me over my head. breaking the glass 70 ny
and started toward the door when there came ,ccm r.
shock from another mil! which had caught Shos Sss
which was going AZ soon ~ had finished my
exrl loded and gnlted the second mill. ;h hns Ssi
yard and had said 10 him wouldn't wors ~ n q
Tor all tho company 10 worth" 20 psnsw .nvub4
c,ss That was the isst ssV of him until ioul II