Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1888-08-28
FRUIT CANS AS EXPLOSIVES.

$500 AISSe
Thousands of Them Go OR and Bonn.
bard the Town of Atlanta.
The peach canning industry was once
attempted upon large scale in Atlanta,
according to writer in the Constitution.
1t was during the hot summer of 1866 that
several enterprising northern men COM
bined their efforts and capital to start a
cannery.
A large two story building on South
Broad street was secured. Peaches of eve
ry variety were purchased in large quaint
ties. and forty or fifty girls and boys were
engaged to do the work. For several days
the cannery was the scene of busy activi-
ty. Millions of peaches were sliced and
boiled, and then packed in tin cans. The
cans we're roughly made and the final sol
dering was hastily done by inexperienced
hands.
One hot day thousands of these cans, all
ready for shipanent, were piled on the side
walk They remained there all day and
the rays of an August sun soon turned the
peaches into a boiling, fermenting slush.
The cans swelled up and stood the strain
as long as they could and then came the
natural result.
It was little after midday when the
first explosion occurred. A can on the top
of the pile exploded, and prominent citi-
zen fifty yards away found his shirt front
covered with the blood red fragments of an
Indian peach. The startled mau gave a yell
of horror and made break for Whitehall
street. Other explosions followed in rapid
succession. The young ladies of the cannery
made daring attempt to cover the cans with
shelter of boards; but by this time tbs
pile had turned into q regular volcano, and
| the girls had to beat retreat covered with
| peaches. Their eyes and noses were stopped
with peach pulp and their white dresses were
| dripping with peach juice.
There was then good deal of the old wal
| feeling among the citizens, and several old
Confederates. when they heard the racket
were under the impression that there was {
| small battle going on. They drew their pis
| tolls and rushed to the scene of action, bu
| only to receive a broadside of fermentet
| peaches in their faces.
The police stood around and gave orders
| for the instant removal of the stuff, bu
| their voices were drowned in the fusilade OF
| bursting cans. The proprietors of the facto
l ~, after vainly trying to quiet their riotou
| merchandise. fed to avoid arrest and hid in
remote quarter of the city.
| The explosions grew more violent ane
| fragments of the peaches were hurled to
/ great distance. Some of the dry good
houses in the vicinity found it necessary t.
| take in their goods, as the shower of peacl
| Juice was running them. Young ladies on
/ buggy riding with their escorts few by tn
| point of danger like the wind, and purszet
/ their Journey Laughing anu crying, dnu Nj
ping the mangled- saess
from their faces
| WasheFwomen carrying baskets of clear
| linen, not their patrons, fell victims to tn
peach can battery, and departed with vol
ley of protests and complaints. Every hou1
| matters grew worse. The mighty mass o.
] tin cans seemed TO squirm and wriggle undel
the heat. It was not safe to get within fifty
yards of the pyramid, as it continued t.
| shoot off in every direction.
At last hand fire engine made its appear
ance, and for an hour steady stream o.
| water was directed against the cans. Gradu
ally the explosions grew. less frequent ant
| final they ceased entirely. The sidewalk
and buildings for square around presented
/ a horrible appearance, dripping with peacl
loblolly, and the atmosphere was thick will
| a heavy, fruity odor. But the citizens In tn
neighborhood breathed easier.
| During the sultry night that followed
| many belated pedestrian was startled b.
the sullen, dull thud of can shooting off q
| random, and if he quickened his pace into
| run he cannot be blamed, for those were tur
| bulent times.
The enterprising peach Gamers paid of
| their girls and boys the next day and retired
from business, They said that our climat
did not suit the peach canning industry
Others, however, said that they did not IN
| derstand the art of canning, and this wa
doubtless the correct view. After all 1t wa
| only an experiment and settled nothing.