The National tribune., 1889-01-10

BLOWING Up sALTPETER cAvE-ADyEN
TUREs OF DOGS AND MULES.


BLOWING Up A sALTPETER cAyE-ADYEN-
TUREs OF DOGS AND MULES.
While the army lay at Batesville Gen. Cur
rs sent an expedition to destroy a quantity of
saitpeter which the rebels had been manufac-
turing at some saltpeter caves on the banks Of
White River some distance further I'D the
stream. Ten OF - tons Of This precious article
were ready Tor shipment and as the army had
no use Tor II the entire lot was DESTROYED bv
throwing it into the river The works were
oismauted and completely broken up, greatly
TO the annoyance Of the Secessionists and their
friends
Materials for making gunpowder were scarce
IN the Goufederacy ali through the war. After
the destruction Of the saltpeter works in north
erR Arkansas, the rebel armies of Arkansas
were scantIy supplied with powder, and some
OF their leaders attributed the easy conquest Of
the state 10 that condition Of affairs Early in
the war great quantities Of crude saltpeter were
sent from the White River 10 Memphis and
other points where gunpowder was Inanulac-
tured, and the closing of that stream was
serious blow.
One Of the soldiers who accompanied Harry
and Jack on the C0rdelia was on the expedition
that destroyed the works, and he gave The bows
q graphic account Of their experiences on the
trip.
There was no fighting Of consequence" said
be, as only small guard of soldiers was sta
tloned al tue works, which were operated by
Old men and boys as far as possible. After fir
ing few shots the guard fed as the Union
cavalry came IA sight the great numbers of
the latter showing that resistance would be-
useless. The old men and boys said they were
moi enlisted In the Confederate service. and the
man in charge Of the works declared that thew
were private property, and ought 10 be re-
g speeied; but we didn't have much respect for
him or anything around there
ess..av
the earth from the caves, and made a big bon
ire some Of the wood was SO impregnated
with salt that il wouldn't burn, aud SO we
threw 1t into the river along with the saltpeter
that was piled up in sacks, ready to be Skinned
away when they had chance TO shin IL. After
we had destroyed everything, we went into
some OF the caves where they collect the earth
for teaching. In one cave we found a lot al
EunpoWcer Of such poor quality that il wasn't
worth carrying away, and SO the officer in com
mand OF the expedition treated us to a grand
explosion.
The powder was piled up in heap in the
middle Of the cave, and a fuse was attached IA
II and run outside Then we blocked I'D the
entrance Of the cave with stone, earth. and
bags OF saltpeter, piiing it on till it was 10 OF
is feet thick. The cave was close 10 the hank
OF the river and sort of facing it, and our Can
tain calculated that the explosion would throw
good many tons Of earth right out into tho
stream.
/" When ali was ready everybody was ordered
back 70 sale distance and the Captain detailed
me TO so aud set fire to the fuse ] touched ,
match 10 il, and as it went 70 fixing and guIuf
tering ran ike scared fox, and gyas safe jfI
the rest Of the crowd long before the fire f5af
got inside the cave. The fuse was so lon,
burning that l thought it had gone ont. ami
asked the Captain If I hadn't better 60 anf
light it again.
he told me to stay where was, and vo,
may bet / staid- But ] kept sbarp eve ~
the cave, and IN little while il was very evi
dent what fool / would have been If L,
gone there.
There wasn't any preliminary heaying. q
I've heard tell about in an explosion OF thi
kind, but just lifting up Of the whole side .
the bank where the cave was. followed law
great cloud OF smoke. Tho ground trcmble,
where VIC stood; the whole front of the banl
tnmbled ont into the river, and some Of IN
earth and rocks went over to the other side
1t was sort Of young earthquake. and for
minute or two afterward ii seemed as thougl
It was raining dirt and rocks all around wher
the mouth of the cave had been
1T was splendid sight, and astonished every
body who saw it. But the most astonishet
being Of all was dog-a yellow cur-dag-tba
came trotting out Of the bushes Just over IN
edge OF the bank about a quarter of a minut
before The powder went of. He stood ther
looking at rs, and perhaps wondering what s.,
were doing there and why so many stranger