The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1890-12-04
A Nitro, ,GlYcerine Episode.
Ely KIRK MUNRoE.


the Petroleum Exchange at Oil City.
"WelI. every one to his taste. Now
nothing would induce me travel with a
torpedo-man. However, I'll fix it for
you"
At four o'clock the following morning
I awaited, at the stable where he kept
his spirited team, the coming of my new
friend. A few minutes later he appeared,
bearing on his shoulder bundle of new
tin tubes ten feet long and two and five
inches in diameter.
The torpedo wagon in. which We were to
ride was an open single-seated box buggy
hung on the lightcst and most delicate
OF steel springs. These was hinged and
swung forward. Beneath it was strong
box divided into six square paded COM
partnents. To my great relief they were
empty.
While a sleepy hostler was harnessing
the team-two jet black spirited young
animals. for 4 torpedo-rhaa prides him
self upon the mettle of his horses-my
companion affixed to the left-hard side
OF the buggy two curved iron rests,
something like those placed at the back
of victims head by photographer.
They were also padded, and in them was
!. lald and securely lashed the bundle Of
tin tubes. In the buggy, behind the seat,
were placed heavy iron reel On which
were wound some two thousand feet of
s:out oil-soakcd cord, coil of fuse, au-
other of small wire, and Il "go-devil." As
we took our rla'cs and the lively team
spraug away, I ventured to remind the
torpedo-man that he had forgotten his
nitro-glycerine.
ooh, no, haven't" he laughed. 81
an not allowed TO bring it into town,
but keep it in several small magazines
some miles out in the woods, near the
different roads that have to travel.
There is one not far from the we'll we
a-e going to shoot this morning, so that
we sha'n't have to drive more than q
milo with the stuff aboard.
The morning air seemed to intoxicate
our team. for they danced along the road,
occasionally springing from side to side
in MOCK terror of stump, a black
bowlder, or the puff Of steam from a
pumping engine. These exhibitions of
ecuinc recklessness and disregard of
consequences was by no means resssur-
ing. and would have been most alarming
had the stuff been under our buggy
seat.
We passed several teams, and the mo-
ment their drivers caught sight of the
cleaning tin tubes that denoted the
character Of our equipage, they drew as
far AS possible to the side of the road and
respectfully waited for us to pass.
"Oh, yes" said the torpedo man; 81
always have all the room want. Nobody
ever crowds this outfit"
At.lenSth We were high up on the hill
top, where the hot morning sun had dis
sipated the mist that still lay like soft
gray blanket over the lowlands. All at
once we turned sharply to the left, and
directly into the dense forest. The trees
had been cut from the rude trail that we
now followed, but their stumps remained.
Over these, over loose rocks and through
bog holes the active horses scrambled,
and the light buggy bounced with such
plunges and slides that it was difficult to
retain ones seat.
''Is the magazine in here2" I asked.
eyes; only short distance ahead"
s:You surely don't drive out this way
with the glycerinc aboard?"
why, of course. This is the only
road. 1t isn'ta frst-class one, I'll allow
but if it WAS too good, inquisitive folks
might be tempted to come in here. It's
safe enough, though. The supply wagon
came ir here only the day before yester.
day with q thousand pounds of tht
stuff and got through all right. There
the place now"
As he spoke, the torpedo man haltet
his team in front of small windowles!
building of rough boards, the single doc
of which was fastened by an ordinar!
paddock. In a conspicuous place on it
front was nailed sign that read "Dan
ger! Keep away from this building!'
This sign fascinated ne, so that coult
hardly avert my gaze from it, evel
though I pluckcd wild rose from
bush that leaned coniidingly against th'
magazine, and pretended to be carelessl.
admiring its beauty.
"How much is there in therel'
asked.
''Oh, fifteen hundred quarts or so
enough, anyway, to blow Oil City out O
sight" answered my companion as h
unlocked the door aud stepped inside.
Rejecting that the danger could be n
greater in the building than ten feet fror
il. | followed him. The interior wa
hacked full of square two-gallon I'll
cans, each Of which had handle on to
and two cork-plugged vent-holes. The
looked as though they might contai
maple syrup or something equally harm
less: hut knowing what they really di
hold started the perspiration on my fore
head as gazed at them.
Taking two at time, the torpedo
. man set four of the cans on the groun
outside the magazine, and relocked tn
door. Then drawing sharp steel in
strument that looked like an ice-pic
from his leg, he dug out ono of th
tightly driven corks from each car, An
examined its contents to satisfy himaa
that it was full. They were. Then th