The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-12
STRONGER THAN DYNAMITE.
satisfactory 1xpeT:u enrs with En-
mensite and Gelbite.
From ne Pittsbllrg Dispatch.

From fhe Pittsb1trg Dispatch.
4 specia Il train pulled out from the union
depot Yesterday morning with number OF
contractors on board. The party was bound
for Bakers station, on the Ligonier Valley
road, to witness an exhibition of the Won
derful explosive, emmensite, given by Gar
land, Powell q Co., at the qu1rries OF Booth
after the party arrived and Invested
themselves of their outer garments,
nrevious to ascending the mountain-for the
fav was terribly hot-aad after some exer-
tion the hill was at last successfully as
csnded, the party sought the shade of the
trees and listened to DIR. Emmens' son ex-
main the good qualities of the explosive.
he gave several tests to prove that the
powder would not Dc e1plooed Dy concuS-
sion or heat.
About an ounce of powder was placed on
a shovel and match applied to it. There
vss no explosion, as some expected, but the
Dowder began to burn very slowly, and
continued to burn while fire was put to it,
hut Immediately went out after the match
was withdrawn. Mr.. Emmens then put an
ounce of the powder on piece of iron and
struck it several blows in succession, which
had no e@ Bet on the powder. He then
placed fou sticks of the emmensite against
2 tres and fired rife at it. The ball pene-
trated the powder. bat did not explode, to
the amazenlent of the spectators.
Thirty-6ve sticks of the stuff were next
dropped into a hole 10 feet deep and 21S
inches wide. A fulmirating cap was IN
serted into one of the yellow sticks of
powder, and this was attached an electric
battery At given signal the handle on
the battery box was raised by one of the
workmen, and there followed a most terrific
explosion. A massive blue rock weighing
at least fifty tons was displaced by the
enmensite.
A charge was then placed in nine differ
ent holes, each twelve feet deep, and they
were exploded simultaneously, blowing up
the side of the hill for fifty feetsan average
depth of twelve feet. A test was then made
on the surface of a large rock. One ounce
Of the emmeuslte was placed on the rock
and exploded, splitting the huge boulder in
twain.
A test was made then with dynamite, and
it took five ounces to crack the rock in the
same way. The manner in which gelbite
was exploded was next shown. This is
nothing but an ordinary piece of paper
placed in a solution of emmenste. This
paper was wrapped up and inserted into the
shell of a cartridge, with a small fulminat-
ing cap on the end. This was placed in a
revolver and discharged in the same way as
a cartridge loaded with powder.
The party then descended the hill and par
took of refreshments that had been pro-
vided for the occasion and afterward
returned to the city. Every person was
satisfied that this new powder was 1.-THE
thing" In speaking of the explosive a
prominent contractor said: 81 think that
this new powder will be adopted universally
for blasting purposes and for an implement
Of warfare"
The English government is now nego-
tiatlng with DR.. Emmens to manufacture
large supply of the powder to be used for
experimenting.