New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-29
IN A POWDER MILL.
PERLS OF THE BUSINESS DESCRIBED BY
ONE WHO SHARED THEM.

One OF the most hazardous calllngs in which
person can engage Is the making Of powder. The
work itself IS not hard especially in branches
and this fact doubtless influences many men to seek
employment In the various powder works scattered
through the country. engaged in the work. the
spice OF everprcsent danger appeals strongly to the
instinct OF daring inherent In the nature OF most men,
and they work along year after year until they arc
killed 10y an explosion that rends them limb from
limb, or after a "bow-up" in which one Of
their comrades have lost their lives. their families sud
denly awaken TO n forcible realization OF the
hazardous nature Of the workaday HE OF the husband
and father, and by reason Of their united enrcaties
he gives up his situation and seeks employment else
where. But such not very numerous. The
rates Of wages paid considering the risks run by
those employed in the black works. are altogether
insufficient to appeal TO their selfIntercst In that
spect.
The writer was born and reared large powder
works, and several years Of his younger life were
passed IN the employment OF the company which orcr
ated Them Before the business hnd been light
mainly consisting OF making blasting powder. and the
explosions which occurred from time to time were
small affairs. When the War Of the Rebellion broke
out the company at engaged IN making powder
for the Government. and the works were run to their
sfe,tcst capacity dsy and night. Many OF the en-
ployes ut the time enlisted IN the com
panies Of volunteers which were raised in the neigh
crippled for workmcn. not many OF the men left
In that section would come to their relief, thinking
they would be II engaged I'm the inClOrtous occupa
ton Of powder making. one day. when was about
twelve years Of met the superintendent OF the
works while my way home from school. AS he
drove mp to he stopped his horse and looked me
over sharply. had always stood in great awe Of
lie superintendent. he one OF the great mon
OF the ncighborho0d and had deigned to notice
me before. and for the He OF me could not Imagine
how had so suddenly attracted his attention. After
a moments survey he enlightened me.
"Jack," said he. "you getting TO be n pretty
good sized boy Wouldn't you like TO 60 TO worh''
Yes. Sir; would Hike TO very much II | could find
anything that I would be able to DO. am rather
young vet
Yes. you are Young. but think You will be able
to do the work have in mind for you. Tell Your
parents that II they will let you come over In the
morning will give you dollar day to help yarnsh
kegs. The work IS light and does not require much
skill. What do YOU sayl'
"I1i he very glad to come,' answered joyfully.
COR a dollar a day looked very big to me. d" | guess
can talk mother over She has great horror of the
powder mills you know"
Tell her there will not be the least danger where
you will work. The building is some distance away
from the mills: and need help badly
"All right sir think you can look for me In the
morning. and ! ran home fast could to gain
the consent OF my parents, pcturlng to myself the
wonderful things / would do with the money would
earn. After much coaXng and cntrcaty they at
length consented and the next morning / was at
the superintendent Office promptly on time to com
mencc my career powder monkey as the EN-
ployes were called I'm the vcrnacular Of the hdshbor
hood. was sent over to the "keg house, where
I found two young men at work. The one in charge
took me in hand and in a short time ! had mastered
the subject Of vanishing kegs. and taking my varnisL
pail and brush went TO work. The keg house stood
in one corner OF large yard, about two acres III
extent. In the dlagonay opposite was the
packing house." where the powder was brought after
IT was finished put in barrels or Kegs ani shipped
was soon utilized by the superintendent in running
errands from one building to another, and was no'
long In learning the process of powder making
Powder Is made 0f three observation-disclosures.
sulphur and charcoal The charcoal Is made from the
wood Of alder, poplar and willow; poplar wood only
being used for blasting powder The wood Is put In
large iron ovens. the doors Of which sealed tightly
and then baked for eight ten hours. From eX-
perisnce the charge can tell from the appear
ance Of the tar which eXudcs from pipe in the
oven when the wood Is thoroughly carbonlzed. The
fire IS thea drawn and the oven left to cool of When
cool the charcoal Is taken out ana caricd to the mix
ing houee Here the proper quantities Of the differ
cnt ingredients weighed, and put I'm bags and
taken 10 the haIrcl-tnill This Is n large one
story building rs are all he different mills through
Which the powder passes IT, the process Of many
hcnrc. The barrcnlll * full OF large, heavily
built barrels. Is they called through the centre
OF which. lcnglhwisc runs shaft of composition
metal which will not strike fire. Into each Of those
barrels the proper amounts OF saipetre. charcoal ana
sulphur are placed and stirred thoroughly; then n
auantity Of common marbles. such the boys play
with upon the street, also thrown in the barrel
and the opening closed tightly. After NIL the bar
fc,s aye charged the machinery IS started AMI the
barrels Icvolvc rapidly, the marbles Thoroughly anal
c;natng the mixture. The noise made by the marbles
~ tcy rattle aeanst the Sides OF the barrels IS deaf
ching, and would soon drive person all! ted WITH
weak nerves Into state Of nrrcasonlng terror. The
barrels are kept I'm motion from SIX to ten or twelve
hours. according 10 the quality Of powd desired.
The content, then cmphtd ont, errySh black dnst
and taken 70 the rolling or wheel" mills, ~
which there three at the works I'm question.
1ics. mills arc bult With heavy stone walls on three
sdcs the front and roof being OF light boards. The
roof al.o slopcs toward the front, that in case Of
an explosion the onl, damage done + the flowing
away II tho front ana roof In this MIL /, large
circular pan ten or twelve feet diauctcr. ana In
mi, are two large. heavy wheel, weighing seven
TOYS each. IN pm ara Wheels beng madc # corn
position meal. The chargr for this m-alout 200
pounds Of the mixture which has passed through thr
la~ro mills scattered evenly over the bottom Of
The pan and mfi.f1ncd with water Then the ma
csincry is started and The heav' wheels roll rapidly
around i'm the pan. ana serving TO more thoroughly
impact tie contents When tho machinery Is set
in molten The workman leave, the b"il'inS; and
Nth She exception II occasional visit n sec that
every hins is WORKING smoothly II Is left alone until
iho charge IS done After lapse Of TWO hours the
m IS stopped. the charge taken out and another
mt I'm its place. which goes through the same opera
ion. II ly any chance che mill should explode
while the workman Is inside, he Is rarely ever killed
oltglc't but IS burned in horrible manner, and
afrr fev hours f intense agony his suHcrings END
IN death From the vince, mill the charge 4, taken
10 the pres house Here the mixture Is placed
In lay Rs W "a "A iccc Of heavy canvas between each
the edges q the canvas carefully tucfed In 10
keen the mixture from squeezing ont After The
LAYERS lave been bull IN 10 the required height tho
heavy hydraulic p'csS IS put IN motion. squeezing
the mass into solid blocks The layers are then
removed and are I'm hard cakes, aboEt thirty
inches square by inch thick. The cakes ar
then cartcd TO the corning mill, where they ar"
un one by one. through set Of heavy rollers which