Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1893-02-11
PoMpER.
How To Avoid Accidents by Taking
rene Precautions.

Proper Precautions.
After the accident that occurred 70 Char
ley Lane, about month ago, We wrote 10
the California Powder Works for their
views in regard to the explosion and ellie.
tied the following reply:
THE probable cause Of the explosion
you refer TO was hat when the cans we're
used Tor thawing Dyosmite . portion Of
The Nitro Glycerine leaked out Of the car
tridges snd settled at the bottom OF the
can. there forming q coating. The cans
being afterwards placed on . forge fire
we're OF course subjected TO considerable
heat, resulting in Q decomposition Of ths
Nitro-Giycerine coating mentioned. TIE
water To the cans acting ~ . sort OF lamp
ing prevented the escape OF the gases, SET
free BY this decomposition, and helped
cause the explosion"
The following instructions will apply 10
all explosive powder made from ni.ro-gly-
cerire mixtures:
Hercules powder will freeze 81 AZ degrees
Fahrenheit. II must be thaved out be.
fore usipg when frozen, not By roasting 10
before . hot fire, DOR 10 any vessel over
no, iron plates, nor BY leaning IL up
against hot brick work, stesm boilers or
uttT tuo uIc III tut OfaChtultu lOfktt nut
by putting 10 into the oven or In hot waisr
70 thsw. II you thaw u by putting 10 into
hot water, Q drop Of nitro-glycerine may
escape from The cartridge and settle 10 the
bottom; the next time smother drop and
SO on. By and by you want she vessel 10
heat some water 10; you put 10 over Q hot
iro and b wonder how . can Of water
can possibly explode. When frozen. the
best way to thaw the powder js 10 place
sufficient cartridges for tbs day on shelf
In the top OF . warm room; the next 10 10
put the cartridges 10 q tin or copper car,
and set that inside OF smother vessel con-
tanning boiling hot water. place . cover
over the whole and the powder 10 soon
shaved. II should not be heated hotter
than ala degrees Fahrenheit, for soon after
that IL throws of noxious fumes by de-
composition. II should be stored In q
dry. cool and we'll ventilated warehouse.
When so stored 1t will remain In good con-
dition In any climate indefinitely.
When set on Ere In any ordinary way, IL
burns away BY slow combustion, which
produces different and more noxious
gases than when explosion ensues.
To insure . perfect explosion primers
must be used so that the exploding cap
may be properly adjusted.
hcFCuitb poWubf VIII tIploQe Dy btlUH
exposed 70 a gradual heat OF $50 degrees
Fahrenheis; by being set on FIRE where II
be closely confined In some strong casket
that would not let the gases escape. and
by explosion in 10 or into il OF any power
fui illuminate like the regular exploding
cap or Charge OF ~gunpowder, gun cotton,
nitr~o-glycerine or other powerful explo-
sive.
In loading Q hole. when The are from .
safety fuse reaches The copper cap II ex-
plodes violently. aud the explosion Of the
cap explodes the powder by HEAr AND CON
CUSTOM COMBINED.
II is not required that the hole be over
two thirds the diameter required for black
powder.
The powder must be packed close In the
bottom OF the hole, using a wood hammer.
Hard wood is the best. II the hole is
tsmped with water. Ii Is best TO use car
tridges that are Of the right size for the
holes and pack them down tightly. II the
primer lie to DO used 10 water tamping,
caro- must be taken before inserting the
cap end Of the fnse into the powder, TO
make ii water. tight at the juncture OF the
cap with the fuse, with white lead, grease,
tar or other wise. In oil cases. il the fuse
and cap are In good condition, by pressing
tue paper Vi tue primer cioeo htounu tho
fuse at the end where the cap is fitted and
tying II with q string, an explosion is In
sured after firing. After loading the hole,
fill In with an inch or two OF tsmping OF
q or clay carefully. 40 a. aot to displaoe
the cap aud primer. then with your hard
wood rammer pack as solid as you please,
ramming in with your hand. not with .
slsdge.
Be sure that your fuse aud cap are both
dry and in good order, always using the
beat qualities Of each. 80 that 10 chances
will be taken on having to dig out q hole
on scount OF q misfre.
By observing these instructions, any
powder that Ia made with a nitro-gly-
cerine mixture may be used with safety.