Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-06-13
IN DEADLY PERIL.
An Ohio Capitalist Tells of His Many
Hairbreadth 'Scapes.

4 party of gentlemen stood in one of
the hotel Hobbies the other evening dis
GUESSING general topics of everyday in
tereSt. and in the course of the con-
versation the subject of high explosives
came UP. One of them said it seemed
one of the most astounding facts that
a man who Isl engaged in the handling
or manufacture of such high and dam
gerous explosives is so thoroughly OBJ
livious of the imminent danger that is
always present where nitro-glycerin,
gun cotton, dynamite, on any easily
exploded substance is being handled.
In the party of gentlemen was Samuel
J. Richie, of Akron, Ohio, one of the
best known capitalists in his own
state, and a man whose experiences
would fill a set of volumes. A dis
coverer of copper, a constructor and
promoter of railroads, and as a mining
expert with few equals, but most PROM
inently connected with the various
movements that have been started
from time to time relative to anneXa-
ton of Canada, Mr. Ritchie's reminis-
capes from high explosives and the
careless and reckless manner in which
they were handled by men who seemed
Indifferent to the possibility Of their
momentary annihlation.
Il remember one occasion out of my
state,'' said MI Richie, "when 1 sat
for over thirty-five miles in close pr0X-
unity to a couple of cans of nitro
glycerin that stood in the most dan
gerous way near a railroad car stove,
and might have any moment blown
train and passengers to kingdom come.
| boarded the train at little station
along the line, and, noticing man
whom I knew in the fore end of the
smoker, l took a seat beside him and
began a spirited conversation about
some then important matter. l noticed
these cans standing near us, but dldn
suppose they were anything but mo-
lasses, or, possibly, 'bugeye,' he was
taking to the boys up the line. After
a while, in a jocose way, l said: Bill
! what have you got in those cans,
liquor?
Its the strongest liquor 1 know of,
he replied; it's nitro-glycerin I'm tax
| ing up for some work to be done in
tunneling'
Il didn't lose any time getting away
! from the vicinity, | tell you, and IN
little while the passengers found out
what was on board. The man was put
off as soon as possible, and we dbl
breathed freer l tell you. Any moment
during that tlirty-odd mile ride might
have been our last, and yet that fellow
! sat there smoking and chatting as
! gayly as though he were having the
! best of fun. / know he didn't think OF
4 it, for long acquaintance with such
powerful mixtures had eliminated all
fear of their danger.
/ Another time,'' continued the
! speaker, Il had occasion during my ex
perience in railroad construction tC
enter into negotiations with man fol
I the purchase of three or four tons OF
I dynamite. He had been doing some
l blasting, and his work being finished
and 1 being anxious 20 get the eX
plosive for some tunneIng that was
necessary, l bought it from him. The
town where I was being one of those
small western settlements, there was
an apology for hotel where l pu'
up The deal took me three or foul
days, and when / had about settled
it 1 casually inquired where L coul6
find the caps that were to go Will
the lot of dynamite l had just pur
, chased.
: "'Oh, said the man, the caps arr
' under your bed at the hotel. thOugh
!. it the safest place to put them, and
3 really bad almost forgotten them. Glat
I you mentioned them
Would you believe" said Mr.. Rit
! chic, Il had been sleeping on bet