The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-04-08
A Terrible Explosive.

New YORK, March 28.--George NJ.
Hathaway, the inventor Of the Hath
away high explosive, whose terribly
destructive and death-dealing proper
ties were so clearly demonstrated at
the proving grounds at Sandy Hook
recently, was seen by a Fost reporter.
He vas somewhat reluctant to discuss
the merits Of his remarkable invention,
particularly those relating to the re-
cent tests.
IT will say, however," said Mr..
Hathaway, "that the Hathaway High
Explosive company has the most
powerful engine of destruction yet
discovered.
"The tests before the ordnance
board were highly satisfactory. We
fired FIVE shots from a six-rounder
Driggs-Schroder, rapid-fre gun. The
first four shots passed through a four
inch plate, leaving a ~clean-cut hole,
and exploded in a sand butt behind.
cit was then determined to lemon
strate that the explosive can be used
with absolute safety when fred with a
full charge of powder from 8, rapid
firing gun. No detonator was used
and the result was the plate was pene-
'trated, but no explosive followed, as
in preceding tests.
''The tests so far made, in every in
stance, demonstrate it's practieabi}ity
as a powerful engine Of warfare. The
larger the shell the greater the damage
wrought. The peculiar feature of its
destruction lies in its explosion after
penetration, and having once passed
through the armor Of a vessel the
havoc would be indescribable. 1t
would mean simply annihilatiorl.
SIN our tests thus far we have had
a pressure of $4,000 pounds to the
square inch. using a full charge of
powder. Through this the projectile
obtains a velocity Of 1875 feet per
second, with a rotary motion at the
muzzle of $50 revolutions per second.
"As to it's safety I can assert with
absolute confidence that the high ex-
plosive can only be exploded by deto-
nation of the Halfway company's
particular composition. Without the
detonator it is practically harmless
and neither heat nor impact would
have any more effect on it than would
the touch of a feather.
"This high explosive is heated un-
til it assumes a pasty condition, then
heavily compressed into the she'll and
allowed to harden, thus really becom-
ing a part of the projectile. A hole
is then drilled in the substance, into
which aperture is placed the detonator,
after which," said the genial inventor
with a grim smile, 81 should prefer
to be far removed from the spot where
some obstruction called the explosive
to a halt.
II propose at my earliest eonven-
fence to experiment with torpedoes,
and can see no reason why | should
not duplicate my present success"
Mr.. Hathaway s attention was called
to the experiments that have been re-
Gently made with small rifles fred
from the shou'''r, but he declined to
enter further into particulars. The
reporter succeeded in finding one of
his assistants, however, Mr.. G. E.
Ferguson, who said hat he had dis
charged the small arms innurlerable
times, and was quite willing to furnish
such information as he could.
w use the Winchester repeating
rifle, with So grains of nitro-poWder to
propel the ball." said Mr.. Ferguson.
''The shell when filled and ready for
use weighs two and three-quarter
ounces.
II have frequently fired six shots
from a repeater in three and ooe-half
seconds, the ball travelling fully 500
yards in an air line.
"It is not of the slightest conse-
quence whether you hit your man or
not, neither is it necessary to take a
careful aim. Just bang away at the
vicinity and when the explosion occurs
every person within a radius of Is feet
would be either killed by the flying
fragments of the shell or By the ezplo-
sive wave"
"Have you never experienced any
fear in handling such dangerous ma
terial2' q~ueried the reporter.
"Not the slightest" promptly re-
piled the expert. "I handle the load
ed shells precisely as you would those
of a fowling piece and with no greater
danger. When, after demonstration,
I realized that there was but one way
to explode the high explosive and that
by defamation, my squeauishness all
vanished and has never returned.
"You have asked me about the
hand grenade that is a pear-ahaped
affair, made of brass or steel, and
about three inches in diameter. 1t is
charged with the explosive under heavy
pressure and has a Is second fuse. 1t
has a continuance similar to a parlor
match snugly fitted in the handle, the
head just protruding. Ignite that,
throw the grenade, and the destruction
is something awful when it lands"
A peculiar and significant feature of
these experiments in the presence OF
two of the most influential Cutan pa
triots now in the city. They make a
most rigid and thorough examination
Of every test, looking carefully into
every detail which might prove of the
slightest Importance in shaping a re-
port. They are extremely guarded in
their movements, and, in consequence
of the gravity of the situation, decline
either to discuss the reasons OF their
presence at these tests or the impress
ions produced upon them by the
deadly explosive.
It is quite fair to assume that these
Cuban representatives are not travel
ing around the country for their health.
neither is it unreasonable to suppose
that they are calculating tho effect
that a few Of these detonated shells,
iudiciously distributed would have on
the Spanish forces in Cuba and the
possibility of getting this terrible
means of offense and defense safely in
the hands Of their compatriots.
It is rumored that there will be a
test of the high explosives made at
the Indian Head proving ground in
the near future, but the repor; could
not be vanished Washington Post.