The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-07-11
; sasra Is aats Always Danger But Il WAS
aOt haant for a Playthlng.
INTERESTING EXPERIENCE OF An EXPERT
Gcne Hpelscnts Connected with tho
0fslce 90 Inspector of Explosives
I'm y Large Ctsy-Ignoranco and
Carelessnesa tho chief Causes of
slsc Flpasrisy or Accidents.

an inspector in one of the bureaus of the
fire department in "a large city. Among
my various duties were frequent expedi-
s tons to seize dynamite, Illegally stored.
ana having secured the explosive 10 carry
st to the city margarine" or arsenal"
The best way found was to put II in
! hand satchel filled with sawdust or loose
cotton, get on street car and avoid
placing the bag where anyone might
stumble over or fall ON 1t. This is the
general practice.
"a 1T is not quite safe to transport dyna-
(; mite through crowded streets for being
run into Violently might prove hazard
Gus. "a seat in the far end of public
conveyance does not inconvenience pas
eengers ignorant of the contents OF the
satchel. Dynamite needs q severe shock
I to Develop it's destructive qualities
FACTS ABOUT DYNAMITE.
The ordinary conception of dynamite
as 8 terrible and erratio explosive. apt
to go off IL anyone happened to look at
quantity prone to let loose It's anger
without warrant or warning, Is alto
gether wrong.
Dynamite is nitro glycer!ne absorbed
: in composition of earth. sawdust or
ashes 1t is q very simple chemical. alb
solutely harmless when properly nam
died, free of any an!mosity against hui
z nanity other other eAan occasional de-
structive manifestations of disappro.
val at carelessness and Ignorance. AS
) At takes q considerable conclusion to
set 1t off 1t can really be as freely ham
y died as many other commercial commo-
s dities TO warn the careless that 1t Is
not meant to be tossed about. 1t is some
times labeled dangerous. When made
into a cartridge for industrial uses the
dynamite is exploded by the concuss!on
!, OF decorator, a cap of the illuminate Of
mercury
4 The necessity for the Destroying
chemical Is acute in an age of active
Industry, when mountains must be re-
moved without the aid of faith. and 1t
ns manufactured in tremendous Nuan-
titles. The mills are not regarded as
healthful localities. and owing to the
!. positive carelessness of men too ia
{ miiiar with danger, their risks
arc not rated desirable by
8 either property or life insurance
companies On the other hands
n the commercial traveller, according to
an incident in my memory. has no dread
OF the dynamite mandatory. One OF
+ them once called on 1.-THE manager of THE
4 works at Baychester n. V. TO sell him
fire extingutshers. The shock of the
proposition in the proximity of tons
of dynamite is alleged to have come
close to winding up, or rather sending
up the business. you have mistaken
your bearings" remarked the manager.
''If you should see even match burn
ing about here don't wait to experiment
with your eNtinguisher but flee as a
bird to The mountains" The enterpris-
(, ing salesman did not see 1.-THE point. and
when he continued talking about the
advantages of fire eNtinguishers in a
dynamite factory he had ito be elected,
though violence there is against the
rules.
HARMLESS UNDER CONDITIONS.
One of THE singularlties OF dynamite
is the fact that 1t freezes ait SO degrees,
Fahrenheit and that when frozen 1t Is
absolutely harmless To be of use II
must be 'thawed out and the process
gives startling opportunities for exhibit
{ tions of ignorance. Heating 1t before
open CRATES is common custom of
those who constantly handle The de-
stroyer. They understand that dyna-
mite Will not explode even IL it catch on
9 fire, but per;istently, that Is in success
sive cases. forget that the usual detona-
tor is set off by a spark.
s 1T was only hast winter that work
man. warming his dynamite before an
open fire, noticed one cartridge blazing.
He saw the danger, and grabbing a
hatchet. attempted to cut the burning
dynamite from its detonator. In his
excitement his aim was bad. He struck
the cap and was disntegrated
More than one shan,y In the mining
district has Violently disappeared, car
rying with 1t shreds and patches of the
occupants. last busy in thawing dyna-
rntte.
WARNING! DO NOT PUT 1T IN
sss WATER
II Is we'll to remark that i.he only pro-
SHer method Of bringing to life the frozen
Sdynamite Is to place 1t in a can and in
q eort that In warm water II the cart
s. aadge be placed directly in the water
the nitro-glycerine rapidly oozes out
and Is Just as explosive as Ut was before
5fS release. Nitro-glycerine rapidly
soaks into the water. When the water
Is thrown out, then is the time for dis
appearing.
common practice Of policemen forced
to- handle suspected bombs Is to place
sliep In water. This form of idiocy came
from the days when powder was the
: standard explosive and continues. not
z understanding the developments of chem
ssiry. 1t was once my duty TO inyesti-
gate package of what was believed to
be dynamite. It had been brought to a
y police station. The officers had placed
the suspected package in q bucket of
3 water, where 1t had been standing for
1 some hours. AT q glance knew that II
wa5 not dynamite. Indeed, had deyel-
opsd a sort of Instinct, or second sight
In regard to explosives. 1t seemed that
the policemen needed a lesson and /
gave iii to them. With the greatest care
extracted the package and placed II in
X the sawdust in my satchel Then i cas-
III ~ y,ff r.,,c H. Al