The evening times., 1896-01-12


tine we're packed in spaces left by tn,
construction In various parts OF the safe
Inc result was that the plate was tori
conpietely OFT The screws being sheared of
at the points where they entered the
block.
ONLY FEW MINUTES REQUIRED.
The experiment required for the entire
opcratfon, from the beginning OF the
| charging OF the explosives 10 the tearing
off Of the plate but fifteen minutes. The
firing took place In the underground pass.
| age. '7i'' ~
| A person who was unaware that the
experiment was being made stood on the
| ground above dhe passage, about twenty
| feet from the specimen, when the final
charge was made. He heard the report, but
1t seemed So dun and ,muffIed that he i'm
agined 1t was miles away.
From this. and similar experiments
tried in the vaults of the Treasury, DR..
Mumroe reported That the laminated struc-
lures prevailing there are not security
against the use Of high explosives. The
Corliss safe proved more tru ST " thy,
and was accordingly recommended.
Another Interesting experiment took
place under Dr.. Munroe's direction last
summer ut Pullman, Ill. A presumably
impregnable safe was blown open in len
minutes Time. DR.. Muuroe knelt ON the
top apd fired the fuse. The door burst open
Immediately, and the contents of the safe
were exposed to yieW. The, charge did not
even jar window, did no injury to the
doctor, apd Geu. Alger, AFR. Pullman and
several workmen employed in the shops,
who witRessedthe explosion, could scarcely
realize the exact moment it occurred.
DR.. Munroe is a man of wonderful mag
netic personality. Here In Washington,
where he has been some time dean OF the
Graduate and CorcoTan Scientific Schools
OF the Columbian University, be counts his
friends by the hundreds.
DIR. MUNROE's BIOGRAPHY. a
He is a native Of Cambridge, Mass, and
was born May "a, 1919. In June, 1870,
he graduated with high honors from the
Lawrence Scientific School OF Harvard.
His thesis on this occasion was a filter
made OF pOrous porcelain biscuit, which
was subsequently embodied in the Pasteur
and other filters now used go extensively
for domestic purposes For twelve years
he was professor OF chemistry at the Naval
Academy, Annapolis. AFTER this period he
was placed in charge of the United States
Naval Torpedo and War College, at New
port r. l., where be remained instructor
or Officers Tor six years.
DR.. MunrOe'S greatest achievement was
MS invention OF smokeless powder, first
tested by him at the torpedo station. Presi-
lent Harrison in his last message to Con-
rress, commended tins great discovery.
He is the author of many scientific works,
which have been translated into every
language, and which have estab-
ished his reputation al one OF the best au-
horities on the subject of high explosives
low living. In appearance DR.. Monroe is
Medium sized and Slight, with perfectly
white hair. He has the calm face of a stu
lent, and the cour1y, gentle manners of
he polished Bostonian. He has counted
he most distinguished men of our century
IS his friends, teachers, and students. |
Among these are Oliver Wendell Holmes.
Ienry ". LongfeiIow, John G. Whittier,
Asa Gray, the eminent botanist; Josiah |
?. Cpuke. the miDerslogist; Louis Agassiz, |
Solcott Gibbs and hosts of other equally ia |
nous names.