The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-01-09
Further Particulars Of Experiments
There.
EXPLOSIVES FIRED BY KITES A
MILE AT SEA.
A Number of Mines Also Explo ded-The
Cubans Highly Pleased With the Ex-
periments-The Substance VIII Be
Immediately Used Against Spaniards.

periments-The Substance VIII Be
Immediately Used Against Spaniards.
New York, January ga Wells Beach
special to the Herald says:
Interesting experiments in the dis
charge of powerful explosives, in the in
terest, il is believed, of the Cuban Junta.
in this country, was made yesterday and
today on desolate portion CT the beach
eight miles west of Wells, Ne. The pos
sibility Of exploding dynamite mines
over which an enemy Is marching was
fully demonstrated, and 1t was also shown
that explosives may be fioated above
an army attached to the tail Of a kite,
and dropped upon the enemy with disss-
trous results.
Three of the men who made these sx-
periments We're Cubans. One vas n
chemist named Augustus Robinson, of
New York. Another was An electrician
closely identified with % telegraph office
at Lynn, Mass. Every effort was made to
keep the matter secret.
The experiments were to have taken
place in or near Rockport, Mass, early
Wednesday morning, but 1T was finally
agreed that experiments there could be
too easily seen, and 1t was decided by
the Cubans to come..int Maine, well
knowing that hiding places in this state
are numerous. The party reached the
place selected lats yesterday afternoon.
The tide was coming In fast, but each
in ha no ,inE lx, har d,.f
work. l had kept close watch Of the
party, and soon learned that during some
experiments at point in New Hamp-
shire last Friday only a few mines con-
tanning dynamite we're experimental
upon.
In a very short time after the work be-
gan yesterday it was evident that the ex
permients were to be OIL large sale.
The electrician was soon at work laying
out sixteen mines. These mines were 80
fee apart. covering 1880 feet of sand
and gravel. An isolated wire was run
to each mine, where several large sticks
of dynamite were deposited. From the
last mine return wire was run TO a
point about a mile away, to which "a
powerful electric battery, connecting
with all the wires, was attached.
When everything was In readiness the
electrician pulled up slide on the bat
terry and shook hands with the chemist.
He gave yell, and all hands except the
electrician dropped on the ground. Then
the electrician quickly pushed down the
slide, and the report WAS something
tremendous. 1t seemed as though the
very earth and beach were going to aive
way. None ofsthe party spoke, but all
began lodging the gravel ana stones
which seemed never to stop coming down
from above.
When all chaEce of danger had passed
an examination was made by the three
Cubans. They found enormous holes and
ridges the whole length of the beach.
The Cubans were highly pleased and
themselves upon the damage to the Span
iards which would result from similar
explosions in Cuba. By this time the
tide was running so fast that it had
commenced to I'LL holes with water, and
further experiments were abandoned I'M
til this morning.
The experiments this morning were al
together Of different order. A great
kite nearly fifteen feet in height. which
HAD heretofore been carefully concealed,
was brought out by the Cubans and
handed over to the electrician, who began
preparations to fly it. For o string he
used Two very fine insulated wires,
twisted together and about one mile in
length. a long tail Of insulated wire was
connected with the kite. At the end of
the kits tail two balls containing high
explosive were afJerward attached. The
Kite was raised a short distance in the
air twice befora the explosives were at
tacbed to the long tail.
The preliminary experiments being sat-
lsfactory, preparations were made to send
the kite the full lepath of the wire
string. Ihe ball containing the explo-
sive were attached to the tail and the
l., 70 e4c cd hos m
stiff breeze blowing, and the monster
kite was soon sailing out over the ocean,
but far above the water.
The wire string was paid out until the
kite was fully mile away. Then the
two ends of the twisted wire were hand
ed over to the electrician. He attached
the wires to his battery and prepared to
string and tail of the kite to the balls
which contained the explosive. The
slide ON the battery was pulled up and
then ramined down again.
Within few seconds there was deaf
eniug report. but not SO loud as was
heard when the mines were exploded ON
tho beach. A moment later there was
a great connection in the water, and
TREMENDOUS waves washed the shores. No
doubt was left in the minds of any one
who saw it as to what would have beer
the fate of body of troops had the ex-
plosion dropped from the Kite fallen up
on them.
Two of the Cubans present were espeei-
ally interested in the operation of the
kite. was told that they were really
getting instructions for doing the work,
for they intend to take similar kites and
explosives to Cuba for operation against
the Spanish forces in the field. AS a
means Of warfare 1T seemed 10 be most
and when the experiments
were ended there were general congratu-
lations all around.
The Cubans and the chemist returned
TO New York and the electrician went
back to Lynn, Mass. I was told that
the Lynn man received a literal reward
for his services. but he declares he will
engage in 10 more such experiments.