The Portland daily press., 1897-01-05
A WONDEROUS TALE.
Alleged Startling Experiments With a
New Explosive.

Can Be Handled With Kite and Races to
Ground Whatever 1t Comesin Contact
With-Report From Lynn Which Bears
Some Marks of Fairy Tale.
Lynn. Mass, January 4.-Within the
last week upon lonely part of the New
England coast has been held series OF
experiments with very powerful ex-
plosive, closely allied in nature to nitro
glycerine. conducted with a view to
ascertain it's value in actual warfare as
destructive TO Notifications or life. An
agent of the Cuban Junta, New York
chemist and Lynn electrician conducted
the experiments. With them was tbs
representative of New York newspaper
sworn to seer coy until in the opinion OF
the agent it was safe to give the facts to
the public through the medium of that
particular paper.
Another trial OF. the explosive is to occur
Wednesday. The chemist and the agent
of the Junta are waiting in New Eng
land town for the time agreed upon. 1t
is very doubtful if the electrician ap-
pears, as he is very badly frightened, and
Notwithstanding the fact he was paid
well for his services, is about ready to
wash his hands of the whole business. A
person living In town where the
cheln1ss aid Cuban agent are making
their headquarters, accidentally learned
of their errand and through him was
learned the name and address of the
Lynn electri clan, the place and date of
the experiments and the name of the
New York chemist, which is Robinson.
The Lynn man absolutely refuses to talk
for publication, although he does not
deny the statements here given from a
correct account of what occurred.
The experiments took place Friday on
the New England cost. few miles dis
tant from the mouth of the Merrimaok
river and a number of miles from any in
habitants. The agent had several
assistants who could be trusted to handle
with due care the dangerous stuff.
Among the paraphenalia was kite,
which in strong wind had carrying
for several miles around was carefully
patrolled trench was dug in the sand
below high water mark. a quantity of
the explosive with illuminate cap to
which was attached the wires of battery
was carefully laid and then covered. The
men unreeling the wire, retreated nearly
q mile, and then exploded the mine. The
concussion of the explosion threw them
fat to the ground. An immense hole was
torn in the sand and furrows were turned
up hundreds of 1eet in all directions.
To the kite was attached about twenty
pounds of the explosive with cap for
sstting it off, and wound around the cord
were tw wires of a battery. The kite
was manipulated by a float abou t
seventy-fve feet above the ruin of big
barn in the vicinity of which were four
large trees. The men were fully a mile
and a quarter away when the explosive
was discharged with report that was
deafening. The ruins of the barn went
up in cloud of dust and the trees were
blown practically to toothpicks.
The electrician WAS thrown to the
ground insensib BILE, and did not recover
for several minutes. The Cuban agent
was highly gratifed at the success OF kite
flying, regarding it as proof that kite
could be sent over the enemy's lines and
the explosives discharged with great
effects. Arrangements were made for
further experiments Wednesday and the
party separated.
Whether further meeting will take
place is problematical.,. ,.TheELynn man will
have nothing further to do with it for
reasons best known 20 himself. He is
much excited and not q little scared that
the facts have beoome known. He is
afraid some one may have been in the
vicinity, perhaps watching them and
was injured.