The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-13
WAR SCHEMES TRIED.
Experiments In the Discharge OF
Powerful Explosives.
Cubsns Destroy Maine Beach by Way
Of Practice.


Of powerful explosives, In the interest, 10 Is
believed, of the Cuban junta In this coun-
try. were made recently on desolsss por-
tion of the beach eight miles west of Wells,
Me. The possibility of sASsSiiing dynamite
mines over which an enemy Is marching
was fully demonstrated, and 10 was also
shown that explosives may be foated above
nm army attached 20 the tail OF kite and
dropped upon an enemy with disastrous
results.
Three of the men who made these expert
ments were Cubaps One was chemist
named Augustus Robinson of New York.
Another was an electrician closely identi-
fed with a telegraph office at Lynn, Mass.
Every effort was made to keep the matter
secret
The experiments were to have taksn
place In or near Rockport, Mass, but IL
was finally agreed that experiments there
could be too easily seen, and 1t was decided
by the Cubane to 90 into Mime, weii
knowing that hiding places In that state
are numerous. The party reached the
place selected late in the afternoon. Ihe
tide was coming In fast. but each person In
the party got quickly hard at work. ! mao
kent close watch of the party and soon
L
point In New Hampshire only few mines
| containing dynamite were experinented
upon.
| In a very short time after the work be-
! gan il was evident that the experiments
were to be on q large scale. The electrician
was soon at work laying out 10 mines.
These mines we=c 800 feet apart, covcring 9
a. 500 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
90 a point about mile away, 70 yhich q
powerful electric battery, connecting Win
all the wires, was attached.
When everything was In readiness, tne
electrician pulled up slide on the battery
and shook hands with the chemist. Hs
gave a yell, and all hands except the cleo
trician dropped on the ground.
Then the electrician quickly pushed
down the slide and the report was some
thing tremendous 1t seemed as thougf
the very earth and beach wore going x
Give way. None Of the party spoke, ou
all began dodging the gravel and stones
which seemed never to stop coming dowi
from above.
When all chance Of danger had passed
an examination was made by the tnre
! Cubans They found enormous holes ant
ridges the whole length of the beach. Tn
Cubans were highly pleased and shoo
hands. while they congratulated them
selves upon the damage to the Spaniaro
which would result from similar expio
sions In Cuba. BY this time the tide wa
run ling so fast that II had commenced Z
I'll the holes with water, and further ea
periments were abandoned until nea
morning.
The experiments then were altogethe
of a different order. A great kite near
1b feet in height, which had heretoioi
been carefully concealed. was brought OF
bv the Cubans and handed over TO the eie'
triciap. who began preparations TO fly ]
For a string he used two very fne insuia
ed wires, twisted together and about Oh
mile in length. A long tail OF insulate
wire was connected with the kite. Az tl
end of the kite tail two balls containing
high explosive were afterward attache.
The kite was raised short distance IN q
. air twice before the explosives were
: tached to the long tail
The preliminary experiments being 50
q isfactory, preparations were made 10 sci
n the kite the full length OF the wire strin
The balls containing the explosive we
o attached to the tail and the great kite W
o started out. There was stiff breeze blo'
d inc. and tho monster kite was soon saiiil
It ont over the ocean, but far above the
g ter.
q The wire string was paid out until
It kite was fully mile away Then the "
q ends of the twisted wire were handed oS
To the electrician. He attached the vii
% TO his battery and prepared to send an eli
J. trio current through the wire string q
J. tail of the kite to the balls which contain
10 the explosive The slide on the batte
j, was pulled UP and then rammed dov
70 again.
% Within few seconds there was deafe
10 ing report, but not 80 loud one as
co heard whom the mines were exploded
m the beach. A moment later there wa
.. great commotion In the water ana :
mendous waves washed the shores.
doubt was left i'm tho minds OF any one "
saw it as to what would have been the Il
of a body Of troops had the explosion or
al ped from tho kite fallen upon them.
Two of the Cubans present were especl
m " interested in the operation OF the k'
H. Twas told that they were really getting
ca structions for doing the work, Tor they
al tend to take similar kites and explosives
or Cuba for operation against the span
M forces I'm the field. As means or warf
ief IL seemed to be most destructive, and WI
be the experiments were ended there "
ng general congratulations oil around.-N