The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-03-10
EXPLOSIONS DISCUSSED.
MAINE DISASTER RECALLS SIMILAR
OCCURRENCES AND LOSS OF LIFE.
Speculations on Many Possible Causes
The Theory of Spontaneous Com
bustion-High Explosives ofVarious
kinds-1ow They are Some Times
Accounted-The Loss of the Royal
George.
Correspondence Wilmington Messenger }
BALTIMORE, February %.

aster which befel our warship Maine.
at Havana, wherein there was proba-
bly, greater loss of life than would
have occurred in 4 heavy naval en-
gagement, has stirred the whole civ
ilized world and called forth express
sions of sympathy from all quarters.
With most of the expert opinion on
the side of an accidental cause. there
are some who cling to the theory of
design on the part of some one and
that with no apparent reason. 1t is
most likely that those who actually
were in a position to know most about
the matter were killed bv the explo-
sion and we may never know the
cause Of it. Its mysterious nature
has led severa! leading newspapers
to publish accounts of similar cXplo-
sions on board ships, with more or
less loss of life, and Of other disasters
at sea, not explosions, with great cas-
ualties.
| The greatest of all such calamities
occurred to British war vessel, while
lying at anchor, and has not been
mentioned in this connection, | refer
to the sinking of the Royal George
and the loss of 900 lives. A con-
densed account of the accident would
probably interest many of your
! readers and would not be out of place
| here.
The Royal George was the princi-
pal vessel of Lord Howe's fleet, and
while she was undergoing repairs
near the keel, she was too much
keeled over, so that the water rush
ing through the port holes of the de-
pressed side speedily tilted her and
she sunk with all on board. including
the admiral, Kempcnfeldt, the cap
tain, officers, crew and about 300
women and children who happened
to be on board at the time-1, 100
in all. OF these, however, POO were
saved; but small vessel, which hap
pened to be anchored near. was
drawn into the vortex occasioned by
the Royal Georges descent, and swal-
lowed up. Other vessels were also
placed in imminent danger. Captain
Waghorn, who escaped, unharmed,
was subsequently tried by court mar
tial for negligence and carelessness
in the careening operation. but was
acquitted. This is an eulogy for
Cowper. Many OF the guns were
| fished up soon afterwards and several
schemes were projected for raising
the shi p bodily, but without success
until 1889, the mass was blown tc
pieces by the explosion of large meta
cases filled with gun powder. Most
of the valuables which had been il
the ship were brought up and the
brass guns which were recovered
suf1iced to pay the cost of the opera
ton.
This accident occurred on the 29tf
OF Aug, 1892, and the wreck was
blown up tifty-seven years later
when the oak timbers were found t,
be perfectly sound, though almos,
black in color. Much of it was
worked up into souvenirs and some
pieces found their way into the
United States.
That the explosion on the Main,
may have occurred from some half :
dozen causes, might be readily showI
by anv student we'll acquainted Will
modern physics and chemistry. Va
pors arising from several of the hy
drocarbon oils, when mixed with tn,
proper amount of air, will explode Vi
olently if ignited. Any intlammabl'
matter, when in Il condition Of fin,
powder or dust, may explode. Flour
ING mills have suffered from such &C
cidents and building was demol
ished, some years ago, in Cincinnati
bv the explosion of starch dust.
Finely powdered coal dust may b'
easily caused to explode and recen
form Of engine proposes to use suci
material as a source Of power. 1t i
claimed that coal dust. when exploded
in proper engine promises to form
, one of the cheapest sources Of powe
known. At present the invention i
not perfected.
Spontaneous combustion of coal il
the bunkers has frequently been al
, luded to in this connection. Thi
/ phenomenon which occasionally y man
ifeSts itself in both mineral and or
eanic substances is but little know
? to the general reader. Indeed a dis
f cussion of the chemical reactions in
volved in the various substances i
; in which spontaneous combustion
: likely to take place would not b
/ readily understood bv any one not
/ chemist. But the fact that it doe
l occur under 4 variety of circun
n stances is pertinent.
t The spontaneous ignition of coal:
/ especially those which contain a con
siderable per cent. Of sulphur, in tn
form Of iron pyrites or sulphide
J.. iron is likely to take place when th
coal is stored damp and in a contine
space. with no circulation Of ali
;, The coal bunkerS Of modern ves>c
, form an ideal place in which the.
t conditions may be realized. II
: heat generated in the beginning {
II the process has no chance to escap'
II but remains in the mass and 80 ha
e tens The final ignition. That the
: do ignite and sometimes burn quit
: a while before discovery is We
n known fact.
e Outside of these mineral matte
n liable to spontaneous combustion
3 there are numerous organic su
I.e stances which undergo 4 process
- heating or fermentation which ma
: result in ignition. Among the
those most frequently known to i
, mite spontaneously are hay. iut
! hemp. tow. flax. cotton. and wool.
u waste or rags. The latter. especial
e when more or less impregnated vii
:e oil, are peculiarly subject to spo