The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-24
EXPLOSIVES FOR WAR
NATURE OF DEADLY GUN COTTON
AND OTHER SHIP DESTROYERs.
How Dangerous Compounds Are Car
ImperiIing Sailors Lives.
New York Herald.

New York Herald.
There are two kinds of explosives-low ana
high. Lieut. Edward Simpson, u, S. N,
who is an authority. writes that the term
explosive is one applied to those substances,
solid or liquid, which upon the application
of heat or shock are converted either by
combustion or decomposition into gases hav-
ing many times the volume of the original
substances. A low explosive. like gunpow-
der, is one which can be exploded by igni-
ton. Further, the rate of this combustion
can be regulated by mechanical treatment.
Thus, black gunpowder goes off quickly,
like FASH whereas brown gunpowder
burns as slowly as punk. Gunpowder is Z
mechanical mixture, as are all low explo-
sives; but high explosives, with which this
article has to deal, are chemical compounds.
Gunpowder is the best known representa-
tive of the former, nitroglycerin of the
latter High explosives are used where
SCATTERING and rending effects are to be
pkoduoed, and they can be made to explode
ably by what is called detonation-that is,
by so suddenly shocking or heating the sur
rounding high explosive that the mass is
instantly chemically changed into gases
many times greater than the original vol
ume sof- the explosive, .3and this sgas I'M its
efforts to escape dips, tears, destroys, an
initiates anything and everything around or
about it. The havoc it can work is terrific
and is irresistible
A great many kinds Of high explosives
have been compounded in all those used for
commercial purposes nitrcglycerin fur
nished the active principle. Nitroglycerin
is formed by the action of concentrated nj
trio acid upon gycerin. 1t is a colorless
oily liquid Having a pungent aromatic taste.
1t produces a violent temporary headache
if taken into the human system, either by
placing a drop upon the tongue or on the
skin, but when persons habtually handle
II they lose their susceptibility to this ac-
tion.
At q temperature of forty degrees Fahren-
haft nitroglycerin freezes to a white crys-
talline mass. and it is usually kept in this
condition until ready tc be used; 1T can abe
thus transported easily and safely. In it's
liquid form ii is dangerous to. handle in
any way. To bring it from its frozen state
into the liquid form, the cans containing it
are placed in hot water of a temperature of
100 degrees. The point of firing is 1856 de-
grees
Nitroglycerin is the most powerful ~ex-
plosive agent iE use: II can be fired by a
fuse charged with illuminate of mercury.
However, nitroglycerin in its pure state
is rarely for explosive purposes. prin-
cpally because of its dangerous nature
Three essentials are required in a high ex-
plosiye, strength or disruptive power, safety
in handling. and keeping qualities, and in
their efforts to secure these many scientists
have brought out different explosives.
DYNAMITE.
Dynamite perhaps. is the name most fa-
miliar to people; it has become to a great
extent generic, and means a high explosive
without consideration of the ingredients of
which the compound may be manufactured.
Dynamite. the genuine article to which the
name was first given and by which in the
aration made by mixing nitroglycerin with
a natural silicious earth called kieseguhr,
or rotten stone from which the water and
organic substances have been driven out.
The proportion Of the mixture is 20 per cent.
of niI0glycerin and p per cent of rotten
stoae. The resulting compound is soft OF a
Pale brown color. in general appearance ana
consistency not unlike damp brown sugar.
The rotten stone in dynamite proper is re-
placed In other high explosives by some 9TH
er substance which inventors claim adds
certain SPECIFIC qualities to the resultant.
This absorbent is called dope. 1t is this
employment of this dope that renders dyna-
mite safer TO handle and less liable to ex-
plosion from shock than is the case with
forty degrees. Ii is always frozen for trans
portation; il explodes at $50 degrees. To
thaw 1t is dangerous, unless done with the
greatest care. Ninety-five per cent. of the
accidents in mines due TO explosions Of dy-
nalnite have been owing to the cGreieSSnesS
of thawing. In blasting dynamite is ve.y
IL
under the name of powder. For submarine
mines, planted in a channel. to obstruct the
fairway, dynamite is exter Sively used II is
put up in copper spheres or cylinders, which
are anchored so as TO float ten or twelve
feet below the surface, or still lower; 10
these are connected electric fuses. operated
by an electric circuit from the shore. Press
ing key will cause the fuse to detonate
the dynamite and the explosion follows
Gun cotton. however. is more extensively
used for military purposes than any other
form of high explosive. II Is produced by
the action of concentrated nitric acid on
cotton or celulose After compression the
white cakes resulting look very much like
ordinary hard pressed cotton white and
hard. Cur Gotten Is unaffected by water
This is one of it's most valuable properties
and one which makes gun cotton 50 yalu-
able for use on board ship IN torpedoes, or
wherever underwater explosives are need
ed. Dry loose gun cotton 10 harmless; IL
burned IL flashes off. Dry compressed gun
cotton burns rapidly but quickly II uncon-
fined. and moist gun cotton does the same.
Wet gun cotton cannot be exploded except
by certain kinds of detonators-it may be
treated without danger; K may be even
forced into oy placed in a shell and shot
These are most important characteristics of
wet gun cotton.
GUN COTTON.
You might have magazines full OF 1t, in
stead OF one or two torpedo heads. yet fire
on board ship or shot from an enemy or
an explosion from within or without viii
not detenate this wet gun cotton. Gun cot
ton is always stored and used wet Dis
titled water Is used 10 wet II and TO keep
It wet; in this condition Il is the safest ex-