The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-12-28
A DEADLY COMPOUND.
Eitroglyeerin and the Dangers Of
Its Manufacture.
Largely Used in the OIL Regions for
shooting WeIls-The First Nan
who Used the Explosive
for That Purpose.

place IN the united states IS tnere Sucf
a great amount of the explosive used
as In the Indiana oil field. Indiana
has four nitroglycerin factories; two
near Montpelier, Blaclford county,
one at Bluffton and one at knights.
town.
The explosive is made from a COM
position Of acids and glycerin. 1t is
neutrality-suspicious. color. 1t is odor-
less and has sweet, pungent, aromatic
favor. If touched by ones tongue or
even brought into contact with the
skin it will produce a severe headache.
A large tank, called an agitator, is
where the fluid is mixed, and the mix
ture is composed of equal parts of nj
trio and snlphuric acid. Inside the
tank are several paddles, like those of a
churn, and it is here that the real dam
ger in the manufacture exists. The
/ paddles are put in operation and a
steady stream of sweet glycerin is
\ turned into the vat until 250 pounds are
thoroughly mixed with the 1900 pounds
Of acid. The chemicals coming in con-
tact produce an intense heat and in or
der to obyiate the danger cold water
is run through pipes encircling and
running through the vat. AT IS de-
grees Fahrenheit red vapor, almost
ike fire, arises. If cutting off the sup
ply of glycerin in the agitator does not
lower the temperature it is time to say
farewell. Before 90 degrees are reached
nothing but atoms Of the structure and
its contents are left.
In its manufacture water is used to
food the workroom, since drop fall
ing on the floor might lead to an explo-
sion. Not nail is TO be found in the
floor of the factory, and the visitor is
cautioned not to drag his feet Those
who make the dangerous fluid say that
one may pour barrel of nitroglycerin
from high building to a cement walk
below, and it will not explode, but al
small quantity Of it dropped from the
same height in a can will blow the
building down. A sharp conclusion in
stantIy touches it off Factories be-
come useless after few years opera
tion and have to be destroyed. The
timber becomes saturated with nitro
glycerin and an explosion is imminent
at any time.
The average production of glycerin
from 1900 pounds of acid and 250
pounds of glycerin is about 140 quarts.
About 100 quarts constitute an average
shot for an Indiana oil well. While
magazine explosions are not rare, the
real cause of the blowing up never be-
comes known. Those who are close
enough to see the cause always go up
with the building The average time
for shooter or pitroglycerin maker to
remain in the business does not ex-
ceed five years. Death is instant, and
no one has ever recovered from a nitro
glycerin accident Bodies are torn to
atoms. Two years ago magazine in
the northern part of Blackford county
went up and George Hickock, Harry
Woods and two horses were practically
The wages of employees
Of the factories range from s125 to $3.50
a month
Strange as it may seem, the man who
made and exploded the first pound of
in an oil well is hale and
hearty at 70 years of age. he is Col.
William A. Myers, and his home is at
Bolivar, n. y lie built the first fac
tory in the United States, near Titus
vile, Pa, in 1868. Up 10 that time pow n
der had been used to torpedo oil wells =
It was then that an explosive that could "
be discharged under water was found II
In nitroglycerin. Col. Meyers father h
was a Philadelphia chemist and taught
bis son how TO make it. The first well :"
was on Col Mills lease, near v
ritusyille, and the charge consisted Of
)nly two pounds. Oil was worth nine
lollars a barrel then, and a torpedo -
hat would double the production Of
veil was worth almost what the maker
hose 10 ask for It. Col Myers built y
ifferent factories in different parts of
he oil regions from 1865 to 1855, when
e retired from the business. Only one
f the original factories stands intact
o-day. Myers made several fortunes
Id spent Lila money like a prince. but,
for him, he still has snug
um laid by.
Ever since the big explosion two
iiles east Of Montpelier people give
he nitroglycerin wagons and the mag
zines a wide berth. A big hole IN y
round, probably 30 feet in diames
I'D Is feet deep in the center, marRl
ie place where the most disastrous nj
explosion Of Indiana ever
,curred. George Uickock. who lost his