The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-14
A NEW HIGH EXPLOSIVE
Marsite Now Claiming the Attention
of Ordnance Officers.
The Invention Of 81 Pennsylvania
said 10 Meet All the Requirements
Tests of the Material Prove Highly
Gratifying ia Government Experts.

The latest high explosive TO claim the
practical attention OF the United States
Government is the invention OF MIR. Hath
away, of wellsboro. Pa. and IS known as
marsite The Ordnance Bureau Of The
Navy, under the supervision OF Admiral
O'Neil, has begun the investigation OF the
material. and preliminary tests have been
made under the personal direction Of
Commander Joseph Eaton. OF the navy.
The results so far obtained are said TO
have been highly favorable, and seem TO
indicate its adoption by the Ordnance
Department.
High explosives are being experimental
with by all the great powers of Europe,
but perfection has thus far been found
lacking. The ideal explosive must be one
in which the elements of safety, resulting
from low pressure. and great velocity are
in delicate combination. This will be
readily understood to encompass a diff
cult chemical proposition, yet in marsite
the inventor claims to have solved the
problem. The discovery is supposed TO be
a nitrate compound, although its compo-
sition is the secret of its inventor. In APP
pearance il resembles dark colored clay,
and Mr.. Hathaway has satisfactorily dem
onstrated to Commander Eaton that it is
probably the safest high explosive IN the
world TO handle.
The chief claims ii has for recognition
as approaching closely the ideal conditions
are this ease of handling and its terrific
power when exploded. AT recent test at
Lowell. Mass. the inventor. in the pres
ence Of Commander Eaton and other Off
cial Witnesses, took lump of the COM
pound and proceeded 10 pound it with
hammer. and then TO file 1t into small
pieces. Although producing a great heat
in combination with shock the explosive
showed not the slightest trace of its real
character The demonstration showed that
il was impossible TO explode II by concus
sion and the fire test was given. In this
experiment il merely siZzled for moment
under q direct fame and the fire died out,
showing that two crucial tests proved its
safety.
Mr.. Hathaway explained that in order TO
explode II, the combined forces of percus
sion and conclusion must be employed.
These were secured from an electric bat
terry. and its explosive power was shown
by placing quantity of 1t in i-inch
shell. which was put in an excavation in
the ground. over the hole placed a
screen OF steel an inch thick. above which
a wooden structure was built When the
current was turned on a terrific explosion
occurred, which tore hole in the steel
screen and burst the shell in thousands OF
fragments. When placed between cakes OF
ice 10 demonstrate that it is not affected
by cold. the explosion tore the ice TO pieces
and cast fragments high in the air.
With an explosive of this character the |
art OF artillery warfare assumes new |
phase.
The safety in handling marsite is also az |
item Of importance, and the ability TO IRE |
a shell charged with ii from a rifle with the |
initial velocity 1000 feet a second makes
il most valuable discovery. Being in |
sensible alike TO heat and cold, IT may be
utilized In any climate and exposed 10 all
most any conditions of fire or shock.
Admiral o'Neil expects 10 make further
tests in order to determine its stability end
keeping qualities, and the inventor is san
guine OF results equally satisfactory with
those which were the outcome of the recent |
exhibition. Should il prove TO be all that
fits discovsrer claims for it, experts say
that its value 10 heavy ordnance can
scarcely be estimated.