The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-04
TO HAUL NITROGLYCERIN
OIL WELL SHOOTER WILL HERE
AFTER USE AN AUTOMOBILE.
Thinks His Dangerous Load VIII Suf-
fer Less from JOlts than i'm an
Ordinary Horse Vehicle.

PITTSBURG. Nov. AL Arnold, the vet
eran oil we'll drlller, with headquarters gen.
orally throughout the oil regions. and par
ucularly at Mars, in Butler county, will
hereafter haul his load of nitroglycerin to
the scene of operations in an automobile.
He has just had constructed an automobile.
which very closely resembles the conven-
ional machine save that it is larger and
has more rear or behind the-seat room. 1t
is well-equipped machine, with steam as
motive power, and is constructed of the
best materials. The cost was in the neigh
borhood of 1,500.
The automobile, the first to be built for
the purpose named, will carry 80 quarts OF
nitroglycerin. The running gear was pur-
chased in st. Louis. and the boiler and en-
CINE came from Trenton, n. ]. The wood
work is the product of an establishment in
Mars. The automobile was fitted together
at the office of Pittsburg automobile COM
pany, and the machine was given a salts
factory trial run from this city to Mars.
1t is so constructed that it may be used for
either business or pleasure. When Mr.. Ar
mold is not carrying the explosive, the drip
pings from an empty can OF which would
suffice TO hurl driver, auto and all into
kingdom come, he will haul his friends
about the hill lands of Butler. He is even
contemplating pleasure jaunts which will
take him very close to the country where
rolls the Oregon.
Every time an oil we'll man starts out
with load OF nitFoglycerin he actually
takes his life in his hands. 1t is a virtual
invitation to death. There is only
cident-the first. The man who meets with
ore collision with nitroglycerin never lives
hammered Friends
the report OF an explosion gather as much
OF the fragments can be collected, and IL
the victim is married man visit of con-
dolence is paid to his widow. a hole in the
ground is too often the only visible evil
dence that something has happened with a
tragical sequence.
acter of his calling and the idea that this
danger might be lessened somewhat by
conveying the explosive in carriage which
offered smaller opportunities for DEATH
dealing jolts and jars on the highways
that led Mr.. Arnold to evolve his nitro
automobile, as he calls it. The pneumatic
tires Of the carriage are expected to reduce
the danger below that of the ordinary
wagon, which, numbering along, is likely
TO meet with some mishap possible TO avoid
with the new machine. AT least that is the
view taken by Mr.. Arnold. He appreciates
the fact that IL is impossible to make the
hauling of the explosive a harmless mat
ter, but he thinks he will find fewer shiv-
erS chasing up and down his back when
hauling the stuff in his auto.
Mr.. Arnold is perhaps the oldest oil well
shooter now in the business, both in years
and experience. He is post sixty years of
age, and for score or more years has fol-
lowed this vocation. And veteran though
he is, he never takes out a load of nitro
glycerin without feeling qualmish.
Nitroglycerin Is a mixture of acids and
glycerin. 1t is of the color and consist
ency of lard oil, and is put up in quart
cans. The cost is about 81 a quart. a few
drops OF the liquid will suffice to blow a
man into eternity. And when an explo-
sion occurs it means simply humiliation
for the victim. Nothing can withstand the
awful force Of the explosive.
Oil-well shooters agree that mystery sur
rounds every explosion on record. No one
lives to tell how it happened. 1t is only
from surroundings that guess as to cause
can be made No two disasters apparently
proceed from similar contributing agencies.
Mr.. Arnold has been hurriedly called to the
scene of many explosions in the course of
his career, but with all his large experience
he is unable to satisfy himself as to the
actual cause of a single instance. And he
says that he has never known of a case
of carelessness productive of disaster. Peo-
pie who deal with the explosive never grow
careless, he says Familiarity in this bust
ness does not breed contempt for danger
But accidents do occur. And when they do
the victim and the explanation are eXtin-
guished together. That is why Mr. Arnold
when asked by the Leader man If he had
ever been in accident laconically replied
Man meets with only one accident in my
business and he never tarries thereafter
to be interviewed"