Gilpin observer., 1905-07-13
MOST POWERFUL YET
AMERICAN EXPLOSIVE HAS A
FEARFUL FORCE.
"MitcheIiite," the Invention Of Indiana
Man, is Expected to Modify, If Not
Actually RevoIutionize the Science
of Modern Warfare.

Like an echo following the sensa-
broadcast regarding the reputed pow
ers of the newly discovered gunpowdef
known as Shimoseite, with which the
japanese artillerists have been spread
ing havoc in the ranks of their Rus.
sian foes, there comes information
regarding another explosive invented
within the past few months by an
American. for which is claimed greater
force and more destructive violence
than for the dreaded weapon g.. the
japanese. The name given I; the
new powder is "Mitchellite." after the
name of the inventor, James c. Mitch
ell, of Reynolds, Ind, says the World
To-day" who made his first expert
ments during the latter part of last
winter. Recent tests have demonstrate
ed that "Mitchellite" exhibits some
qualities peculiar to itself. which may
go far toward radically modifying if
rot actually revolutionizing the science
of modern warfare.
"Mitchellite" is in granulated form
when ready for practical use. II has
been tested in quarry blazing expert
ments, with results that are said 10
demonstrate considerably more force
than dynamite, while the claim is
also made that even the results shown
by shimosee have been exceeded.
The follos0g descriptions Of expert
ments made will give an idea of what
it is said to do: Holes were drilled
six feet deep. fourteen feet from the
face of the bench. in stone quarry.
The holes were seven feet apart and
the bench extended a distance. approx
imately. of fifty feet. After three
pounds OF "Mtchellite" had been
tamped down in each hole, amounting
to twenty-one pounds in all, the
charges were exploded simultaneously
by electric spark. The entire body
of the bench was lifted out con-
siderable distance. while all the stone
was reduced to suitable size for
building purposes. Half the amount.
II was declared after the test. would
have answered the purpose equally
well. In fact. II was discovered that,
at one end of the bench. where the
charges had purposely been made a
little heavier than the rest. the stone
was broken up into fragments too
small for practical building purposes.
A hole thirty-two inches deep was
drilled underneath white oak tree
sixty feet high and thirty-three inches
in diameter, and ten pounds OF the
powder were poured into the hole and
exploded. The force of the explosion
threw the tree ten feet In the air.
while a hole six feet deep and twelve
feet across was left where the roots
had been. Stones were hurled n dis.
tance of one-eighth of a mile.
Experiments with cartridges loaded
si,h "Mitchellite" were also produc-
| tive of interesting results.
The powder can be fired under
water as well as In the dry condition,
as was demonstrated by exploding a
quantity of 1t in two-inch hole. seven
| feet in depth. containing two feet Of
water the powder being allowed to show
just above the surface of the water
in order that spark might be applied
to the dry portion. The powder can
also be loaded into shells In wet
condition without impairng It's ex.
plosive power. 1t has been fired after
lying under water tor six weeks.