Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1909-12-29
QUlcKSAND.
How II Is Formed ani Its crewsoms
Characteristics

Characteristics.
To most persons the word quick
sand" gives a sensation OF hofror sim
liar 10 that produced by the thought
OF a snake. and many sensational ac-
counts have given 10 quickSand al
most human attributes. No ordinary
observer would be able to distinguish
dry Quicksand from any other sand.
and the average person would be un-
able 10 restore il 10 its quick" prop
critics even IL be tried. II water is
mixed with the Quicksand the mass
does not become mobile. and IL the
water is drained or the sand viii be
found firmly packed
QuickSand is comparatively very
light, weighing about ninety-four
pounds TO the cubic foot. while other
forms OF sand run as high as III
pounds. Quicksand when examined
under the microscope will be found to
have rounded corners. like river sand.
as distinguished from sharp" sand.
1t is Quicksand that is used In hour
glasses and egg glasses. partly because
OF its fineneSs and partly because it
does not eventually cloud the glass by
scratching. as would the sharp sand.
1t is 10 its lghtness that quicksand
owes its deadly qualities, and q dem
onstration Of how it becomes quick
may be given by placing a quantity
In n bucket and adding water by pres
sure through hole in the bottom. al
lowing the water TO overflow very
slowly when it has worked up through
the sand. The upward current will be
found TO loosen the sand and 10 raise
the surface very slightly, separating
and lubricating the particles so that
they are easily displaced.
The bucket now contains genuine
quicksand The sand, owing TO the
support ii receives from the water.
has its weight. or supporting power.
reduced proportionately. weighing in
the water but thirty-two and n half
pounds rs against ninety-four pounds
when dry. Bulk for bulk. the mixture
is nearly twice the weight OF a man.
but is too mobile to give support and
too thick 20 swim in. In its natural
state. presenting an apparently firm
surface. resembling simply damp sand.
it is the most deadly man trap con-
ceivable.
QuickSand requires in all cases an
upward current which is not quick or
strong enough to break through in
the form of a spring. Ordinarily wa
ter flowing over quicksand will not
make it dangerous. 1t may be formed
in tidal rivers and on the shores OF
tidal seas by the rising tide saturating
porous stratum Of ground below high
water mark. and when the tide falls a
return current IS established through
the porous Csandy) ground with a sufii-
cient velocity to loosen the sand and
make IL quick"
permanent quicksand is found
where a slow current OF fresh water
finds its way TO the surface OF the
sand bed either in the bottom OF n
stream or elsewhere. Quicksands that
are encountered during the sinking OF
walls and foundations are due TO the
influx OF water when the work gets
below spring lever or the level of
the water in the ground at that par
ticular spot. The sand, being deprived
Of the lateral support OF the water in
the excavation. is pushed In from be-
hind by the water currents Nwing
from all sides
One OF the most peculiar and grew
some characteristics OF quicksand 5
that ii will soon enguif any object
cast upon its surface, no matter how
light that object may be. even a per.
fectly dry stick.-Harper's Weekly.