Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-10-06


conductor of street car while he is
at the front, fighting the Germans.
rine mines, the simplest Of which is
known as a contact mine. 1t consists
of an iron case, packed with explosive
material, and is fixed to the bed or the
ocean by means of a cable attached 10
a sinker. The latter keeps 1t in It's
place. In the middle of the iron case
are several pins, each with a firing
point. A vessel passing over this mine
would strike one Of the pins, drive 1t ln'
explode a percussion cap, which would
fire the material in the reservoir
In order to be effective, the mine
should be at least eight feet below the
surface Of the water. In laying it great
care has to be observed in paying out
the cable. Special men are employed
for the work, who are trained for it.
The simplicity of the contact mine is
considered it's most dangerous feature
In order that it may not blow up,
friendly vessel, the explosive reservoir
is taken out Of harms way, and fixed
to the anchor in the bed Of the sea by
link. The latter contains a bursting
charge, which, by means Of an electric
current can be fired, releasing the
mine, which then returns to its former
dangerous position. Thus the mine is
always ready to be worked or not, ac-
cording to whether an approaching
vessel is hostile or a friendly one.
Then there is the observation
mine" This is worked from station
on shore. The firing pins are fixed in
a buoy, which floats few feet beneath
the surface Of the water, and above the
explosive reservoir. An electric cable
runs from the anchor, beneath the bot
tom, to the shore station. When a pin
is driven into the top buoy, it causes
bell to ring or a light to flash in the
shore station, warning the observer on
duty that a vessel is passing over a
mine. The observer thereupon closes
the firing circuit, and the mine eX-
plodes.
Observation mines are usually placed
in groups of from five to seven, each
group communicating with junction
and the main cable, which, in its turn,
communicates with the shore station.
The groups are arranged in two lines.
one a little behind the other, in alter
nate positions. That is to say, one
group in advance, the next to the rear,
the third forward, and so on. The idea
being that should a vessel miss one
group she would be certain to pass
over another. The mines are so laid
that the explosion Of one in no way in
jureS the others.
Where the water is deep and there is
a strong current, what are known as
ground mines are laid. For these much
greater explosive power is required.
The greater the depth, the greater the
explosive power necessary. A ground
mine laid at a depth of 65 feet would
require charge of 1000 pounds Of gun
cotton, equal to 4,SOO pounds of powder.
A ground mine is worked in the fol-
lowing manner:
On the shore there are two stations
opposite one another. There is electric
communication between these stations
and the mine The current is broken
at each station. In the latter are two
observation telescopes, which are so
fixed that the observer has view of
any part of the horizon. We will sup
pose a hostile vessel is approaching
ground mine. Both telescopes are fixed
upon it. AS the vessel approaches, so
the telescopes travel with II, as 1t were.
BY the time the vessel has arrived i'm
mediately over the mine, the telescopes
are both fixed upon the spot. This au-
tomatically closes the current and eX-
plodes the mine.
The whole contrivance is delicately
arranged. The mere act Of pointing
both telescopes at the spot where the
mine is located sets the mine into dead
ly action.
The mines are charged with gun
cotton, dynamite and explosive gelatin.
1t is calculated that to blow hole in a
modern vessel a pressure of from 5000
to 10000 pounds per square inch is
needed.
The work of loading mines, although
it may seem very dangerous, is quite
safe if proper precautions are taken.
Gun-c cotton is issued damp, in slabs
measuring about six inches by two
inches. They weigh three pounds-gun
cotton. q pounds, and water pound.
While wetted with 20 per cent of water
it can be safely cut with a saw. gouge
or chisel 1t has natural tendency to
become dry, SO it is necessary to apply
water to it increasingly.
The floor of the room in which the
work is done. as we'll as the benches in
it, have to be kept wet. The chips
which are cut off, and the dust, which
in dry weather will fly about, have to
be swept up. wetted and returned to
the store If this is not done, very Sc
rious consequences may easily ensue.
After handling dynamite or blasting
gelatinc it is necessary 10 wash the
hands, especially before eating.
Submarine mines are laid out in pre-
viously determined positions, which
are marked on the plan OF the mine
field A copy of this plan is always
kept in the chart house Of the steamer
or miner. as it is called, when engaged
in laying mines. The plan has marked
upon it the index letter of the group
and the number of the mine, the num-