The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1916-08-17
HE TEMPTs DEATH
Deadly Dangers a NitrogIycerin
Maker Must Face.
NEVER IS SURE OF HIS LIFE.
Any Moment the Worker In Vibrator
May Be Blown to Atoms-A Calling
That Demands Goodness, Prudence
and Dsrins--One Mans Experience.


and Dsrins--one Mans Experience.
Nitroglycerln is made by ordinary
sweet glycerin acting with a mixture
of strong sulphuric and nitric acid
The glycerin Is dropped by very thin
stream slowly into mixture of three
parts nitric and five parts sulphuric
acid. During the process the contain
ing vessel is kept cool by a water jack
ct. and the acid mixture is agitated by
a stream of cool air. The temperature
is maintained at about so degrees. Aft
er the operation the whole mixture is
drawn Off into tank and is allowed
TO stand IN this vessel. cooled by wa
ter jacket. The glycerin. which is now
nitroglycerin. Immediately begins to
come to the top like cream on milk.
This is at once taken care OF and
is put through various processes to
cleanse 1t OF all remaining traces Of
acid
In no department Of our plant must
greater care be exercised than In the
nitrntor. which Is the name given to
the building where nitroglycerin Is
manufactured.
Explosions are frequent. and 1t takes
. man of iron nerve to conduct this de-
partment 1t IL like going into battle
every day. Yet I'm the face of this we
have one man who has successfully
made nitroglycerin for twenty years.
and he lives to tell you about 1t. only
he won't He is as reticent as the
sphinx.
Like any other man of great courage.
ne does not boast and John Viewber
ger will talk about anything except the
miracle Of his continued existence. |
can only say that Divine Providence. a
cool head and hands and stout heart
have kept him at his work
The acid fumes that oil the building
at all times when nitration is taking
place have long since eaten away the
very teeth in his head. but not his
pluck. 1t is a fact that he is provided |
with a new set of false teeth on an |
average twice year. The hair on his |
head has long ago disappeared and |
the fumes have tanned his skin to the
color of bronze until he resembles
cave man of old. And yet he has never
had day of sickness In these twenty |
years. He thinks. as | do. that no dis
ease, no matter how virulent, could
successfully combat the nitric fumes
that he inhales. SO his work has Its
compensations. II you are pleased to
look at it that way.
While nitration of glycerin is going
on viewbefeer sits on high stool, his
arms stretched over the nitrating ma
chine. one hand on faucet that con
trolls the flow OF glycerin into the acid.
the other hand on n valve regulating
the cooled compressed air that Is forced
into the mixture and his eye glued to
the thermometer that extends well
down into the mixture | have said
that the glycerln undergoes nitration
at temperature of 50 degrees. The
temperature is regulated by the guam
tity of glycerin that flows into the acid.
If the temperature begins to rise above
so degrees he closes his valve slightly.
reducing the flow of glycerin. and In
creases the flow of cool air.
Any little foreign substance that
might get into the mixture even
through the acid of glycerin or other
wise. would cause immediate trouble.
The slightest leak In the water cooling
coils. permitting little water to get
into the mixture. would be the signal
for the thermometer to do a marathon,
and In a few minutes the whole mix
ture would reach the degree OF heat
hat would result in an explosion.
cannot desert his post {
when the temperature begins to rise |
-apidly. This condition frequently I
axes place. and most OF the time 1t I
AN be reduced by cutting Off the flow
II glycerin entirely and by turning on
he air to the full pressure of fifty ,
pounds. Sometimes. however In spite {
II all, 1t will continue to rise, and a
knows or feels that he has &
ost control He must leave his mix p
ure TO its fate and dig out" c
His building, the nitrator, is located b
IN a hill higher than its surroundings.
The hill is high sand dune. Immedi
tely back of the stool on which he sits
$ big door that is always left open y
vhen he is manufacturing. Viewber- Il
er's method of exit or getaway Is 10 G
ump out OF this door and roll down a
he hill While he Is on his way the o
explosion takes place, He has done b.
bis some twenty times and yet has v
ever received an injury. lie has new e
r been struck with flying debris, al Il
houeh the air is filed with flying W
ieces OF lead and iron Does history
ecord II greater miracle? Dug out OF
he sand semiconscious from the inn
act OF an explosion. In the course of s.
alf nm hour he has been quite him
elf again. ready to 90 TO work II need
e. his only regret being the loss of II
property sustained by the company vi
Willard Fay In Golfers Weekly. -
Reason For Joy.
What beautiful girl that is stand