Year: 1875

O4JOO4 4AOs


The manner in which nitro-gly-


cerine is used to raise bodies to. the


surface of the water is described


by the Dubuque (Iowa) Times in


chronicling recent experiment in


the Mississippi River at that


point, as follows:


The friends of the drowned man


sent to Hazel Green, Wis, for


John Drawer, skillful menipula-


tor of the dreadful fluid known as


nitro-glycerine, and the only man


in this part of the country who


can be prevailed upon to handle
it. Mr.. Drawer came, and was


upon the ground with bis can OF
fluid, tin tubes and fuses. The


preparation for discharge is very


simple, but the liability Of the


treacherous mixture blowing the


handler up into the skies when he
grows in the least careless in han
ding it is great. A fire was built
and a washboiler, half full of wa
ter, heated, and the can Of nitro
glycerine set into it to bring it to
the right temperature, so that it
would do its work well. A piece
of fuse three feet long was theD
cut and a percussion Cap placed
upon each end, pasted over with
common yellow soap as a protec
ton from the fluid or water. II
tin tube, about as large around as
a hoe handle and nearly a yard
long, was then filled with the dar.
gerous fluid, by pouring it in just
as you would water. Both ends
of the fuse were now placed into
the tube and run down into the
fluid a little. Then a wooden
plug, cut to accommodate the fuse
was forced in and soaped over to
keep the water out. A good oars
man and Mr.. Drawer took posses
sion of the skiff and moved out on
the river a rod or two, then the
double fuse was lighted, the tuFe
dropped overheard, and then the
skiff was pulled away from that
spot with all speed possible, while
half a dozen men and our reporter
disappeared up the side of the hill,
frantic efforts to secure
tae protection of some giant bould-
er or substantial oak. We had
hardly secured protection when
the charge exploded with a loud,
noise, shaking the trees,
rocks and hills. The sand and
rock from the river bottom flew in
every direction, while volume af-
ter volume of boiling, kissing and
foaming water rolled up and sport.
I'd in the air. The charge was
but a pound and a halt and the re-
suit both wonderful and terrible.
The second, fourth and fifth
charges were let off in the same
way at different points along the
bank with the same terrifying eff
lect, blowing up the river bottom
and at one time sending a large
volume of water all of hundred
feet high in the air. The third
aud sixth charges were prepared
N the same way, but instead of
being sunk were placed upon a
small raft made of heavy plank
nailed together. In order to have
a good view and be secure our re-
porter, in company with two otlr-
ers, proceeded down the railroad
track quarter of a mile and
climbed the top of a high point
't rock. From this point we
could readily see Mons. Drawer as
ne went down to the river bank.
it the fuse and pushed the raft
)ut into the river, and then hunt
ID the other side of the railroad
rack in a hurry. The raft float
I'd prettily for a moment, a curl
If white smoke ascending from
he burning fuse-a fitiul sputter.
nash-and the charge exploded
With a ringing report that echoed
md re echoed, causing the waters
o surge, the trees to shake and
he bill upon which we stood. II
quarter of a mile away, to trembIe
IS with the effect of an earth.
quake.


We are convinced that when nj.
ro- lycerine was estimated to
lave fourteen times more force
han powder no mistake was made.


A young man with a specula-