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THE SCRANTON TRIBUNE- SATURDAY, JULY 16. T898:
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PROGRESS MADE IN
USE OF EXPLOSIVES
Wbat Science lias Done In the Develop
meat ol War.
AOENTS OF DESTIIUCTION UNIJEU
GO A MATERIAL CHANGE AND UK-
comh rAn jtonn deadly-gun
COTTON AND ITS MANIFOLD USES.
From the Times-Herald.
The brief period from 18RG to 1S38
will, perhaps, In coining nges, bo bet
trained for tlio extremely rapid ad
vancement made In modern explosives.
This epoch-making span of time nny
perhaps be further expanded, for the
new science Is yet In nn experimental
stage. There may bo discoveries In this
near future ns remarkable and mo
mentous ns those of the past decade
and u half. If to, this period will bo
doubly rotnembered. Explosives are
necessarily destructive, and their devel
opment Implies the acquisition of new
and terrible power. The application of
this science marks the bolder lino be
tween nnclent mid modern times.
Explosion has been defined as the ex
tremely rapid conversion of solid or
liquid substances Into ga3 or vapor,
occupying many times the volume of
the original body. This gas Is further
expanded by the heat generated dur
ing the transformation. Any sub
stance that is capable of undcrglng the
above nictnmot phosls Is termed an ex
plosive. GK11M OF Tim DISCOVERY.
The germ of the science of explosives
lay in the accidental discovery of the
peculiar properties of saltpeter, which
Is found plentifully scatteied In nature
tipnn the surface of the plains of In
dia and of China. Knowledge of its
deflagrating qualities could not well be
avoided after the use of tiro upon those
vast Asiatic stretches of land, for by
means of the chaired embers of wood
II res used for cooking, the two most
Important ingredients of gunpowder
could easily have been brought Into
contact with each other. The acci
dental dropping of crude saltpeter tip
on coals of lire would have been fol
lowed by prolonged and accelerated
combustion. Without any known facts
to rely upon, historians generally agree
that In some such way the beginnings
ol the hlstoiy of explosives were In
augurated. Sulphur was doubtless an
efter addition, not necessary to cause
CMi'.csIon.
tlack powder, from tho time of Its
Introduction Into Europe, has always
consisted of saltpeter, charcoal and
sulphur In various proportions An ex
cess of charcoal quickens combustion,
an excess of saltpeter slackens It. Tho
propulsion force depends chlelly on tho
late of combustion and the volume of
gas produced, aijlng with tho pio
portlons of the mixture. Gunpowder gas
litis about 300 times the space occupied
by the solid powder.
A CENTURY AGO.
If the ingredients of black gunpow
der have romalne I the same for many
ccntuiics It Is not because numeious
experiments were not made to improve
its composition by adding other mih
btaiKe.. In 1784 Baieelo made vailous
attemi te to change the composition,
and he hud many follow oik Inventors
ur? still working nt tl e pioblem.
Tho (distinction of modem guns has
mnd Imperative some modifications in
the foim and enVcls of tho explosive
ui-d A slow -binning powder was
needed, which would burn in inci easing
litioand develop its maximum sttcngth
Jint when the hhot toadied the muz-zl-
of the gi-n Germany took the In
itiative in thlb direction in IS?.', when a
slow -1 in nln.T powder was pioduced in
thrt country c tiled cocoa powder, be
cause in enjor it ic-embled a cake of
chocolate. The method of mnnufnc
tuie was kept secret, I ut other coun
tries pjocuied samples of the powder,
analyzed It nnd boon Wined to make
a better substitute. This German co
coa powder differed from black gun
powder malnl.v by changing the pio-portlom-
of the Ingredients to 70 per
cent, saltpeter, 18 per cent, charcoal
and 3 per cent sulphur, nnd by living nn
mulerlurnt charcoal, which gave it the
peculiar colot. For this blown powder
charcoal made from lye itraw was also
used.
Vnrlous shapes hive been adopted
for tho blown powder, now used by all
countilcs for heavy ordnance, and ex
cellent results have followed the use
of hexagonal pilsmatlc grains pierced
by small holes tluougli which tho
flames pass, burning fiom the center
outwaid and constantly evolving more
gas till combustion is completed.
FOP. J,ARGE GUNS.
It Is well known that for many years
the imptovement of powdcis for large
gunB hn.s not kept pace with the manu
facture of the gun Itself. Tho secre
tary of tho United States navy two
years ago called attention to the diffi
culty of ohiulnlng in bufflclent quan
tities for actual service a high giado
brown powder for large guns, nor was
it assured that these povvdei3 would
onduio tho test of long storage. It has
been found that the efllclency of brown
powder varies logulurly with tho
weather, requiring 3 per cent, more in
midwinter and 3 per cent, less in mid
summer than in srilng or nutumn.
It Is now quite generally believed by
naval and ir.llltaiy experts that gun
powder Is rapidly passing uway ns an
effective nnd standaid explosive. Oth
er modem explosives hnve, during tho
past twelve eais, lieen substituted to
fruch nn extent that to ictiirn to gun
powder seem.! impotsible. Tho substi
tutes hive not pased tho pcilods of
probation, but changes in firearms
have compelled the revolution In explo
sives. The invention of rupld-ililng
guns made neccssaiy tho use of n
smokeless powder. The illle of smaller
caliber demanded nn explosive of
greater force.
Whllo theso experiments were pro
gressing In Englnnd, Franco and Ger
many, Alfred Nobd formed tho. Idea
of reducing tho rate of combustion in
his blasting gelatin by Increasing tho
peioentage of gun cotton, In order that
it might bo used as u substitute for
gunpowder. This led to the patent
ing of a smokeless powder in 1SSS
culled balllstlte, which ho introduced
in the Italian army and which wns also
edopted by Get many. As now manu
factured balllstlte consists of fifty parts
soluble nltro cellulose and iifty parts
nitroglycerin. Its uso has been dis
continued by Germany, but it is still
in favor In Iluly. It has been conted
Wth graphite to pi event fj-.o exuda
tions of the nlttoflyccrln.
Two modern explosives nio at the
base of all these substances for gun
powdergun cotton nnd nitroglycerine.
The so-called nltro compounds were
first discovered in 1832, when Bracount
of Nancy found that statch, wood fib
era and similar substances would eas
ily yield a combustible substance, which
"Samter's" Greatest
Clearing Sale of the Season
Never were such prices known in the history of this or any other store. An opportunity that
you won't miss if you only "use your eyes" on our Penn Avenue window. This is no "bubble"
ad. of shop-worn goods. All suits in this sale were made for us this season and sold by us from
jpiu.uu to :j)io.uu.
44444444444444444444444444 4- 44 4-44-J-- 4444
Samter's Regular $10 and $12
Light and Dark Summer Suits.
Every buit in this sale has been reduced regardless
of what they cost to make at the opening of the season.
You can find lots of very neat patterns in light club
checks and overplaids. The dark patterns are rather
scarce, but if you get here early you may find one to fit
you. The Best Suits go first. We expect to clear most
of them out by Saturday night. Get here in the morn
ing, if you can. We shall be able to serve you better.
Our
Clearing
Sale
Price,
m V Jl
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Samter's Regular $15 and $18
Light and Dark Summer Suits.
You can find Suits in this lot that were made by the
hpst rwiriv-tn-wpnr hiilnn; It i'q our nnliVvr nmmp t
carry any suit over from one season to the other, if we t
can help it. The cost don't bother us at this season of
the year. ' The same reliable qualities that have made
our clothing famous are marked for this sale at a price
that must clear them fiom our counters in a hurry.
Our
Clearing
Sale
Price,
n
if
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Ml .
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Hot Weather Specials.
HATS.
Single Coats in'neat patterns of Scotch Ging- CA X
i kiwi, buu'""ltv-u '"-" """-'
rS&BlHKitMWDsaL.
MATS.
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Furnishing- Specials.
Balbriggan Underwear, silk finished and OZn
regular made.
Single Coats in Black Albert Twill,
stronger than alpaca
4
$1.00$
4
4
Single Coats in neat hairline stripes, veiy KAz-r X
lightweight OV
t Silk Woven Stripe Shirts, in fancy color- Kflr
A light-colored Soft Hat or a Stiff Derby.no matter X ings, collar and cuffs attached eFv
which you prefer, are all here, in the newest Negligee Shirts, assorted colors, soft and A fin
shades, at puces that surprise many exclusive 4 com foi table for summer rOl
hatters. , . ' . "'.".""' "1
uiiiiiuric ouiiiiuer Ties, in uud fa fftt z,C
"T Hnnsp nr Row :i nmv ns;nrimrnr v A vl jJK
9c, $1.50, $2.00, $2.50.
CRASH HATS.
A new assortment of those X
fythptmr.s: 23c and 48c ?
STRAW HATS. :
fit as well as any custom $4tO$6.50 Manila or rough shinkee braid straws, reduced
made suit, from P vv.xJ
4 nULlbU Ol DOW, U 1ICW UibOIl.lllt;ilL,
- Handkerchiefs,
Blue Serge Coats, "Alfred Benjamin" make, seams 4
double stitched with silk, "will not ? CA t
pull out" VOoOSJ 4
4
ur 1 -. t. cj..:4- ttwcA d.:.-..:' .,,.,1. ..4. .
vvuui vrusii ouiia, nuicu uuiijamuis iuaic, li.il lo
from 75c: To close them all out today.
ldkerchiefs, fancy borders, c? -frku- 'JZc
sold only in lots of ? 1Ui
$1.00 Shirts, some with collars at
tached, in checks and stripes. All put
into one lot. To clear them out of the
w;,y 48c.
44 tt ff 4 444 44 4444 t44f-44', 4 4 - 4 -f-f-f 4 -f 4t-f -f-f -f "t--4-f 4 4-f-f -f -f 4-4-f -t-f 44444-f4
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Clearing Prices on Fane Pants.
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Clearing Prices on Bicycle Pants.
$0 and $6.00 Pants, all the best qualities, for this, sale $3.984'Oo Bike Pants," Shepherd's Plaid, Golf Cuffs, for this sale 552.98
$4.0 and $5.00 Pants, this season's make, for this sale $2.983-o Bike Pants, Dark Checks, Golf Cuffs, for this sale $1.98
$4.00 and $3.0 Pants, this season's make, for this sale $2.48--25 Bike Pants, Light and Dark Tweeds, for this sale S&1.25
$3.00 and $2.50 Pants, this season's make, for this sale $1.23'. 5" Bike Pants, Light and Dark Tweeds, for this sale 98c
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See These
Extra Values
in
Our Show
Windows.
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v i a ! h r km m iki k. mi, m -m y tv & " 4
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Leading Clothiers, Hatters and Furnishers.
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See These
Extra VaSues
in
Our Show
Windows.
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ho c.illed x iodine, when heated with
concentrated nitilc neld Hut no piac
tirnl results followed these and other
dibeoveile!, bcvniino neither unlfoim
cf:cct nor stability veto bccuicd.
DisrovnitY of ai'N cotton.
In 1843 Schnbcln of rtalo discovered
thut cDtton could bo cons ei ted into
u highly explosive body without alter
ing its structure, by treating it with
nltito acid. Tho same dlscoeiy was
nmde independently the le.ir follow -Ini,
b; Hottger of Frankfort-on-the-Miiir..
Both inventors tried to hell tho
pccict to tho German union, but tho
union would make tho purchase only
on condition that tho new explosive
possessed an advantage over gun
powder. Other nations heard of It, and
throughout Kuropo many experiments
wcie made with a slew of substituting
cun cotton for gunpowder.
Nitroplycerlne was discovered In 1S10
by hobrero, professor of chemistry at
Turin, but the discovery remained un
developed for many yeais. In 1S63 Al
fied Nobel, the noted Swedish chemist,
Invented dynamite by mixing liquid
nilioflycerlne with a highly poious In
fuslc nnl ctuth. He also, in 1S78, in-
ented gelatin and other explosives for
blasting purposes. Dynamite Is iibed
for civil and gun cotton for military
operations, Numeious other explosives
luive appeared in recent years, but
most of them have disappeared after
a bilcf and unsuccessful tilal, Plata
acid has been known for many years,
In 1S67 potassium plcrate wus used in
America and in Kngland as a charge
for bombs. In 1887 the French govern
ment introduced picric acid us inelln
lt. Austria was tho first country to en
gage elaborately In the attempted sub
stitution of cun cotton for sunpowder.
A factory was elected at Illrtenberg In
IS,,", and tho explosive was Intioduced
In some special artillery. But It was
frund that tho guns were attacked by
the gases and that tho high pleasures
injured the battels. It was then de
cided to use the new explosive only In
lilting shells and In toipcdocs. Theio
wore two tcrilflc explosions in tho Illr
tenberg magazines In 186.' and 1S63, and
after the second disaster tho manufae
tute of gun cotton ceased In Austria
until 1S7S.
hi;voi.utionizi:d WArtFAitc.
Between the years 1SG4 and 1888 tho
initial stages wete completed which
weto destined to tevolutlonlze modern
watfate. In the former year V. dchultzo
nf rotsdam began the nianufactuip of
gunpowder fiom nitrated wood. In
1805 Sir Ficdetkk Abel, chemist of the
British war department, patentol a
ptoeess for putlfylug gun cotton, re
ducing it to a lino powder by bcatlu,;
maihlncs and then presblug It. That
process is now generally used, in 1SSS
Vlello, tho celebrated chemist of tho
Ftench gunpowder works, discovered a
means of making smokeless gunpowder
fiom gun cotton dissolved In sulphuric
ether mixed with picric ncld.
SSIOKULUSS POAVDIUt.
Sir Frederick Abel and 1'iofessor
James Dewar, members of the English
comnilttco on explosives, Invented a
smokeless powder consisting of a com
bination of the highest nltiated cellu
lose with nitroglycerin by dissolving
both in ncetone. It was Introduced in
to the English service as cordite, for
use with small arms nnd guns of all
callbi.es. It Is now composed of nit
roglycerin, ilfty-cight purts; gun cot
ton, thirty-seven parts and mineral
Jelly, nvo parts. Cordite piovcs stable
under cxttcme conditions arIn;; trom
the arctic cold of Canada to the ttop
ic.il heat of India, nnd icslsts c.xposuio
to moisture of nil kinds. Its effects
on the boie of guns Is a serious dlfll
culty. It eiodes tho gun to such an,
extent ns to suggest Its abandonment.
The I'nlted States naval smokeless
powder Is a nltio ccllulotc powder con
sisting of a mixture of Insoluble nnd
solublo nltio cellulose, to which is ad
ded the nitrates of barium and potass
ium and a small percentage of cal
cium carbonate. The proportions for
G-lnch lapld-ilie guns are mixed nltro
cellulose, eight paits; barium nitrate
llfteen parts: potassium nitrate, four
parts, nnd calcium carbonate, one part.
The I'nlted Stnles war depjitment has
been experimenting with vailous .types
of smokeless gunpowder, atylng from
an c nthe composition of gun cotton
nnd no nitroglycerin to nbout -10 per
cent nltioglycerln. The "VA" pow
der, pioposed for fceislce In the United
States for the uso of guns both in tho
ni my nnd navy, consists of liiholublo
gun cotton nnd iiltioglycerlu, with nn
organic subhtanco as a deteirent or ic
gulator. Like all smokeless gunpowder
It exeits u deleterious effect upon tho
bore of guns.
'a WO dJJNli.it Vi ASSES.
In geneial, present f.. " less pow
der i nro fif two genera, fies: First,
Insoluble gun cotton or soluble nltro
cotton, alono nr niiNfd with each other
or with regulative substances, and,
hciond, the nbovo with nltro. glycerin
ndded. Smokeless powdeis derived
from picric acid and other bubslnnces
have been dlscaided.
Among the essontlals pt smokeless
powdcis are (.mokelessness, stability
under varying conditions, safety In
lmndllnz ur.d freedom from cases in
jurious to guns or Inhalation. There
nio none that comply with all these
conditions. The combustion of smoke
less powder Is usually complete, th
l exulting gases buing chiefly cai Louie
acid nnd steam.
The nbove uns of the new explosives
nio to weapons gieatly Impioved, It
In Hue , lilch in some foim have been
in use for ninny centuries. But tho
i evolution wi ought by gun cotton nnd
nltioglvcciln In waif.ue has nlso
biourbt Into n high degree of efllclency
new nnd tcrilble devices of destruction.
Mines and toipcdocs were only germs
during the; leglme of black gunpowder.
The aro now most valuable adjuncts,
especially In naval warfaie. and, in tho
opinion of bomo expeits, have super
bcded, or will boon Fiipeisede, gunnery
In iclntlvo Importance.
Both torpedoes nnd mines were tlrst
used "in naval opeintlons In the war of
the icbtlllor, durlrg which struggle
twenty eight vessels weie blov n up by
mines and ei by totpedoe. Theso de
vices, deadly as lhey were at times,
wcie usually of the crudest descrip
tion. The mines weie often meiely
vcodeu biurets lilted with gunpowder
and llud by blow-burning funis. No
In aver or moie daring naval deed in io
lation to mines was perfoimed Ihan
the part-age of Admiral Fnrragut's ileet
through a. channel in the Mississippi
liver known to bo nllvn with mines
One ship, the Tecumsch, wns struck,
but though desperate odds were
against, him, the admiral ran tho gnuiit
let fortunately without fuither loss.
The cases of tho totpedoes scraped
ugaltibt tliu copper bottoms of the ships,
and In evvtal inttnitces the prime! s
snapped audibly, but no more torpedoes
exploded.
Dullng the Frfiryco-Prusslan war tho
French ileets did not enter Prussian
harbors through fear of submarine
dnngois The Japanese ileet at Ynlii
did not hesitate to ntlick their enemy
on tho open rea, but icfialned from
following tho vessels up the ilvef. The
hidden dangers wete held to be far
greater than guns. The only way to
ovetcomc the dangci of mines Is to de
stioy thorn, ri blow nnd labotlous task
for an cnemj.
For offenhive opeiatlons In attack
Ins Ileets on the open bca the toipedo
is lecognlzcd as tho most effectlvo
weapon. It Is a mnrvel of mechanical
Ingenuity and petl'ecthm.
TYPES OF TOltPEDOES,
The Whitehead torpedo, the stand
ard with most nations nt ptesent, was
evolved In ISOt from the brnln of Cap
tain I.upuls. nn Austtlan naval ollleer.
It has since been gieatly impioved. It
Is In appeal mice cigar-shaped, from
fourteen to nineteen feet In length and
fiom fourteen to nineteen Inches In di
ameter at Its thickest point. Tho shell
Is made of steel or phosphor-bronze.
Within nio thieo compartments. In
tho lltst is a heavy chaigo of gun cot
ton. Tho second Is tho ulr lecelver,
lllled with compressed nlr, while In the
thlid nio-tho propelling engines nnd
gulldlng mechanism. The Howell tor
pedo, Invented by a United States
naval ofllcer, Is not unliko tho 'White
head In shupe, but Is dilvcn by means
of n lly wheel contained In the shell.
Besides this typo thete aro locomo
tive oi dliiglble torpedoes, which, when
llred, aio conti oiled fiom shoto by
means of a tine cable, wound up In tho
toipedo llko a lepl.
The nuvy departments of most na
tions have udopted compressed gun
cotton both for submarine mines and
I for torpedo charges. It 1ms been se
lected ns the United States' service ex
plosive. Experiments with gun cotum
wete begun by Ptofessor Hill at tho
United States toipedo station In 1872.
Eleven eais ago the Hist gun cotton
toipedo outllt was Issued to the I nlted
States ship Tienton, the gun cotton
being supplied in cyllndilcal disks thieo
Inches In diameter and two inches high.
The niauufaitutc of gun cotton, nnd
of neai ly all nltro. compounds, consists
of Immersing the cotton, glycol ino or
other mntcilal In a mixture of nitrlo
nnd siilphutlc acid for u long time.
Tlio explosive body Is then lemoved
fiom the spent ueid, washed and treat
ed with alkalies till all trace of acidity
is lost If n trace of acid remains
spontaneous decomposition and often
explosion occuis. Care must bo taken
that the iiitton is perfectly pure. In
the chemical le.iction water In the cel
lulose is replaced by nitric acid, or
hydiogeu by the nltro ginups. Gun
cotton lias u much more powerful ef
fect than black powder and burns
without leaving any residue. In out
waid appearnnce It differs only slightly
fiom the ordinary cotton, but Is somo
whnt daiker. Is harsher to the touch
and gtntes slightly in squeezing. It Is
also heavier than cotton. It Is safer
to handle than dvnamltc, and ona
pound gives in combustion nbout 22,
163 inches of gas and produces the ef
fect of fiom four to six pounds of gun
powder. Its prepaiatlon for service U
a complicated piocess, and It Is made,
in vailous shapes for various uses. In
toipedoes gun cotton Is detonated by
fulminate of mercuiy. which when
Ignited by n blow expands to 'about 2,
6Q0 times Its own size. This sudden ex
pansion gives a severe blow to the gun
cotton nnd detonates It, Fulminate of
mercury Is the chemical combination
of mercury w 1th alcohol and nitric acid