THE EXPLOSION IN SYDNEY— NITRO-GLYCERINE.

West Coast Times, Issue 153, 15 March 1866, Page 2

THE EXPLOSION IN SYDNEY— NITRO-GLYCERINE.

(From the S. M. Herald, March 6.) The explosion which blew up the stores of Messrs Morison and Black in Bridge-street, was the all-absorbing topic of conversation in .the city yesterday. From early in the morning until late at night the streets in the neighborhood were crowded .by thousands of persons going backwards and forwards i to satisfy their curiosity in respect of this most extraordinary and unloo'cedfor occurrence. Bridge-Street has a very ragged and desolate appearance; there is perhaps scarcely a whole pane of glass in any of the houses, while many of the sashes, frames, doors, and other woodwork in the fronts of the premises are so much broken as to need to be replaced. The high houses occupied by Messrs Cubitt, Metcalfe and Co., Reason, and tine vacant houses lately occupied by Zuccaui aud Co., are covered with debris, some of tho wood having been shivered into the most minute splinters, and there are also largo pieces of wood which have been lifted on to them. Immense force must, have operated to throw these beams to such an elevation at a considerable distanco away from the ruins. The houses on the opposite side of the street look as dingy and disorderly in aspect as their faded and battered opponents. •' It's anill wind that blows nobody any good," > but the "good" arising out of this disastrous oceurrenco is surely at the minimum, and what little benefit may be derivable will be monopolised by the window-menders. The glaziers' hammers might be heard tapping, nimbly against the broken glass at all hands during yesterday, and theworkmen will have to ply their calling very briskly for some days before all the damage shall have been repaired. The windows of the houses in the neighborhood which were closed were broken both back and front, and it may therefore be supposed that the ventilation in many cases is in excess of what, now that the nights are getting chilly, must be agreeable. Business in Bridge-street has been put a stop to, and it is probable that a week or two will elapse before all the premises resume their wonted cheerfulness and activity. A fruiterer's shop, opposite the office of Messrs Molison and Black's, has been regularly smashed in, and the front, which now hangs together in an unsightly manner, will have to betaken down. The iron grating over the cellars of the premises destroyed was hurled across the road with trem mdous force, and knocked some holes in the iron of the Sugar Company's Offices. At Mr Street's, the watchmaker's, considerable damage was done; the shutters were suddenly shaken down, and some of the stock near the window was irreparably injured. The largo block of buildings at the corner used as offices has a great number of windows, and nearly all the'panes are broken, giving to the place a dismal air. The store lately occupied by Mr Wallach has not yet been taken down, but the chances are that if the overhanging and tottering masses of masonry are left much longer thoy will fall by their own weight. There are a number of cracks visible in the wall of the premises on the west side ocoupied by Mason and Co. Many houses •in the neighbourhood were greatly shaken insomuch that in some instances M r e have heard of furniture having been upset, and such things as bottles and other small articles displaced. As to the ruins themselves, the stones, wood, lead, &0., which formed tho stores, are jumbled together in a state of utter confusion. A great deal of the timber has been so split up that it will not bo available for rebuilding or other useful purposes. It is not likely that the greasy wool in the stores will be much injured, or that the white lead has been damaged. Nothing, however, has yet been done to extricate the goods or clear away the rubbish. Messrs Molison and Black's iron safe, containing the books aud valuable papes of tho firm, was got out yesterday afternoon, and its contents were found to be uninjured. As to the origin of the explosion, nothing definite is yet known, and little more can be said than what has already been reported. The general iinpresson which prevails is that the explosion was in some way or other occasioned by th liquid called nitro-glye r'ne, but iv what manner is yet a matter of mere conjecture. Two cases of this substance were imported per tho Ramsay, and,as we are informed, were placed in the Queen's stores on the 19th February, and they remained there v itil the 28 th. These cases were mared M over 356 and M over 363, the words " blasting oil" being also written on them. Yesterday morning Mr Winckler, to whom tne cases were consigned, pointed out to the Inspector General of Police where he thought they might be found: Captain M'Lerie thereupon directed a number of labourers to search for the cases, whioh they accordingly did, but no traces of them could be found. It is said that tho oil was contained in glass bottles, most if not all, of whioh were in one of the wooden cases, the other case containing instruments to be used in its application. It has not been ascertained whether there are any samples of nitro-glycerine in Sydney ; but if there are, it might be well that the oil should be subjected to chemical < analysis, in > order thatpreoise information may be obtained as to its peouliar properties. We subjoin some partioulars respecting the oil en tho authority of a pamphlet forwarded to us :—Nitroglycerine, and its enormous power, have been known to chemists for nearly twenty years. Its practical use, however, was thought impossible, beoause a spark produces no explosion, «n<J #iQ blow of a hammer only

a local detonation. Moreover, the method cf preparation known was found to be highly dangerous, and several serious accidents occurred. At present, the use of blasting oil is perfectly practicable, and it is rapidly supplanting gunpowder in many countries. -Iji Sweden where it was first introduced, a company wus constituted in November, 1864, for working my invention; the sale oi nitro-glycerine by this com- ■ pany began the 16th of February, 1865 ; and, from that date up to the 26th of August, 1865, 22,21 71bs has been sold — a quantity equivalent in its blasting effect to at least 222,1 70 lbs., or very nearly one half of the whole of gunpow- - der consumed in Sweden during that time. In Norway, another company has lately been constituted for the same purpose. In Germany and Belgium, where I have but lately introduced tho invention, it is spreading very rapidly. In Frauce where gun- ( powder is a monopoly of the Government, the Emperor has appointed a special commission for investigating the merits of my invention. In England it has met with the highest approbation, 1 as will be seen by the report of the .Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society. -^Nothing, however, is so conclusive as a single discharge. The power of the blasting oil is so enormous that it at once removes all doubts. In point of economy, dead weight cannot be taken as standard ; lib of blasting oil cpsts as • much as 71bs of gunpowder, but it does the work of lOlbs. This, however, would bo but a. trifling economy, and the rapid revolution which nitroglycerine is effecting in blasting operations is>chieflv owing to a great economy in labor, since^the same power can be lodged in fewer holes, und at less diameter. The properties of the patent blasting oil are : — Ist. It is a light yellow oily liquid. 2nd. Its specific weight is 1.6. 3rd. It is insoluble in ■water. 4th. It cannot explode by simple contact with fire. On applying a lucifer match, for instance, the oil decomposes without explosion, and, on removing the burning medium, the fire extinguishes. 6th. The explosion can lonly take place under particular oiroumstances, as mentioned below. 6th. The combustion of the oil is complete, and leaves no residue. 7th. Its explosion is much quicker than that of gunpowder. Bth. It can be stored for an indefinite time, without loss in weight or quality. At the ordinary temperature, neither phophorous nor the metal potassium has any effect upon it. 9th. It is a perfectly fixed oil, without a trace of evaporation. 10th. It detonates when struck with a hammer, but the explosion is only local, and reaches no further than the surface of the hammer. 11th. It can safely bear 212 degrees of heat (Fahrenheit), but it explodes at about 360 degrees. It is poisonous and should not be brought in contact with the lips — a severe headache of a few hours' duration ensuing." As was pro" sumed in yesterday's report, there was no gunpowder in Mr Rawack's portion of the stores. In reference to our report, in yesterday's issue, on the subject . of the recent explosion, we find we were in error instatingthatthenitro-glycerine was part of Mr Rawack's stock, the fact being that that gentleman had no property whatever* in the stores, except fifteen quarter casks vinegar and that no explosive material was placed in the cellars in question to his knowledge or with his authority.