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DAMAGED P¥ AMITE.
Nine months ago Messrs. Stilling & Co. received
a consignment of 10 tons of dynamite
cartridges from Germany, branded
" Dynamit Seiene, dynamit fabrikzu
tei Greubrick." In the ordinary course
of events the explosives were lodged
in the North Arm magazine, where several
other merchants had similar material stored.
In consequence of the statement that some
of the cartridges were damaged, correspondence
pissed between Stilling & Co.
and the Marine Board, the outcome
being that Mr. E. Thompaan, who was
agent for Nobel's explosives, was
instructed to report on the condition of
the cartridges. He tound them considerably
damaged, and was of opinion that they were
a source of danger to the city. Professor
Rennie expressed a similar opinion, and Mr.
A, Thomas, the Analytical Chemist, informs
us that it is absolutely unsafe to allow
dynamite cartridges in such a condition
to remain in the magazine, as owing to
the hot weather that may be expected
during the present and next month they
are liable to explode, and if they did so
the 30 or 40 tons of other explosives in the
magazine wonld also go, and the result would
be the wreckage of the Port and the City of
Adelaide as well in all probability. The
great danger call, for immediate action, and
no one recognises this better than the
consignees, but the business of the firm
being in the hands of trustees any action
must rest with the latter. Certainly
the authorities should at once see that
the damaged cartridges are taken to a
place of safety and exploded piecemeal.
At the request of Mr. Thompson Mr.
Thomas supplied the following analyses of
a cartridge :—" Greaham street, ;Deeember
27, 1886. Mr. E. Thomson. Sir—I have
carefnlly analyzed the sample of dynamite
you brought me branded ' Seigen Dynamite
Works' Company, Forde, near Greveubrneck,
Westphalia, Germany.' Its composition
is as follows -. — Kieselguhr, 24g :
nitro • glycerine, 75| = 100. It contains
rather more glycerine than the standard
British dynamite. It is not acid, though
there is an exudation from it that should not
exist, besides being softer than Nobel's. This
may have arisen from the exceptionally hot
weather the laBt few days beiore Christmas,
as it ia hard now with the glass at 70° Fah-
renheit. Still I do not consider it a safe
article to keep, as from these changes it is
difficult to say what chemical changes may
occur to render it very dangerous. The kiesel
guhris of the nsual quality, though it has
evidently not absorbed the whole of the nitroglycerine.
This also may have arisen from imperfect
manipulation.—Yours, A. THOU AS,
F.C.S., City Analyst." In his report to
Messrs Stilling & Co. Mr. Thompson says
that he had several cases opened at random,
from all of which he found nitro-glycerine
exuding from the cartridges, the linings of
the packages and leafitts being completely
saturated with nitro glycerine and unsafe for
handling.
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