“We consider it utterly useless to confine the Nitro-Glycerin when fired by Mowbray’s system.”
Philip Mackey,
Timothy Lynch.
Feb. 16, 1870.
Evidence of John Van Velsor,
Superintendent of Mowbray’s Nitro-Glycerin works
at the Hoosac Tunnel:
“In October, 1868, I was employed to fit up a Nitro-Glycerin factory at Fairport, Ohio, and instruct the hands in the process of manufacturing under Mowbray’s patent of April 7th, 1868. I endorse the evidence of Messrs. Mackey and Lynch, as to the difference in appearance and smell between Mowbray’s Nitro-Glycerin and that manufactured under Nobel’s patent by the United States Nitro-Glycerin Company.
“I have made under Mowbray’s patent upwards of twenty thousand pounds of Nitro-Glycerin, a great portion of which has been exploded in the Hoosac Tunnel, by a method patented by Mr. Mowbray, dated July 27th, 1869, No. 93,113. I have exploded on numerous occasions the Nitro-Glycerin made at said Mowbray’s factory, without subjecting the same to confinement, by firing a charge of fulminating mercury, say ten or twelve grains, contained in a wooden or copper cap, by means of the electric spark. I have witnessed the use of Nitro-Glycerin at the West Shaft of the Hoosac Tunnel, both in the bench work and in the heading, where the blasters left the Nitro-Glycerin in the drill holes entirely unconfined, such being the general practice at the Hoosac Tunnel, so that in case of the wires not conducting the electricity, or in case of the priming being defective and not firing the fulminating charge, the exploder might be removed from the Nitro-Glycerin without danger to the operator. During the eighteen months I have been in the employ of Mr. Mowbray, manufacturing Nitro-Glycerin, he has only made Nitro-Glycerin by his patented method, and by none other.
John van Velsor.
February 18, 1870.
Evidence of A. D. Hatfield.
“I have been employed in blasting in the railroad tunnel at Oil City, using Nitro-Glycerin furnished by the Lake Shore Nitro-Glycerin Company, manufactured under Mowbray’s patent. In firing and exploding the Nitro-Glycerin I have acted under a license from George M. Mowbray, said Nitro-Glycerin having been exploded without being confined.”