THE CERBERUS EXPLOSION.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 30 March 1881, Page 2

THE CERBERUS EXPLOSION.

« The following is the statement of aa eye-witness on board the Cerberus : — The torpedo experiments ha<? been quite successful duriog the afternoon, and it was decided to conclude them at 5 p. tn. by firing a somewhat larger dharge than usual. For this purpose a tin canister capable of holding 40! bof rifle larger-grain gunpowder was prepared, and was nearly full of powder. Holes were made in the lid for the electric wires to pass through, sad detonating fu3e with its primer of guv-» cotton was inserted and fitted by Mr Groves, who then placed the lid on the canister, and then proceeded to make it watertight by binding the joint with india-rubber tape. Mr Engineer Breats then suggested that red lead would serve ve\\ to keep oat the water, and with his assistance Mr Groves firmly bound a piece of canvas smeared with red lead round the joint between the canister and the lid. Great care was exercised during these operations, and Mr Groves called the attention of those present to the danger of using anything metallic, for instance, the blade of a penknife, to remove some of the grains of powder which had adhered to the tin, and ho himself removed them with his fingers. In the same way care was taken when the lid was removed from the canister to cover the contents carefully with a large mat, in case that possibly a spark

from the cook's galley might pass by and cause the ignition of tbe gun' powder. ' The next operation was to affix a float to the mine, so that it would not sink too deep, and for this purpose a wooden plank, some four feet loDg, was attached to the canister by Mr Oroves, assisted by one or two of' the seamen. TLw done, the crew manned the gig, took the mine on board, find rowed away from the ship to the place where they had decided to lay tbe mine. The cable (» light Hooper's • core) was paid out. to them from the Bhip as they wen f < along, and it did not - exceed 100 yards in length The word being given that the cable was nearly all paid out, the men in the boat ceased ■ rowing, and pre pared to throw the mine overboard. The next thing was the elplcsi rib .—Melbourne Argus.