Page:Pyrotechnics the history and art of firework making (1922).djvu/155

 containing chlorate of potash and sulphur. The lad was killed in the resulting explosion.

Even more remarkable was an explosion which took place in a railway carriage in 1893. This was due to the spontaneous ignition of a quantity of chlorate and sulphur coloured fire, which was being carried in an ordinary handbag by a gentleman whose occupation in life was that of professor of chemistry.

An accident presenting considerable interest took place in 1885 at Mitcham. The cause of this occurrence was quite simple. A man was fixing the curved stick which forms the pivot upon which a tourbillion rotates to one of those fireworks. The wire nail used for the purpose penetrated the composition and fired it. The remaining goods in the shed were ignited, and communicated to the neighbouring buildings, one of which was a magazine containing 3,000 lbs. of partially manufactured fireworks, including a number of rockets. These being without sticks and becoming ignited flew in all directions, setting fire to other buildings. The result was that ten buildings and an air drying rack were totally destroyed, and three buildings and three racks partially so.

This would seem a very serious matter as far as monetary damage is concerned, but as regards the chief consideration in accidents of this kind, that is to say damage to human life and limb, the result was almost negligible; two persons were slightly injured.

This accident, which was the most extensive in any firework factory since the Explosives Act came into operation, afforded striking proof of the efficiency of the precautions instituted under that Act.

It is indeed extraordinary that in an explosive factory of considerable size, employing many workpeople, during working