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The Hillsborough Recorder
Hillsboro, Orange County, North Carolina
What is this article about?
In West Stockbridge, Mass., the Bryntons blasted a marble quarry using 40 lbs of gunpowder in a natural hole, dislodging a 50x60 ft, 8 ft thick slab weighing over 2000 tons. The explosion shook the earth like an earthquake and lifted nearby trees without damage.
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Power of Gunpowder. On Tuesday last, the Messrs. Bryntons, of West Stockbridge, whilst engaged in uncovering a body of marble, discovered a hole in the rock, which, upon examination, proved to be about 15 feet deep, penetrating in nearly a perpendicular direction. Its diameter at top was about 18 inches, narrowing towards the bottom to about 6 inches. They determined to charge with gunpowder, in order to raise up the strata of marble. They accordingly poured into the hole 40 lbs. of powder, and secured in the manner usually practiced in blasting. Upon firing it the effect produced was truly astonishing. The earth trembled as though shaken by an earthquake. The trees in the immediate vicinity of the powder seemed to rise several feet in the air, bowing gracefully from side to side as those upon a billow. The trees were uninjured. It was 50 by 60 feet square on the surface, and 8 feet thick, weighing by measurement upwards of 2000 tons.
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Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
West Stockbridge
Event Date
Tuesday Last
Key Persons
Outcome
no injuries; trees uninjured; successfully dislodged a 50 by 60 feet square, 8 feet thick piece of marble weighing upwards of 2000 tons.
Event Details
The Bryntons discovered a 15-foot deep hole in the marble rock, 18 inches diameter at top narrowing to 6 inches. They charged it with 40 lbs. of gunpowder and fired it, causing the earth to tremble like an earthquake and trees to rise and bow without injury.