Keith
City-dweller
Bushfire close but safe now. Getting some good rain.
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Post by Keith on Feb 7, 2019 1:19:46 GMT -7
 “…fungus that grows on the outside of the birch-tree…used by all the Indians in those parts for tinder…called by the Northern Indians Jolt-thee, and is known all over the country bordering on Hudson’s Bay by the name of Pesogan…there is another kind…that I think is infinitely preferable to either. This is found in old decayed poplars, and lies in flakes…is always moist when taken from the tree but when dry…takes fire readily from the spark of a steel: but it is much improved by being kept dry in a bag that has contained gunpowder.”
~Samuel Hearne, Northern Canada, 1772
Keith. |
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Post by agricola on Apr 20, 2020 18:41:34 GMT -7
“…is always moist when taken from the tree but when dry…takes fire readily from the spark of a steel: but it is much improved by being kept dry in a bag that has contained gunpowder.”
~Samuel Hearne, Northern Canada, 1772
Keith. Never wanted a bag full of powder after reading John Smith's account of his 1609 accident. 😉 "Sleeping in his boat, (for the ship was returned 2 daies before,) accidentallie, one fired his powder bag, which tore his flesh from his bodie and thighes, 9. or 10. inches square in a most pittifull manner; but to quench the tormenting fire, frying him in his cloaths he leaped over bord into the deepe river, where ere they could recover him he was neere drownd." Jay |
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Keith
City-dweller
Bushfire close but safe now. Getting some good rain.
Posts: 990
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Post by Keith on Apr 20, 2020 20:23:48 GMT -7
“…is always moist when taken from the tree but when dry…takes fire readily from the spark of a steel: but it is much improved by being kept dry in a bag that has contained gunpowder.”
~Samuel Hearne, Northern Canada, 1772
Keith. Never wanted a bag full of powder after reading John Smith's account of his 1609 accident. 😉 "Sleeping in his boat, (for the ship was returned 2 daies before,) accidentallie, one fired his powder bag, which tore his flesh from his bodie and thighes, 9. or 10. inches square in a most pittifull manner; but to quench the tormenting fire, frying him in his cloaths he leaped over bord into the deepe river, where ere they could recover him he was neere drownd." Jay I suspect Jay that Smith's gunpowder bag was cloth & not leather, & it was not secured within a knapsack. Even so it would have taken a smouldering ember from a pipe to ignite the cloth bag. There are many dangers if one does not pay attention to what one is doing! Regards, Keith. |
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spence
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Post by spence on Apr 20, 2020 21:07:20 GMT -7
Keith said, "There are many dangers if one does not pay attention to what one is doing!"
The Pennsylvania Gazette
April 12, 1739
BOSTON, February 26.
Wednesday Morning a sorrowful Accident happen'd at the House of Cap. Thomas Homans in the westerly Part of this Town near Hooper's Meeting House: A small Quantity of Powder (suppos'd to be about a Quart) in a Leathern Bag, having been some time since put up on the Jam of a Chimney in a Chamber wherein they had been us'd to make a Fire, and the Family being about moving into the Country, did not suppose they should every have Occasion for a Fire there: But a young Child being out of Order two or three Days ago, they made a Fire in the same Chimney, and unhappily forgot the Powder, which taking Fire, the Effects of it were surprizing: A fine Child, (a Son) of about Eighteen Months old, was so burnt and its Joints so shattered by it, as that it died within about a Quarter of an Hour; and Mrs. Homans with two or three other Women in the Room were very much burnt and wounded; but it's hop'd they will recover: The Explosion was so violent, (the Room being close) that it beat down the Floor of the Chamber, so that the Tenants of the Summer broke out of the Mortices; the Partitions of each side the Chamber were beat down and the Doors very much shatter'd; the Ceiling above was also blown up, and several Things broke to pieces in the Garret; and breaking off some of the Pointing, the blast burst open the Door on the Top of the House, and expanded itself in the Air.
Spence
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Keith
City-dweller
Bushfire close but safe now. Getting some good rain.
Posts: 990
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Post by Keith on Apr 20, 2020 22:26:51 GMT -7
Keith said, "There are many dangers if one does not pay attention to what one is doing!" The Pennsylvania Gazette April 12, 1739 BOSTON, February 26. Wednesday Morning a sorrowful Accident happen'd at the House of Cap. Thomas Homans in the westerly Part of this Town near Hooper's Meeting House: A small Quantity of Powder (suppos'd to be about a Quart) in a Leathern Bag, having been some time since put up on the Jam of a Chimney in a Chamber wherein they had been us'd to make a Fire, and the Family being about moving into the Country, did not suppose they should every have Occasion for a Fire there: But a young Child being out of Order two or three Days ago, they made a Fire in the same Chimney, and unhappily forgot the Powder, which taking Fire, the Effects of it were surprizing: A fine Child, (a Son) of about Eighteen Months old, was so burnt and its Joints so shattered by it, as that it died within about a Quarter of an Hour; and Mrs. Homans with two or three other Women in the Room were very much burnt and wounded; but it's hop'd they will recover: The Explosion was so violent, (the Room being close) that it beat down the Floor of the Chamber, so that the Tenants of the Summer broke out of the Mortices; the Partitions of each side the Chamber were beat down and the Doors very much shatter'd; the Ceiling above was also blown up, and several Things broke to pieces in the Garret; and breaking off some of the Pointing, the blast burst open the Door on the Top of the House, and expanded itself in the Air. Spence Snappin ducks droppin's, that would have been a hell of a surprise!!! Keith. |
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Post by brokennock on Apr 21, 2020 8:30:02 GMT -7
A quart of powder is a "small quantity?"
I'm picturing a quart soup container, that has to be close to 2 pounds of powder. Just picturing the soup container next to a one pound Goex bottle.
What do they mean, "But a young Child being out of Order two or three Days ago,"? A child that has been sick 2 or 3 days? So they made a fire to keep the sick child warm?
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spence
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Post by spence on Apr 21, 2020 10:52:57 GMT -7
A quart of powder is a "small quantity?" *************** What do they mean, "But a young Child being out of Order two or three Days ago,"? A child that has been sick 2 or 3 days? So they made a fire to keep the sick child warm? As some famous man with no socks said, "Everything is relative." Certainly small as compared to these: THE SOUTH CAROLINA GAZETTE July 24, 1736 Charleston, South Carolina On the 8th Inst. a sad Misfortune happened at Wiltown, Mr. Welsh who kept Store there, having weighed two lb. of Gun-powder and put it in a Paper upon the Counter, another Man came in to light his Pipe and letting some of the Fire upon the Paper, the Powder in it, went off immediately and set one Barril with Powder which was under the Counter and another over against it in Fire at once, which blew up the House, whereby Mr. Welsh and a Boy were kill'd, and a great many Persons that were then in and about the House, miserably hurt and burnt. The Pennsylvania Gazette August 9, 1764 BOSTON, July 30. We hear from Rocky Hill, in Connecticut, that a Negroe Fellow belonging to Mr. Brandykee, having been offended, took a Knife, with a Flint , and ran up to the Garret, where was a Half Barrel of Powder open, and struck a Fire therein, which blew the Negroe and the Roof of the House into the Air, and tore him to Pieces. A Man in the House saw him strike Fire once, which did not catch, and saved himself by running down Stairs just before the Explosion. ***************** Yes, child sick 2-3 days ago, but can't say if they made the fire for it. Spence |
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Post by brokennock on Apr 21, 2020 22:51:37 GMT -7
"The Pennsylvania Gazette
August 9, 1764
BOSTON, July 30.
We hear from Rocky Hill, in Connecticut, that a Negroe Fellow belonging to Mr. Brandykee, having been offended, took a Knife, with a Flint , and ran up to the Garret, where was a Half Barrel of Powder open, and struck a Fire therein, which blew the Negroe and the Roof of the House into the Air, and tore him to Pieces. A Man in the House saw him strike Fire once, which did not catch, and saved himself by running down Stairs just before the Explosion." - provided by Spence
Interesting. Thank you. I will have to save this as both a Connecticut related quote but also, note the use of a knife to strike sparks with the flint. We are often told a good knife is no good for this, wrong heat treat, hmmmm.
I've never understood some people's inclination to hurt themselves, or wreck their own homes/neighborhoods, because they are upset with someone else. We see it even in our modern times.
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