The ranger said that each time that a shot was prepared one of the gun creww would come here and beissued just enough powder to fire the projectile... he wasn't allowed in the magazine... the powder was issued through a small hole in the inner door.
This company was bought by DuPont a hundred years ago. DuPont then sold the interests the Hercules Powder, who in turn sold some interests to Alliant Powder. Predatory capitalism is nothing new...... Buy your competition.
One Edit....
On second look, I wonder if those are original kegs or keg heads? The Baltimore company was Laflin & Rand. Do you think NPS misspelled the reproduction? They are really thorough in their research. I must be wrong.
Bill
* This post was
edited 08/14/12 06:46pm by Eugarps *
Part of the information that the ranger shared with us was about the fear of lightning....
... he stressed the point that the powder magazine was positioned with as much sheilding as possible, sand, dirt, brick ... and especally wood (avoid all metal) isolating the area from even the smallest static charge.
The isolation also made it less likely that the enemy might get a lucky round of ammo into the magazine.
The fort is so much higher than the surrounding area it is probably a "magnet" for lightning strikes. (My thought)
The hole at the top of the door is where the gun powder was issued (rationed out)... just enough for one shot each time.
Note: I asked about the metal bars in the door... he said that security ranked only slightly behind the fear of electrical spark.
That was before the day of Faraday cages. They had enough iron to do one but didn't know about the principle I guess, even tough Michael discovered the principle in 1836.
That was before the day of Faraday cages. They had enough iron to do one but didn't know about the principle I guess, even tough Michael discovered the principle in 1836.
Bill
I guess that is why the ranger didn't bring up alternitives. It was a history lesson... just the facts!
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