Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-01-09
PERKINS STEAM GUN IN PHILADEIPHI.

iLRkINo STEAM GUN IN PHILADELPHIA
a exhibition Is now open n, the Assembly
buildings. corner of 10Th and Chestnut streets nj
maj wonderful instrument OF warfare. the .Steam
Gun, invented by Perkins HAVING seen II in
operation, we mast say that The accounts hereto
tore given Of its destructive capabi,,fies ars M,
al aii exaggerated. Showers # bullets are often
spoken OF; but II requires the steam gun 10 real
re the idea. The mode now shown. throws LIS
pans minute. and with such tremendous force
mat without resoriing 10 any thing like lis noss,
bic power. and 1T distance Of over 100 feet the
the ieaden balls fiattcred to the fhinness of :,
wafer against the iron target. some of them PASS
ing completely through the sheet iron. The bar
rel used IN this model is about the size Of an or
ainarv riie, but TIE principle is applicable 10
pieces Of any dime lions aud ote u.lIr5iu,t
III experiment before the Duke of WELLINGTON and
other distinguished officers, drove ounce bullets
at 4 distance Of 80 yards through an iron plate
onc-tourth of an inch in thickness, and likewise
through dozen hard deal planks one inch thick
and placed an inch apart. Continuous showers
of balls were also projected with such rapidity
that when the barrel of the gun was slowly swept
round IN horizontal directions, plank. IL feet
IN length, was completely perforated that The
line of SHOT holes nearly rescmbed Gu. from one
of lis ends 10 the other.
There IS Likewise a newly invented steam
generator attached to his gun also invented by
Perkins. which combines the qualities Of simpli-
city, and economy. TO a degree never before at
tanned, and which is well worthy the attention of
the scientific; The exhibition is therefore very
interesting one IN several respects and viii doubt
less attract crowds Of visitors.
No one can witness the operation of the steam,
gun without being satisfied that il Is destined in
important respects, 10 change the aspect OF war,
anc that particularly defensive weapon il
cannot easily be oyerated, while terrific cornbi
nation can be formed OF steam vessels Of war with
this tremendous invention. The only objection
urged against it is. that it is too murderous and
'ha1 II would annIhilate fleets and armies coming
wiihln its range in the twinklng ofau eve. Such
doubtless would be It's execution: but 1T appears
to US that il rather deserves 10 be looked upon
rs a great pacIhcator than q DESTROYER of the
human race. To bring destruction thus t. its
maximum and to effect in few minutes results
winch usually require whole campaigns 10 accom-
plIsh would be by no means likely TO increase the
beiIgerant sprlt-pugnacitv itself would be gone
the pomp and circumstance of glorious war
would be no more, and there would be little oil
tho roma nee with which the trade of human butch
cry is strangely Invested, ii bataIions were TO be
blown 10 fragments by the opening OF steam valve;
and if IN place OF glittering warriors, and pumed
troops, and music. feathers and gold lace, the
fate of nations was to be decided by a few swar-
thy fire men in red flannel shirts, sweating with
plackened hrows over the no, and greasy engine
shooting cannoa balls BIZ The cart-load from his
sing pipes, and pol<ing the fire 10 keep up the ne
ccssary heat, instead of having recourse TO peal
Iu1 10 dow tle
Of military ardor into flame. This would be
ducing war 10 its essentials; il would be getting
rid OF ITS fascinating decepIons at once; II would
be such application of the labor saving princi-
pie to the business of thinning population, and of
making widows and orphans, that neither nations
nor indy iduals would lightly in search OF such
ghastly honor.-Pehnsylrdnia
WONDERS OF CULTIvATIoN.--There is scarcely
a vegetable which We now cultivate, that can be
found to grow naturally. Bnffom has stated that
wheat Is ficticious production, raised 10 its
present condition by The art of agriculture. RE,
,barley,or even oats, are not TO be touud wild,
that is to say growing natural in any pan OF the
earth but have been altered by the industry OF
mankind from plants not now resembling them.
even in such a degree as 10 enable US TO recog-
niZe their relations. The acrid and dsagreeabie
opium raveoens has been transformed into deli
clous celery. aad the coiewor,. and plant OF scan
ty leaves, not weighing altogether half an ounce,
has been improv cd into cabbage, whose leaves a
lone weigh many pounds, or into the cau flower
of considerable dImeDs ions, being only the en-
brvo of a few buds, which in their natural state
would no. have weighed many grains. The
potatoe again. whose Introduction has added mil
lions to our population, derives It's nriain from
small bitter root which grows wild In Chill and
Monte idoo.--Carolinn Planter.
A Hoe SroRY--We have heard many good
story told from the stump during the recent po
litlcal contest. and among the rest the following
A farmer in Illinois, who had many fat hogs
running at large in the Mississippi bottom, mis-
sed several of the best from time to time, and al
ter many irnpreca tons upon the "wild varments,"
he had his suspicious somehow awakened, that one
of his neighbors, who Toasted largely upon swine 8
flesh. without diminishing the number OF has own
hogs. had q hand in the matter. Accordingly he
Law i'll ambush for several days, watching the
movements of his suspected neighbor. when he
one day espied him with his rifle on his shoulder,
steathily approaching one of his finest, latest
barrows Clang went the rifle. and overturned
the hog, and the fellow drew his hunting knife
and run up, and was just IN the act OF sticking
him. when the owner of the hog stepped out OF
his place of couceaIment and slapped him on the
back, saving. "Ah. my fine fellow! have caugh.