Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-05-04
1EW AID DESTRUCTIyE ENGINES OF WAR

The Paris correspondent of the C,nc;n-
natu Gazette. gives the following account
Of new engines of destruction. which viii
be brought into requistion by the pres
ent European war. He SAYS:
The new .uventIon for the more rapid
destruction Of human beings. which the
war Is bringing to light. especially IN
England. will surpaSs all expectations
The arsenals Of England have for long
time been closed to visitors. even to mem
bers Of Parliament. while these new and
terrible machines were being constructed
and experimental upon, and no knowledge
OF their existence even was permitted un-
til now called forth hy actual service.
/ Many years aro the English government
had proposition before them to adopt
Naguer's floating cnn and hesitatcd \
member Of Parliament exclaimed: lie
demands but $500 GEO. aud yet Won hesi
tate Hasten to buy this machine. declare
war against France. and YOU will destroy
her marine in a few days time l1 No at
tentiou was pa ! to this apostropAe at the
tune in France, and apparently none in
England Bnt THIS terrible invention Of
which the public have ceased to talk. and
which was even ridicuIed al the time. has
been maturing IN coaccaim iment in the ar
senals of Woo.wich and is now ready To
90 out Oh It's worl, of destruction
The Coant Iavaiette, captain of mill /
tary marine in France. who knew the con
structioa of this gun. It's said made en-
deayors to have it adopted by the minister
OF marine under Louis Philippe l. is
simply long Congrevc gun. which cliles
along on the water in a straight line till it
strikes the vessel at which it is directed
when it thrNts into its sides its iron head
ctataiuing tNo pounds Of Eliminating now
der Of murcgry. When the fire attaias
this reservoir, it ezpIodes. blowing hole
in thevessel ten or twelve feet in diameter.
Which it is impossible for them 20 close un
as they do the round holes made BY can
non balls
II admitting that the Russian fleets
shall retire under the inapproachable f,r-
tress Of Constant aad Sebastopol they
caunot be in satety from this terrible Con-
grcve gun which carries to almost an. dis
tauce Within reaca If the aim. aud far
beyond the reach Of any other gun 1t
cannot be prevented from passing through
the most contracted straits where ships
pass
The submarine boats are so perfected
al this momcut that they can reach aad
attaci; a burner 10 IN enen1g's s!li3 with
oGt running the least danger Experi
meutS are also being made with an asBAyx
IatIug ball. WhieI does not kiII but ua.ch
parahzes an entire crew for several hours.
OF until they are made prisoners They
are cmbarking into a large number Of
burning explosive balls. which explode
Invarla BE when they strike. even III tie
body Of horse. for they iuiIlale 1T tile
moment Of dlsc'arEe from euu aud ifs
like small ConGreves until the moment of
explosion. when they may apply fire TO
the ammunition chest and other iufama-
Die maferial- a easily and as ~urely as if
they were 10 faj. Ia a sfubb!eGeI
'fhev are furnishing two small steam
boats of singular appearance. which
viii carry only two enormous Paixhan
guns. placed on the fore part Of the vesse!
The walls cf ttese iittle vessels have a
thickness Of SIX feet. made of oak. stand
lug upright. and tins covered with mat
tress "f cotton substance a foot aud
half taick, which is inpeuetrable TO a
bullet and this again covered with a sbee.
ing of iron and lead Is Prov has the
angular form Of a cuirass. intended to
turn bullets: the roof or deck IS covered
in the same way, 50 as to ALLOW the bombs
to glide into the SEA, without doing dam
age
The fre-ship, very heavy, and had
sailer. will he towed AMI let loose at The
proper moment. to approach near the en-
cmy's vessels, either when at anchor OF