Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-03-11
Experiments with N.w RIFE M,..,,..

On Thursday the 10TH some experiments tooL ,,.
near the held works of the Royal Engineers at t%ot
ham, Tor the purpose of testing some new descriptions "
missiles which have been invented by CAPTAIN T VI
ton, an officer who had already made some yaIuaho
ventions in connexon with the rife. The afternoon W.
exceedingly wet and unfavorabe for CARVING on was
operations but notwithstanding this drawback n'n0 e
ber of the Royal Engineers present The ern nm
ments first made were with new description of "a
shell, called by Captain Norton the LIQUID fire. ra1e
SHE'LL The object of this missile is to set On fno
the SAIL rigging, and the hull of any vessel aga;
which the shell is thrown and certainly the results 81
the experiments proved that the shell in oupst;o"
is one of the most extraordinary proectes ever ntro
duced into the art of warfare The shade is about b
four times the size of ordinary conca rife hno
but is hollow, the interior being filled with glass ~
which is contained the liquid fire." This chemoai
substance is prepared from secret in the possession %
Captain Norton, but the chief ingredients are phosnb
rus dissolved in bisuphate of carbon and hermetca
sealed. Immediately this shell striking any ipn;tS
BILE matter the glass is broken and so powerful IS to
liquid, that it almost instantaneousy sets the Object IN
blaze. During the experiments number Of larga
sacks suspended poles to represent the sails If
ship, and these soaked through with rain
SO as to become completely saturated. Captain Norton
then took a heavy three groved rifle, which he loaded
with of his shells, and fired at the canvass Not
withstanding that the sacking very wet the effect
was surprising, the liquid spreading through the can
vass, which began to shoulder, and shortly to burst
iorIn Into name entirely consuming the whole. Had
the sacking been dry, the effect would have been in
Simultaneous Captain Norton can undertake with the
same description Of shells, but of larger size to set fire
any neofbattle ship in the navy. The next exper
iments undertaken with new description of rife
shot, which has been named the "Spnster" This bull
let which can be fired by Captain Norton at distance
of no less than 1900 yards is intended for blowing up
ammunition wagons bags of gunpowder, or setting fire
to the camp of an enemy. The bullet which in shane
and size resembles the Enfield rifle ball. has chymcaI
substance attached to its base which become sgnted the
instant it is fred remaining burning long enough to do
the execution for which it is intended bag, contain
ing about two pounds weight of gun-powder, mixed
with great quantity of sawdust, was placed upon the
ground the powder being wetted through by the
rain. One Of the "spinster shots were fired at the
mass by means of Captain Nortons gossamer seamless
bags, but owing to the powder being so wet no mme
date result followed, the gunpowder was mixed up
with the sawdust After a short time, however, the
powder was ignited and blown up. Captain Norton
afterwards exhibited some of his " fractional gners
which are kind of hand grenade, and can be made to
explode when thrown from glacis in the face of assa
ants The engineer officers present expressed themselves
in satisfactory terms at the result of the experiments
made with Captain Norton's inventions.
London Times