The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-25
THE NEEDLE-GUN.
Gossip about the New Arm--The TrIbuIa-
ttOns of Its Inventor.


Gossip about the New Arm-The Trlbula-
lions of Its Inventor.
The needle-gun Is the topic of conversation in
Paris and London. A correspondent of the
Times, writing IRON Patis, says:--"It is talked
OF evtIywhere-in the streets IN the theatres,
In the cafes, in eating houses, in every social
meeting; and you hardly meet an acquaintance
who does not stop TO explain to you the
mechanism OF thus now famous weapon. The
sideways are thronged by groups looking at the
specimens exhibited in the armorers' shops, and
the inconvenience is sometimes SO great that
serqents de ULe have repeatedly to invite the
gazers to move on.n - ...a .
The Paris correspondent of the London Ne,os
says:-"EXperiments are daily gong on at Vim
cennes and il Is said that the ordinary rife may
be easily adapted to the needle system. The
Emperor is no, coubt greatly veXed now that
his war-office authorities should have con-,
temptuously rejected the needle-gun when 1t
was brought under their notice some ears ago
by q krenchman, NJ. Descoutures, who CLAIMS
to be the inventor OF It, But according to one
statement, the arm which has Just risen to such
pinnacle of celebrity was not precisely the
same as that reiected as Ineligible in France
II is said that the cartridge of NJ. Descoutures'
gun lost its virtue in few days, ana that Prus.
sia has invented com position, yet secret
Tor remedying this detect. Here, certainly, we
have a secret worth knowing"
The special correspondent of the London
Morning Star with the Prussian army, writes
"The needle.gun. from its comparatively small
weight, is admirably adapted tor this as for many
9th er exercises; indeed, IL is used as gymnastic
implement IN q number OF exercises, IN which
not even our military carbines could be en-
ployed. The wood of the stock seems to be made
OF maple, which abounds here, or of some SINH
lar light wood. Besides the ordinary drill Of
inf antry, the soldiers practise these gymnastlc
exercises on parade; and 1t is certainly unusual
to see q company of foot chasing each other,
their caps in their hand, in perpetual Circle"
The London EIdnllneY observes:-- s..L.
Ann a nua
been that it is too delicate and too heavy, but
as yet we do not see any evidences whatever OF
these faults. II is early, however, in the cam
paign, and if the war be really continued with
help on Austrla's side OF her Italian army, before
the end OF 1t the pieces may or may not get out
OF order; but that will prove nothing against
breech-loading, but simply and solely that the
Prusslan mode of 1t Is not the best. But no
matter, the ramrods of our army will be all
against the innovation, and will maintain that
there is nothing like muzzle.loadng to prevent
q too quick expenditure OF ammunition, albeit
with It may be equally quick demolition OF
the enemy. .'
"Let it be admitted, as alleged, that the Prus-
sian needle-gun is not the best mode of breech-
loader and then let the experience OF this war
determine the question between the worst breech
and the best muzzle-loading. 1t is to be borne
in mind that the bleech-loading and the needle
are as separable as the rifle and the percussion
lock. The one is mode OF loading aud the other
of brIng. The Leedle-gun may, after all, pro Je
its claim to adoption; but whether 1t does or not,
established .t..l t., ,..4
The Paris correspondent of the Liverpool
Journal gives the following narrative OF the tolls
and disappointments of the inventor of the gun:
1.-THE needle-gun is well known to be the pro-
duoe of the long study and perseverance OF an
English officer who, while stationed at sol-
tary outpost in Canada, amused his leisure hours
with experiments in the rough construction OF
a substitute tor the rifle which he had damaged
| by letting it drop down a precipice while in
| pursuit OF bear. 1t was almost by accident
| that the discovery became palpabe TO the soil
tary hunter IN the woods. But no sooner did it
| become manifest to his senses than he resigned
| his commission in the army returned 10 Europe,
| and, as matter OF course, hurried to the War
Office with his invention. For more than a
| year was the inventor kept in suspense. He
| was banded about from one official to another
| during all this time, merely to be told
| at last that the Government dii not ieel
! disposed to alter the principle of the arms
employed. 1t was then that, in disgust he
| brought his invention to Paris, and he obtained
an interview with the Emperor, who listened
| with the greatest apparent interest TO the de-
| scTiption of the gun, examined the plans and
| sections brought by the officer, much ques-
toned the superiority of the invention over
| others which had been laid before him, declared
| it seemed to him liable TO the great objection OF
| being 100 delicate for ield use, and abruptly
| sounded the little gong which stands upon his
| bureau, and slightly rising when the usher en-
| tered at the summons dismissed the visitor to
| admit other lmportunates. lt was then that he
| betook himself, armed with his needle-gun. to
| Holland. But when arrived at the Hague he
| found that his resources had dwindled away to
| such an extent, that he was compelled to delay
| h presentation to the King for want of proper
| costume to appear in. r,..,.
| "MeanWhile he became accidentally ac-
| quainted with one of the gentlemen attached to
| The Prussian Legation at the Hague, and to
| whom he recounted his bitter grievances. This
| time he was listened to with interest. The
| Lrotherinlaw OF his new friend held some ap-
pointment at the Court of Berlin, and he lost no
| time in repairing with the Engishman to Ber-
| lin. The neede-gun was tried examined, and
| accepted in the shortest possible space of time
the inventor Handsomely rewarded, and en-
couraged to establish himself in Prussia
The BiTmine ham Post. on the other hand,
| says:-"The PrussIan needle-gun resembles, in
all essential respects, an arm invented by two
| Englishmen, Messrs. Handson and Golden, OF
Huddersdeld, and patented by them In this
country on the I'd OF November l94l. 1t is said
that MIR. Golden received an order from the
| King of Prussia for two Of his guns and from
these models the so-called Prussian needle.gun,
with tIitling notifications, was made"
A Paris letter in the London Star says:-"The
Prince Imperial asked his father to explain the
difference between the needle. gun and the ordi-
to theoretical demonstration, the Emperor went
down to the Court of the Tuilleries, and calling
the sentinel, said to him, Mon brave, load aud
| fire to amuse these children : the children beirg
the young Prince and L'Espinasse. Meanwhile
| his Majesty, who had a needle-gun in his hand,
| loaded and fred five times before the private had
| fired his single sAot. The soldier was amazed
Helm said the Emperor, its quicker work
with this gun than with yours; would you like
to have one p Certainly, sire.' Then so you
shall answered the Emperor"
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