Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-08-09
THE PRUssIAN NEEDLE GUN.

under their command The famous long
bow of the English yeoman went down be-
fore the musket the Matchbox was dis
placed by the flint lock, the latter by the
PERCUSSION cap and the smooth bore or
broaonbess by the riaed musket. The advan-
tages of a superior instrument of warfare
have again been made m nifest. The over
whelming success of the Prussians over
the Austrians is attributed to their needle
gun-not superior courage, or numbers
This weapon is brecch-loading rihed mus
ket, and it derives its name from spring
needle employed to pierce a friction cart
ridge The movable breech Of this rifle
slides back and forth on guide, and when
the musket is loaded, the breech is closed
by the half turn of screw by which it is
fitted gas-tight into the rear OF tie barrel.
The cartridge is what is called liked am
munition, no cap being required. paper
shell or case, fixed to the elongated bullet
contains the charge, which consists of com
mon gunpowder with a small quantity Of
fine decorating powder in the rear The
needle is attached to coiled steel spring,
and is operated something ike a boys
spring pop-gun, and is a substitute for the
hammer of the common rihed musket When
the cartridge is secured in the barrel, and
the breech closed, the trigger of the spring
is touched, when the needle darts forward
in the breech chamber, pierces the cart
ridge in the centre, and the detonating
powder instantly ignites. From all the
accounts which we have received Of the
effects Of this rife there can be no doubt
but the Prussian infantry were able to fire
three shots for every one Of the Austrians
with their mnZzle leaders.
Perhaps the needle gun is more accurate
than the rifle with hammer, because the
line Of the needles motion comedies with
the centre of the barrel, whereas the force
of the hammer striking down upon the cap
Or cartridge tends to throw the rnuzzle up
wards The days of muzzIe loading army
rifles are numbered Probably all the ar.
mics of civilized countries viii be furnished
with breech leaders, or what is better, Ore
peaters" About fourteen years ago the
writer of this was introduced to the invcn-
tor Of the needle gun He is German
gunsmith and a native Of Berlin lie eX-
amihed his rifle in all its details, and took
drawing of its several parts. 1t was pat
tented in the United States, and the inven-
tor visited this country for the purpose Of
inducing our government to adopt it for the
army. Its cartridges were pronounced an
safe for use by the officers af the Bureau 10
whom it was sent for examination, but the
Prussins know how to use them, and they
are most unsafe to those whom they are d.
rected. Probably we have now some breech
leaders equal if not superior to the needle
gun, and Wesley Richards English breech
loader which has lately been furnished to
several British regiments, has a sliding
breech with a screw joint nearly similar to
that of the German Zund Needle.
THE MAYOR WANTS TO SEE THEE.-A young
man, nephew, had been to sea and on
his return, he was narrating 20 his uncle
an adventure he had met with on board a
ship.
Il was one night leaning over the tait-
rail, looking down into the mighty ocean"
said his nephew, whom we shall call VII
liam, "when my gOli watch fell from my
fob and sank out of sight The vessel was
going ten knots an hour !; but nothing daun-
ted, sprung over the rail- down, down, al-
ter long search found it, came up close
under the stern, and climbed back to the
dech without any one knowing | had been
absent
civilian, said his uncle, slightly cIeva-
ting his broad brim, and opening his eyes
to their widest capacity, chow fast did thee
say the vessel was going p
"Tcn knots, uncle"
and thee dove down into the sea, and
came up with the watch, and climbed up by
the rudder chains 2"
Eyes, uncle"
"And thee expects me to believe thy sto-
ry%
"Of course You wouldn't dream of cal
ling me liar !"
"William," replied the uncle gravely,
''the knows | never call anybody names
but, William, if the mayor of the city were
to come to me, and say, Josiah, want
thee to find the biggest liar in all Philadel-
phia,' would come straight to thee, aud
put my hand on thy shoulder, and say To
thee, William, the Mayor lcants to see hee.'"
RECEIPT ror MAKING TATnERs.-Take
handful of weed called Runabout, the same
quantity of root called Nimble Tongue
sprig of the herb called Bacll-bite (cithcr
before or after dog-days,) a tablespoonful
of Don't -you-tell-it, six drains OF Malice
few drops Of Envy,which can be purchased
in any quantities at the shop of Miss Tabitha
Tea-table and Miss Nancy Night.walker-
Stir them well together and simmer them
for half an hour over the fire Of Discomfort,
kindle with little Jealousy, then strain il
thro' the rag Of Misconstruction, and cork ii
up in the bottle of Malevolence, and hang
it upon Il skein Of Sueet-yarn, shake it &c
casionaIly for a few days, and it will be fit
for use. Let few drops be taken before
walking out, and the subject will be cna-
bled to speak all manner of evil and that
continually y--AIbany Espreas.
LITTLE SINs.-In certain harbors, if you
plant deep and firm the mightiest timbcrs
as foundations for your wharves, you will
find, after a time, that little insect has
been at work piercing, like tiny thread
of fire, the oaken pile, so that if hand
touches it, it Will crumble like wood burned
in the flame. Perhaps you have seen sec
tions of piles, or ships timbers. which were
thus riddled through and through by these
madripores Did the sight not awaken a
thought in your mind with regard to your
own danger III cberisLing these little fox
es,' which eat up all the rich fruit which
you sh uid bear TO the glory Of God? Be
ware of little sins As an old writer ex-
presses it. "a shin NAV be sunk by a car