The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-07-26

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THE PRussrAr aNEEDLE AS this
weapon, which was referred to few days
since In the German war news, VIII IN all
probability be frequently mentioned during
the course of the present European war, a
few words in description of its plan and prin-
ciples will not be out Of place.
The cartridge used in the Needle" gun is
made of stiff card board, the ball, powder,
and explosive composition being contained
in one and the same cylinder. Its great
popularity is that the decorating powder is
placed Immediately in rear of the base of
the ball, and between it and the powder
| The advantage of this is that, when the
powder is ignited, that portion next the ball,
in which combustion is first perfected, exerts
its full force upon the projectile, the powder
in rear also exerting its influence, as it be-
comes almost simultaneously lgnlted. I'm
| der the present system, in which that part OF
the powder next to the breech of the gun is
first ignited, portion of the powder is fire.
quently expelled from the gun with the ball
in a condition Of only partial combustion,
the explosive force of the powder first con-
sumed being adequate to expel the ball and
the powder in its front before the whole
charge has time to become entirely ignited.
Thus in the " Needle gun all the powder is
so as to obtain its fullest force at the same
instant and in the same direction. The
Needle gun is a breach-loader; and when
the trigger is pulled, a stout needle" or
wire is thrust through the base of the cart
ridge, parallel with its axis, into the detona-
ting charge by the ball, causing its explosion
and the ignition of the cartridge. In accu-,
racy the Needle" gun cannot be surpassed,
and its effective range is said to be about
fifteen hundred yards. 1t is. however, doubt
full whether it will be found to bear with i'm
punity the necessarily rough treatment of an
active campaign. The Prussian Jaggers, and
sharp-shooters generally, are armed with this
formidable weapon, and upon skirmish
line, when it can be used with care and de-
liberation, it must prove highly effective.
Two TEXAN BOYS ENCOUNTER BEARS AND
INDIANs.-A correspondent of the San An
tonic Ledger G ives the following: AS two
little boys of Kendall County-one about ~,
and the other between 10 and II years of
age-were recently coming down from Com
fort, with few packs of shingles and few
beeves for market, they saw, on crossing the
Little Joseway, three bears, one old one and
two halfgrown cubs. The boys gave chase
and freed the old bear and one of her cubs,
and shot both with rifle. Having put the
cub in the wagon, they were trying to roll
the old bear to place where they could load
it, when they saw three Indians approaching
to attack them. The boys had a siX-shooter
and rifle, with which they jumped into the
wagon and awaited the Indians, whom they
represented as almost naked, with their
heads stuck full of feathers. The little gen.
tlemen first presented their pistol, which did
not stop the approach of the Indians; but
when the rifle was elevated the enemy halted,
consulted awhile, and then retired. The lit
tie boys then came on with their team as
fast as they could, saying they supposed the
Indians had gone off for help, and having
themselves escaped death only by showing
fight