The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1872-05-23
The Mu1e-Gun.


A correspondent of the Army and Nary
Journal. claims that the Gatling Camelgun
which was illustrated in that paper . few
weeks since, is plagiarism upon an idea OF
John Phoenix, who tells this story, familiar
to Army officers: r.s.ai 5.at ,:I,ga'a..I
nThat. in certain Western fort, some
time ago, the major conceived the idea that
artillery might be used effectively in fight
ing with the Indians by dispensing with gun,
{. carriages and fastening the cannon upon the
backs of mules. So he explained his views
to the caumandant. and it was determined
to try the experiment. A howitzer was Sc
lccted and strapped upon an ambulance
mule. with the muSzle turned toward the
tail. When they had secured the gun, and
loaded. it With ball cartridge, they led that,
c,lm and steadfast mule on the bluff, and
set up a target in the middle of the river to
practice Mt. The rear of the mule was turn
ed toward the target, and he was backed
gently up to the edge of the bluff The
officers stood around in semicircle, while the
major went. up and inserted time fuse in
the touch-hole of the howitzer. When the
fuse was ready, the major lighted it and re-
tired. .--
sIn minute or two the hitherto unrufhed
mule heard the fzzing back there on his
neck, and it made him uneasy. He reached
his head around to ascertain what was going
on. and as he did so his body turned, and the
howitzer began to sweep around the horizon.
The mule at last became excited, and his
curiosity grew more and more intense, and
in second or two lie was standing with his
four legs in a bunch, making six revolutions
a minute, and the howitzer, understand,
threatening sudden death to every man with
in half mile. The commandant vas OBJ
served to climb suddenly up tree; the lieu
tenants were seen sliding over the bluff into
the river as if they didn't care at all about
the high price of uniforms; the adjutant
made good time toward the fort; the sergeant
began to throw up breast works with his
bayonet, and the major rolled over on the
ground and groaned, In two or three min
utes there was puff Of smoke, dull thud,
and the mulc-oh where was he ? A solitary
iackass might have been seen turning sum-
mersets over the bluff, only to rest at anchor,
finally. with his howitzer. at the bottom OF
the river. while the ball went off toward the
fort, hit the chimney in the majors quar-
ters, ratified the adobe bricks down into the
parlor. and frightened the majors wife into
convulsions They do not allude to it now,
and no results of the experiment was ever
sent TO the War Department" .
LARGE SOUTHERN CLAIMS ALLOWED
AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT - Washington,
Apra 23.-The large judgment for four
hundred and seventy five thousand dollars
given against the United States by the court
of claims. Yesterday, is in favor Of Andrew
Lowe of Savannah, Ga, for the proceeds OF
three hundred and forty-nine bales of sea
island and twenty-five hundred and forty-six
bales of upland cotton seized by treasury
agents lust after the war. The famous
Elyeo cotton case, which has so long been
pendins. was decided in favor OF the title OF
G. V. Woodruff & Co., represented by n
NJ. Corwinc, of Washington, and Mr. y.
Conrad of New Orleans; the Judgment Delns
for some three hundred and sixty-slx thous,
and dollars. It has been enormously stated
that the trial of case was delayed to await
tho decision of the Supreme Court on the
copstitutionally of the so called Drake amend
ment @ relating to the effect of presidential
nardons in the court of claims, On the con-
trary the loyalty of claimants was fully es,
tnLlishcd and adjudgcd by the Court Of
Claims.
Messrs. Horton and Walton, Of Augusta,
have contributed ten dollars to those who
! r.l e.or, tho recent tnrnaln In CleStcr.