The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-12-11
THE GAFLMG GUN.
interesting ExPsr4ments- Fir
dnE al Loag Branch


1ng AZ Long Branch
The Franeo-Prussian war made us
somewhat familiar With g murderous
machine called the mitraiIleuse. The
honor Of originating all weapons Of that
kind Is claimed by Dr. Calling, former
" OF Indianapolis, Ind, andnoE residing
in Hartford, Conn, where the Colts
Arms company are manufacturing the
Calling gun The government already
owns about one hundred Of these g pep
peF-boxes" Of ealibre varying from
one-fftieth of an inch to an inch and
the last congress made an appropriation
for the purchase Of fifty more Of the
45 caIibre, which is adopted as the
standard size Of bore for all United
States arms. One Of the latest models
was recently tested. This gun, won
derful in its simplicity and terrible IN
its execution, may be described as a
cluster Of musket barrels, eighteen
inches long, ten II number. separated
about two inches, and held IN their
places by a heavy brass plate, through
which they pass near the muzzles, and
at their butts by a strong brass bed
piece, to which they are secured, and
which contain the simple continuance
for loading, firing and clearing ont the
old shells. To each Of these ten bar
reIs is adjusted a movable breeeh block,
perforated IN the center by a firing pin
As a short crank at the side OF the
piece Is turned, these breech blocks are,
one by one, drawn back to the full length
Of q cartridge from the butt of the bar
rels, and the cartridges, fed IN from
above, are crowded iutO the bore by the
returning breech lock, and on reaching
q certain point the block Is locked, the
firing pin driven forward and the bar
rel discharged. As soon as it has re-
volyed to the opposite side the with
drawing breech lock throws out the
empty shell and passes on to crowd
home another cartridge. Only one bar
rel is fred at q time, and that IS the
one which Is at the time on the right of
/ the cluster. Three are discharged at
each revolution Of the crank The
81 drum feed" Is a collection Of eighteen
/ vertical magazines, each containing
twenty cartridges. This can be fired IN
less than Q minute and another drum
/ full be placed ready for the next vOlley-
Even four OF five hundred shots can be
fred in sixty seconds. So much for
rapidity.
1t also bears the test of accuracy won
derfully veil. At 900 yards eishteen
] out Of a voIley Of twenty shots struck
the twelve-foot target. The other day,
for the first time, It was tried at range
of !, 100 yards. Single shots we're first
fred to get the range, and one was sent
plump into the bulls eye Then mag
azine was put on, vOlley Of twenty
shots fred, and fourteen new holes ap-
peared in the target. Thus ended the
forenOOn's tests.
The sound Of a volley Is like the rip
| ping Of q seam IN an old dress by wO-
man with the toOthache, except s thou
sand times louder, and possibly trihe
more spiteful. An eccentric Oscillatol
may be used, causing the muzzle to PLAY
from side to side, scattering q shower o.
balls about eighteen feet IN $50 yards
thus moving q terrible swath IN hostile
ranks.
The gun, independent of the carriage
weighs 153 rounds. It can be mounted
on a tripod, and be placed, with all it
aecoutrements, on the backs Of camels
mules OF horses, as we're the old howit
zers. Il has been, and viii be use,
hereafter, In army operations on tn
> frontiers. II placed on the turret o
! a monitor, or on the top Of ship,
( would soon sweep an enemy's decks
On boat expeditions It would drive OF
= those who strOve to prevent landing
, One man can work - Calling sue
r cessfully, but four make up its ful
= complement. Il Is recommended tina
e not less than $1,000 cartridges be car
ried on the train with each gun Tn
: ordinary musket cartridge is used, tn
, charge being seventy grains of Powde
and four hundred grains Of lead
5 When all the nations are supplied wit
: these guns, it is to be hoped the miller
ium viii hurry along and save orr poo
wsrld from dePopulation-