The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-02-01
THE NAMELESS FORCE.
Dynamite to the Rear.
Come Gentle Peace.

Most of the papers of the city published or
Sunday q long communication from Mr. j. c.
Wingard, in which the statement is seriously
made that he tWingard) has discovered 9
force by naeans of which he can utterly des
troy vessels at sea at any distance from one
one mile up to Eve. The article was well
written, aud is either the emanation of dis
| ordered brain, Or else gunpowder, guncotton,
nitro-glyceline dynamite electricity, ETC.,
etc, will have to take back seats, while Mr.
| Vineyard sweeps the seas with his awful force,
| force which he claims will render the nation
possessing it absolute monarch Of the seas
and ruler Of the world.
Mr.. Wingard came into the BULLETIN Office
this morning. He is an old gentleman some
where in the vicinity of sixty years of age
Ee is quiet, undemonstratiye, has seen much
trouble evidently, but is as firmly convinced
of his ability to perform all and more then he
claims as he is of his existence.
Mir. Wingard-l en- very much obliged to
the BULLETIN for its kindness in giving pub
licity to my article on Sunday. WHAT did you
think of it, sir?
Reporter-PH tell you frankly what most
people think. They believe you are tunatic
W.-Yes, sir, suppose that's natural. You
know they thought Fulton crazy too, aud even
the passeng rs he took to Albany on his
wheezv Ii tie craft, though satisfied they had
made tee trip, expressed doubts as 10 whether
the power that propelled the boat was steam,
and entertained grave doubts. nay, ridiculed
the idea of its being made an available force.
Rep.-Well, sir, you know mankind is
naturally incredulous. AS rule. We only
believe what the eviderces Of our senses con
firm, and We laugh at almost everything that
passes our comprehension. Fulton had to
give ocular demonstration of his discovery
before he could gain converts; why not follow
his example and give the world proof of the
existence of the potent destruc i've AGENT
which you claim to have discovered. i am an
ordinarily credulous person. sir, but have
no faith III is existence. 1 believe YOU are
the victim Of delusion.
W.-Yol will believe it when you see it,
will you not?
Rep. Certainly.
W.-Wtl1, am anxious to have an oppor-
tunity to convince you that 1 am neither
dreamer nor lunatic. l know what can
the parish OF st. James, I destroyed a small
craft at a distance of one mile, making the
experiment at night, and alone There were
d few il fnitesimal fragments of the boat
left, but tlat was all. In the case of an iron
vessel the would be absolutely nothing left
10 lark the place of her destruction.
Rep.-Would you be willing to repeat that
experiment. in the presence of few persons
who should only witness the eject of the force
without attempt to discover its nature
WI would prefer demonstration en-
larger scale. Say the destruction of larger
vessel at three miles.
Rep.-That would involve, as you said in
your communication, an expense of some
$500. | can't raise SO much money, but will
guarantee to raise sufficient to enal le YOU to
make the smaller experiment.. which will be
suff GENTLY conclusive.
W. Ve,y we'll. Sir, will probably accept
your proposition and will let you know this
week. Meantime 1 was approached this
morning by some one claiming to be repre-
sentative Of the Spanish Government, who
desired to treat with ne n regard to the mat
ter.
After some further desultory conversation,
during which Mr.. Wingard stated that he
would neither use torpedoes nor ordnance,
ne left the ofce with the assurance that we
should hear from him in few days.
Nr. Wingard is either harmless mono
maniac. or the world will soon be startled out
of its lethsrgy and forced 70 maintain peace
by fear of humiliation.