The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-19
A NEW AND TERRIBLE WEAPON.

From the Newport r. L. News, August III
Captain william Gardner gave an exhibition Of
new arm OF his invention to officers of the United
states Navy stationed At the Torpedo station yeser
day. This Is not to be confounded with other
inventions of Captain Gardner which have been seen
or heard Of by tho public but IS his latest just com
pleted and now for the nrst time by any other
than himself and workmen. This arm produced
marked sensation among the officers and
other gentlemen present, among whom were
several distinguished foreigners Among the
officers present at the exhibition we're Captain X r.
Breeze, commanding torpedo station; Captain Self
ridge Captain Norton and Captain Bunce, all OF the
navy. The unanimous expression oil the gentlemen
present was that THIS weapon combined all the good
qualities Of other arms yet devised. and in addition
possessed qualities never before presented; that Tor
practical rapidly OF fire. range and precision it was un-
surpassed, while Tor shtness. simplicity, strength,
uraoLy, sibty of It's working parts, ease OF
puiation anu capability OF lons-connued use IN
action IL was marvellous
That the reader may fully realize what wonder
tins lnvention Is We viii ask him 10 CONCEIVE little
instrument, about the size Of an ordinary musket
easily carried on mans shoulder, ~ destructive as
the Calling gun, tnan the Frenca mtraicusc,
aud equal to three field cannon Wien firing grape and
canister
In reply to question as 10 what the special advan-
tages OF this gun other firearms now IN use,
the inventor Observation-Disclosures actual ser
vice. ,Vng me spenI us" and ,ss Gstuny
gun, iheir and detects and much experience In
iuventing other convinced me the ideal hrearm
yet to be invented. The liability OF these arms to
be out Of order, their weight, their
arrangement by transportaton, the complicated and
faIi of their mechanism, their cosgng by cor
their many other detects encouraged me to
attempt the Invention Of This Weapon. The problem
TO produce an arm oil equal or greater efficiency,
OF much greater strength and durability,
not at all liable 10 be deranged by moisture,
dust or long continued firing, easily comprehended and
manipulated by the common soldier ard next 10 i'm
possible TO get out OF order even when exposed to tho
toughest usage OF actual service In word aimed
at efficiency, strength and lightness." Tne gun
mas but barrel, which Is about three times
strong those ordinarily used for similar Galore
The mechanism is all contained in little brass box
attached the end OF the BARREL the Dimensions
of which but thirteen inches In length, Two
in depth and Two ard half IN thickness.
In addition to thos therc is little crank side
OF the box by which the powder 10 applied, hop
per top, from which An inexnanstible supply OF
cartridges Is Kept up Two men OF less than ordinary
INTEL geuce can MAINTAIN continuou. fire at the
300 shots per minute Tor any length OF
time without fear OF foung or arrangement
of parts by heat otherwise The manipu-
alton is so easy the may turned CO ntnu-
ously by the little angcr The arrangement for sup
plying cartridges is 50 elective that sup
| ply them faster than they can be fired The gun
be Tired equally we'll at AN elevation OF forty five de-
grees and at depression vi iortynve degrees and also
when tilted sideways at almost any ANGIE advantages
which no other nrearm possesses
Mr. Gardner has devised means OF transportation for
every contingency OF land service both Tor the gun md
thc necessary ammunition, also suitable mountngs
Tor every form of land and service. He has also
gwen tactics for It's use which explained By him,
but opportunity was tnerod TO illustrate Them The
gun, weighing bat about forty pounds auo having
fewer pieces than Remington rifle and being abo ut
tue szoo an ordinary muskc., It's performances strike
the observer with amazencnt aud justify one in the
belief that IT will work revolution In moder n war