, 1878-08-22
The Gatling Gnn Company.

The Paris Exhibition of lS1Sis 50 emf
ncntly peaceful that it is not without u
slight shock we find ourselves looking at
the four pretty, but deadly, specimens OF
improved guns standing under the name
OF the GatIing Company. If | could, |
would turn my back on them; but it is
impossible. There is an unwholesome
fascination about the fair, deadly pieces.
~ woman is not more beautiful or more
cruel. Nay, let us be just to the sex; the
Wlcekdest woman would be puzzled to
work a tithe Of the mischief that could
be wrought in few moments by either
of the Gatlings. Of the iour weapons,
two are long barreled, and two short. OF
the former, one has ten, the other eight
barrels. The short guns--intended chief
ly for use on ships-have respectively
five and two barrels. They are con
structed on the original principle of the
Gatings in most respects, but there is II
notable alteration. The crank-handle is
now placed in the rear of the gun. BY
this arrangement the effectiveness of the
weapon is almost trebled. Experiments
made in England lately testify to the ter
rible power of the improved Gatlings
At trial made short time back, in the
neighborhood Of Chester, by the British
military authorities, it was found that
forty-four rounds could be fired with the
ten-barrel. gun in the space of a second
and a quarter. This extraordinary rate
could, however, hardly be kept up for
long; but, nevertheless, it is allowable to
calculate that thousand rounds could,
if necessary, be fired in minute,
The short tivo-barrcl gun has attracted
a great deal of attention in military cir
Giles, and it is no secret that the British
Government is introducing them cXclu-
sively into the navy. They arc remarka-
bly, light weighing only ninety-seyen
pounds, occupy little room, and can
be taken to pieces and reftted in
few minutes. Besides these good points,
they have others, which sufficiently ac-
count for their adoption. BY a simple
screw arrangement, the muzzles can be
depressed so much that torpedo-boats
and other devilish prowling barks APP
preaching a man-ofwar would not have
chance-proyided a good watch were
kept, To work the Gatling gun, two
men are sufficient, -- one to point the
piece and turn the crank handle; the
other to supply ammunition to the i'm
proved feedcase with which each is
fitted. These feed.cascs are upright
metal magazines, made to hold forty
four cartridges apiece, -- a quantity
which, as we have seen, can be expended
in second.
In this class VIC have, besides the Cat
lings, specimens Of brcech-loaders, ex.
hibted by the United States Regulation
Firearms Company; Gardner cannon,
from the Pratt Il Whitney Company's
works; and cartridges, from the Union
Metallic. Cartridge Company. That com.
pleted the list, praise be to the saints.
A step from this murdcrous corner
brings me to the very complete and salts
factory show of cutlery, tools, locks,
keys, and surgical instruments, s,-one of
the most important in the American sec
tion. do not purpose discussing this
part Of the Exhibition, as nearly every
thing in it has been seen at the Centen-
nial, and mere list Of names would be
without interest to your readers. | no.
ticed the complete abstcnton of Chica-
go, both here and in many other cases,
with some surprise. e.-O0r. Chjcag0 lrj-
bupG