The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-08-15
The Calling Gnn Company.

The Paris Exhibition of 1S7Sis so emf
nently peaceful that it is not without Il
slight shock we find ourselves looking at
the four pretty, but deadly, specimens of
improved guns standing under the name
of the Gatling Company. If l could,
would turn my back on them; but it is
impossible. There is an unwholesome
fascination about the fair, deadly pieces.
A woman is not more beautiful or more
cruel. Nay, let us be just to the sex the
wicekdest woman would be puzzled to
work 1.-THE of the mischief that could
be wrought in a few moments by either
of the Gatlings. OF the four 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-hav'e respectively
five and two barrels. They are con
structed on the original principle of the
Gatlings in most respects, but there is
notable alteration. The crank-handle is
now placed in the rear of the gun. BY
this arrangement the effectiveness of the
weapon is almost trebed. Experiments
made in England lately testify to the ter
rible power of the improved Gatlings.
At a 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-bar gun in the space of a second
and quarter. This extraordinary rate
could, however, hardly be kept up for
long; but, nevertheless, it is allowable to
calculate that a thousand rounds could,
if necessary, be fired in minute.
The short five barrel gun has attracted
Il great deal of attention in military cir
cles, and it is no secret that the British
Government is introducing them exclu-
sively into the navy. They are remarka-
bly, light, weighing only nincty-seven
pounds, occupy little room, and can
be taken to pieces and reftted in a
few minutes. Besides these good points,
they have others, which sufficiently ac-
count for their adoption. BY simple
screw arrangement, the muzzles can be
depressed 50 much that torpedo boats
and other devilish prowling banks APP
preaching a man-of-war would not have
a chance-provided good watch were
kept. To work the Calling gun, two
men are sufficient, - one to point the
piece ana turn lue crank nlnuIc, Inc
other to supply ammunition to the i'm
proved ieed-case with which each is
fitted. These feed-cases 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 we have, besides the Cat
lings, specimens of breech- leaders, ex-
hibitcd by the United States Regulation
Firearms Company; Gardner cannon,
from the Pratt " Whitney Company's
works; and cartridges, from the Union
Metallic Cartridge Company. That com
peted the list, praise be to the saints.
\ step from this murderous corner
brings me to the very complete and satis-
factory show of cutlery, tools, locks,
keys, and surgical instruments, one of
the most important in the American sec
ton. | do not purpose discussing this
part Of the Exhibition, as nearly every
thing in it has been seen at the Centen-
NAL, and a mere list of names would be
without interest to your readers. no.
ticed the complete abstention of Chica-
60, both here and in many other cases,
with some surprisc.-Cor. Chicago Tri-
5uHe.