The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-06-28
NV rRIscIRLNs ~ esnnEnr.
A Breeeh Admitting OF Powerful Ac-
celebrating Force Invented by
Frisco Man.
FROM the Boston Advertiser.

a new method OF applying force, con-
sIsting OF newly devised bseech. CON-
ssructed upon philosophical principle,
and which admits of powerful accel-
erting force being applied 10 the pro
jectiIe before it leave the mouth OF she
GUN, has been invented by j. 81. Stewart,
of San Francisco. The Exchange of that
city says that the results thus far OBJ
/ tanned by crude experiments are really
astonishing, as can be atsested by the
several targets used. In one
4 OF the experiments made an ordinary
/ carbine, 50-calIber, about 20 inches
long, weighing seven pounds, was used,
/ the same having been altered by substi-
i tuting Stewards patent breech. The
4 proiectiIe consisted Of steel bolt point
/ ed at one end, which wSs shot through
target consisting of solid fiat bar of
refined iron, one inch in thickness,
backed with sixteen inches of wood.
At another trial, the same gun being
used, the projectile was shot through
target consisting of SIX onc-qCarter inch
plates of boiler iron, and three inches
of wood. La more recent trial, the
same gun being used, the proiectiie was
shot through steel bar one inch thick,
and the proiectiie penetrated the
/ iron hacking tne-half inch, show
ing that the projectile can easily be
shot through iron and steel equal in
thickness To three times the diameter of
the projectile or bore of the gun. With
the view of testing the augmentige force
of this new principle the inventor con.
structed O smooth bore gun OF one and
one-haif inch diameter of bore. The
target used consisted of sixteen quarter
inch plates of boiler iron bolted togeth-
er, making four inches in thickness of
| iron. The projectile consisted OF an
elongated bolt of steel pointed at the
end, one and one half inches in dIame-
ter. The projectiie passed through the
target, and it IS estimated that the un-
expected force would have enabled 1t to
have penetrated another inch of iron.
at another trial, the same weapon being
used, like projectile passed through
10 quarter-inch plates of boiler
iron and 1 Il inches solid bar iron and
twoinches of wood bolted together then
penetrated 1 e inches into an anvil plac-
ed behind the target; total penetration
of iron, 611 inches, These experiments
proved conclusively that this new prin-
cipIe Twill apply in ratio to guns of
larger caliber, and 1t can safely be as
serted that gun can be constructed of
10-inch bore that will pass a proiectile
through composite IRON target nade "a
the usual way, with alternate 10-inch
thickness of iron. of wood, 10 of iron,
5 OF wood and 10 of iron, making 10
inches of wood and so inches of iron. It
should be stated that all experiments
have been made with common Dnponfss
sporting powder; hence it can With jus 4
tice be claimed teat with alsDngex poWs
der better results can be shown. -
By using this new principle the pro-
iectiIe thrown from the 50-caliber car
bine will reach distance of three
miles, and the J. Inch proiectiless dis
lance of six miles. SO far as ii has been
feet per second is the result, with bat
little additional stain on the gun, hence
avoiding the use of extra metal unless
required to throw a heavier projectite
than usual. Therefore, very little. If
any more, than the usual recoil Is exper-
fenced. The penetration against iron or
steel targets reached in this new princa-
pie will be at least four times
the diameter of the proJec-
tile. When the principle Is
properly presented the inventor believes
he can accomplish this easily in guns of
larger caliber. This invention is adapt
able TO breech. loading ordnance OF all
sizes as well as to all classes of small
arms. 4 cavalry pistol would become
as effective weapon as the very best
rifle of existing patterns. A patrol OF
cavalry could be armed with rifles of
so caliber sufficient to enable them to
destroy any locomotive or ordinary river
gunboat by piercing their steam boilers
or chambers, even through plated armor,
thus rendering tlAen tinservioeabses
while gun weighing not more than
900 pounds, including carnage rnd ev-
rot he IRA mn k1Ez
one horse or by two or three men,
would destroy any gun6oat in existence.
The Exchange gives the following
summary of the results of the expert
ments referred to above:
The small gun-Length, go inches
weight, Tpounds; 50-l00 caliber; pro
iectile, conical steel bolt; velocity,
about 1000 feet per second; charge,
about 200 grains No. Dupont's sport
ing powder; unobstructed range, three
miles. Experiments at pointblank
range, viz: Target No; 1-Projectile
passed through one inch bar iron at the
same time through 10 inches of wood
placed behind it. Target No. PRO
jectiIe passed through six pieces of one
quarter inch boiler plates, with alter
nate pieces of wood, same thickness, all
firmly bolted together, this target thus
consisting of IL inches of iron and Il
inches of wood. The Proiectile at same
time passed through three inches of
wood placed behind the target. The
iron oftargct No. is penetrable at 8
distance of 800 yards. Target No. s.
Projectiie passed through one inch bar
of STEEL ana penetrated full one half inch
| into iron placed behind target.
The large gun-Length, 38 inches;
weight. 200 pounds; IL inch caHber;
projectile, conical steel bolt; velocity,
same as above; charge, 8 ounces. Ex-
pertinent, point blank range. Target
No. 4-Projectile passed through 16
quarter-inch boiler plates and / a inches
solid bar iron boited together to two
inches of wood. and then IL inch into
| an iron anvil placed behind it; total,
6L inches of iron, 2 inches wood. This
| gun is capable of doing the same work
at distance of 100 yards.
The weight of the metal used ia max
! ing these guns is 10 proportion to cali
| Der, q little greater than that required
| for ordinary guns Their EecoiI also
slightly exceeds that of ordinary guns
of the same callbre. The principle of
construction is simple, and is applica
| BILE to muzzle-loading as we'll as to
| breach loading guns They can be
loaded, discharged and cleaned as quick
/ ly as other guns; the cost of manufac-
tnre is only trifle greater. This gun
| in construction Is just as simple as any
other gun ever manufactured. The
Exchange concludes: This is indeed a
most valuable invention, and evidently
numbers the days of heavy iron-ciads.
Peradventure this new principle in the
science of gunnery is destined to revo-
lutionize the prevailing mode of war;
fare throughout the civilized world.
| There is no limit the force that can
be applied to projectiles In this princi-
pie, only that limit where projectIles
will not stand further penetration aud
will crush into particles and become, as
1t were, pulverized into dust
rha Firsf ATanoat