Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-11
AN ANNIHILATOR.
A New Gun That is to Destroy Foreign
Fleets

A long brass tube, with atwo-inch bore.
says the New York World, lay upon the
western parapet of Fort Hamilton. Fri.
day, Sth instant. Col. Hamilton, com.
mander Of the fort, an umbrella and a
reporter stood near by. Out on the bay a
Wild duck was making a struggle for life.
having been winged by relentless
sportsman's bullet. Col. Hamilton's ewes
wandered from the long brass tube to the
unfortunate duck and then back to the
tube again.
THAT poor duck struggling on the sur
lace OF the water" said Col. Hamilton, re-
nectlYely, illustrates how impossible it
would be for vessel to escape after
having been struck by a missile from this
gum"
The long brass tube was gun, although
an ordinary observer might take it to be a
portion OF water pipe used for draining
the parapet.
"This gum" continued Col. Hamilton.
us tWenty-eight feet long with a two-inch
bore. 1t was Invented by a Mr.. Milford.
an an american, and Is the property of Mr..
windsor, the torpedo builder. We were
| asked to experiment with it here, which
we are doing under the direction of Lieut..
Lalllnskl, an expert in proiectiles and
harbor defense weapons. We have been
trying 1t at halt-mile range with good re-
suits, Notwithstanding that it is incom-
plete as to its manufacture and mount
lngs, and has by no means realized its pos
sibilities.
''The motor IS compressed air. with
which 1t is proposed to experiment at 600
to $50 pounds pressure. The missile has
been proved to have good power of pene-
t1at1on and is formidable as a direct
weapon. But that is not the main object
The weapons are made long like an arrow
and are headed with brass cases intended
to be charged with dynamite. the explo-
sion OF which is to produce the intended
effect. As yet we have not experimental
with dynamite, but have loaded the cases
with sand in order to give them weight.
The missiles are OF light pine wood. made
TO ut the bore and are "a, 40 and 4S inches
In length. The brass cases, which are fit
ted at the head, are IA and "a inches long.
their diameter being IL, IL and ~
inches. These cases, when charged, give
weight and steady the flight of the missile
or arrow. The openings at the head of
cases are closed with a wooden plug.
through which needle penetrates cor.
nectlng with cap. When the proiectile
strikes the object the dynamite is at once
exploded.
"As yet very little is known about con-
densed gases as motor for prOjectiIes,
though 1t has been successfully utilized
as motive power. The great problem
has been how to throw dynamite shells
win safety. The conclusion Of gunpOw-
der will Immediately explode dynamite.
and the result is the gun is destroyed, as
well as everything in the neighborhood.
with this gun, however, l think that
dynamite can be thrown with perfect
safety to the gunner, and with a disas-
trous effect to the object it strikes"
The gun, when in position, is mounted
ON tripod, and has the appearance of a
long, slender telescope. Two small tubes
connectIt with a receiver, which in turn
is connected with a TWENTY-FIVE horse
power steam engine with long hose.
The engine and boiler are located in the
fort.
Experiments have been made with the
gun at half-mile range. The missile pen
etrated heavy wooden target, backed
with hard-packed earth, twenty-six
inches. During the passage it obtained
tall OF twelve degrees. The gun, how
ever, is not intended to throw a pro-
jectile as direct weapon, but as a car
rler for dynamite. So rapid is the eXplos
sion of dynamite that its force is always
downward. Consequently, a dynamite
shell exploding on the side of a vessel
would not produce as disastrous an eff
IecI as IL would II 1t struck on the deck.
This gun is constructed to meet all the
necessary requirements. The proiectiIe.
though resembling a baseball bat, will,
when shot from the gun by an expert
| marksman, make a graceful curve in the
air like an arrow, and descend head
downward upon the deck of a vessel.
With a heavier pressure it can be shot as
direct weapon. The pressure can be
regulated at will. When discharged there
is no report, but the missile leaves the
gun with shrill whistle which produces
as disagreeable a sensation in ones ears
as buzz-saw when it strikes a hard
knot. The force obtained by 200 pounds
pressure was remarkable. At the first
discharge the three three-quarter-inch
iron bars which support the guns were
| bent nearly double by the reaction, while
the projectile shot from the bore like a
ball from a heavy gun and penetrated the
target twenty-siX inches.
81 believe" said Col. Hamilton, ssthat
the gun will prove to be an effective
weapon for harbOr defense. Lieut.. Zal-
linski is very enthusiastic over it, and is
confident of its success. As soon as we
have favorable weather we will make ex-
perImentS on the Water''