Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-03-24
THE NEW DYNAMITE GUN.
Experimenting at Fort Hainiiton---I,lyc
and iiarbor Defence The Dart.


Experimenting at Fort Ha,niiion---Itlvc
and iiarbor Defence The Dart.
Among the recent inventions In wa
apparatus are the dynamite gun an,
dat. The gun Is n seamless brass tub,
thirty feet or more in length, MOUNTED
upon light gun-csrrlage, and manipu
lated by the arlillerist in the manner
of an ordinary cannon. Its noiseless
discharge sends the missile with great
force, conveying the powerful ex'
plosive substance within 1t, which
Is ignited at the instant of con.
tact with the deck OF II ship or other
! object upon which IL strikes. IL the
promises made in its behalf prove true,
Il single projectile Of this description
with It's hundred pounds of dynamite
would instantly sink the heaviest iron
clad aiioat. The dart embodies some
new and interesting adaptions of phys
les ID The flight of projectiles by which
great accuracy Ii obtained. The ten
dency of the wind TO cause n divergence
of the projectile from direct line Is TO
a grent degree overcome; and the pres
sure of the wind, whether light or
heavy, is made TO react in proportion
to It's force upon the missile and 10 di,
rect its flight IN the line OF original
protection. This popularity consists
In the unusual length OF the pro-
jectile, and The location Of
It's center of gravity consider
ably nearer the forward end-thus
wind blowing across It's course will act
upon the lighter and enlarged rear end
as on vane, causing the pr0jectile to
pivot upon its center of gravity and
head into the wind in proportion 10
the winds velocity, the missile main
tanning approximately its original d.
reclion. IL Is not dependent for It's
flight upon the torsional force OF q
rope, nor upon the action of springs,
such as were used in the catapult OF
the Greeks and Romans, but upon the |
force of air compressed by powerful |
engines TO the pressure OF 1000 pounds |
or more per square Inch. This IL
stored in large reservoirs, from which |
a sufficient amount for a single |
Is suddenly liberated into |
the gun through connecting pipe by |
means Of an automatic valve, which |
may be regulated TO open and close In
The tenth of u second, admitting of dis-
charges in quick succession, while the
engines. securely 10.
lated In the subterranean. depths of
he fort or the hold OF the ship, main
.aln the required pressure in the air
'eserve.
Guns have been constructed claimed
o have capacity 10 throw pro-
ectiles distance.of eight miles or more
With gunpowder, but the claim Inns not
,een accompanied by the assurance
hat any great Injury 10 persons or
property Is likely 10 occur. IT IL well
that at the extreme range
ttainable with gun-powder the psDe-
rative force Of the projectile IL spent
md little injury results; aud that SO
ensiive an expl )sive a. dynsml u
annot be conveyed within the missile
" the abrupt action OF gun-powder,
Is the shock would ex-
lode the dynamite before the
hell containing II could leave
he gun. While the new projeetile
brown by compressed airis capable Of
IN effective range as great as that OF
he ordinary guDpowder missile. its
destructive power Is developed ut the
Instant OF contact with the object upon
which II strikes, by the explosion OF
Is dynamite cartridge regardless Of |
he distance II may have travelled.
One Of the advantages claimed for