The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-04-20
The Dynamite Gun.

The Dynamite Gun.
The experiments with tho new dynamite
gun which have been going on for several
weeks at Fort Hamilton are interesting and
important. They do not, however, entirely
justify the more cxtravnYant Of the claims
that are set up for this weapon.
Many attempts have been made to substi-
tute dynamite for 1unpowder, In shells; but
the difficulty In many GASES hitherto has been
that tho charge Of gunpowder used for pro-
Polling tho shelI would explode the dynamite
even before 1t had left the gun tube, 1t be-
came evident that some less violently acting
agency was needed for expelling the shell,
and this agency has boon found In the use uf
compressed air.
OF course the points OF difference between
the dynamite gun and an ordinary cannon
depend on this employment of compressed
air. To begin with, we find that u gun barrel
Of only four inches boro needs to be forty
feet long In order to fully utilize tho energy
OF the compressed air, which acts slowly
upon the prOjectile rs compared with gun
powder. Then the extreme length OF the gun
requires framework and braces to support
1t. Finally, there must be an arrangement
OF reservoirs aud pipes under the gun, for
admitting the compressed air into the tube.
Yet there Is really nothing clumsy In this
apparatus. The simple pressure OF the gun
ner's finger admits the compressed air into
the tube. II Is also evident not only that the
permanent placing Of the reservoirs in ship
or boat constructed for the Use OF such gun
would be an easy matter, but also, since all
the mechanism can be takei, apart and put
together again iu few hours that the trans
portation OF such weapons for siege opera
tions on land would be . far easier matter
than that Of heavy siege guns. Even the
tube itself is made more portable BY division
into three sections.
In the experiments thus far conducted at
Fort Hamilton the proiectiles used have been
loaded with sand instead Of dynamite, since
the current experiments arc only designed to
test the capability Of the compressed air for
throwing the projcctilc with force aud accu-
racy. A good degree Of accuracy Us to di-
rection seems to have been attained partly
aided, possibly. by the fact that, since the
base OF the prujecti!e is wooden sabot. and
there ia also an air space at the end OF the
dynamite cartridge, to act as q cushion
against the shock OF discharge. the for
ward half OF the elongated projcctile is the
heavier, and hence u wind blowing across the
line of tire would help to swerve the head Of
the projectile up into tho wind toward the
point originally aimed at. While the test
with dynamite charges must, oi course, be
the only conclusive one, yet at South Nor
walk aud Detroit more than hundred dyn-
amite charges are said to have been SUCCESS
fully bred from the two-inch gun. the explo-
sion being produced by percussion cup and
firing pin at the point of tho projectle, ON
impact.
How much can be expected OF the dynamite
gun, in case II should work AS well In practice
rs its projectors hope? In the first place, It
is clear that it could not supe:sedc ordinary
powder guns. The furthest flight yet Oh.
.ained for tho compressed air projectile Is
not a mile md half. while from two aud
half to three miles seems to DO the utmost
expected. even should tho mir pressure
hitherto us,Ai be much Increased. Hence IL
Is evident that q modern irunc.ad might
place itself miles beyond the extreme
range of q fort full Of these dynamite guns
and batter it to pieces. aud perhaps the city
and shipping beyond. On the other hnnL, il
will need to attain mulch accuracy Of range
in order to be efficient against moving YES.
sells miles distant; while they will also be
under continual fire from the longer
range ordnance of hostile vessels until
they shall have brought themselves up to
their own limited range. Finally. when the
manner in which dynamite oxpludes is con-
sr!ered, II must uc evident that only por-
ton OF tho Charge would probably take ef.
feet directly forward, or against the thick
armorcd side Of tho vessel struck; aud since
the shell would explode at once oil striking
the ar.nor, in this respect also, u drawback
from the full destructive "iiec: must DO
looked for.
But, rejecting the eNtravagnnt clains made
for the dynamite gun. it still holds possibiii.
ties OF great interest und Importance both
for coast and field warfare. To achieve the
safe and accurate firing of heavy dynamite
shells, oven NJ very moderate rauycs, /. In
itself n noteworthy step. II must bc ot-
served. ALSO that while tho construction Of
the heaviest ordnance Is work OF many
months. and Of enormous cost. any good
shop. when Its plant was onco established,
could turn out every week, ut n trifins ex-
peus", two or three of these compressed air
guns, capabl" ui firing shCl!s iulicd with
twenty. tifty, or apparently even a hundred
pounds Of dynamite. f,'N"' o..
The Increase OF Insanity and its Causes.
The question which hos been SO much dis
cusscd OF recent years "a to whether insanity
t.. Ia, ~