The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-09-25
A NEW GUN.
KeeIy, Of Motor Noiofiety, Scores Q
Success at Last,
yot I'm Perpetual Motion. but I'm Firing .
and Force.

WASHINGTON, September 21.-Inventor
Keely came from Philadelphia by an early
morning train, bringing with him the sx>
perimental piece of ordnance and two iron
cylinders, resembling, in outward appear
ance, those used for storing carbouic acid
gas. The whole of his apparatus could
nave been packed in a good-sized "dry
goods" box. In company with Colonel
and William Boechel, the inventor had
come down to the ordnancsl station on
board the tugboat America. Everything
was arranged for the trial. Upon
board platform, raised above the sand,
q few inches, the experimental machinery
had been arranged. Four feet of copper
tnbing, about the diameter Of an electric
light wire, connected the generator with
the gun, entering at the vent. The antique
bit of ordnance selected by the inventor to
demonstrate the adaptability of the mystic
rious power which he has brought to light,
looked like an ordinary yacht cannon,
mounted upon wheeled carriage. In the
two>inch bore was inserted brass tube
that projected ten inches beyond the mouth.
The gun~barrel is of steel. The largo
generator to which was attached the cop
per wire tubing was of chilled iron, with .
holding capacity of five gallons. Two feet
beyond the generator lay small heavy
iron cylinder, resembling in size and ap>
pearance bakers rolling.pin. This the
inventor styled the intensifier. It was Of
chilled iron, with q capacity OF half gal>
lon. The bore of the copper tube connect
of one,sixtieth of an inch in diameter.
in appearance the same as
that connecting the large cylinder
with the gun. To load the gun the inventor
unscrewed the barrel and placed against
the orifice in the chamber three washers,
one of rubber and two of smooth gutta.
percha. This was to prevent, as he ex,
planned, any leakage of the "etheric vapor,H
with which the gun vas about to be charged.
Screwing the muzzle back in place, he
ball weighing nearly five ounces, and
of one and one-sixteenth inch diam
eter. He was assisted by Colone
Hamilton and Superintendent Sinclair, o.
the u. 8. Experimental Station, and the
army officers, of whom there were many.
made preparation to obtain the velocity oi
the projectile by means of electric wire net
tings, through which the ball would pass in
its flight. The gun was carefully aimed a,
the Northumberland target and fired with
success, the ball fiattening against the iron
plating of the disc. Before turning
on the force it was noticed that Mr.. Keely
tapped hoth the cylindrical holder and the
cannon with wooden mallet. This, he eI
planned, was for the purpose of producing
the necessary vibration between tht
holder and the receiver. Colonel Hamilton'i
assistants, who attended to the recording
of the initial velocity of the projectile
announced, after several shots had beer
fired, that flight of 482 feet per secont
had been attained, and at the eleventh
shot there was a gain in velocity of ter
feet, and at the twelfth, a further increas,
of thirty -one feet, or an initial velocity o
523 feet per second. The firing was con-
tinued for the purpose, as Colonel Hamil
ton said, of testing the velocity of the pro
jectile's flight. The success Of the iuven
Iion, as applied to ordnance, in the opinion
of the army officers, was pronounced.