The sun., 1884-04-20
The Dynamite Gun.

The Dynamite Gun.
The experiments with the 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 cxtravagant Of the claims
that are set up for this weapon.
Many attempts have been made to substi-
tute dynamite for gunpOwder, In shells; but
the difficulty In many CASES hitherto has been
that tho charge Of gunpowder used for pro-
pelling the shell 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 oi
compressed air.
OF course the points OF difference between
the dynamite gun and IN ordinary cannon
depend on this employment of compressed
mir. To begin with, we find that 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 prOjectlle as compared with gun
powder. Then the extreme length of the gun
requires O 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 IL 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 q gun
would be an easy matter. but also, since all
the mechanism can be taken apart and put
together again in few hours that the trans
portation Of such weapons for siege opera
tions on land would be a 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 projectiles used have been
loaded with sand instead Of dynamite, since
the current experiments are only designed to
test tho capnbility Of the compressed air for
throwing the projectile with force and accll.
racy. A good degrce of accuracy as 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 is also an air space at the end Of the
dynamite cartridge, to act as a cushion
against tho shock OF discharge, the for
ward half OF the elongated projcctle is the
heavier, and hence q wind blowing across the
line of lire would help to swerve the hcnd OF
the projectile up into tho wind toward the
point originally aimed at. While the test
with dynamite charges mus of 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 Tired from the two-nch gun, the explo.
sion being produced by percussion cup aud
firing pin ut the point of the projectile, ON
impact.
How much can be expected OF tho dynamite
gum in case 1t should work rs well In practice
rs its projectors hope? In the first place, It
is clear that it could not supcrsedc ordinary
powder guns. The furthest flight yet ob.
.nined for tho compressed air projectile Is
not mile md II half. while from two and
half to three miles seems to be the utmost
expected. even should tho nlr pressure
hitherto useL be much Increased Hence IL
is evident that modern ironclad might
place itself miles beyond tho 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 hand, IL
will need to attain much accuracy of range
in order to be efficient against moving yes.
sells, miles distant; while they will also be
under continual fire from tho 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 oxplodcs is con-
sidered, 1t must bc evident that only por-
tion 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 arinor, IN this respect. also, drawback
from the full destructive effect must bo
looked for.
But, rejecting the extravagnnt cluilns made
for the dynamite gun, 1t still holds possible
ties OF great interest and Importance both
for cOnst and field warfare. To achieve tho
safe md accurate firing Of heavy dynamite
shells, even ut very moderate raugcs, Is In
Itself II noteworthy step. It must be OBJ
served, also. that while tho construction Of
tho heaviest ordnance Ia work OF many
months. and Of enormous cost, any good
shop when Its plant was onco established,
could turn out every week, at q trlhing ex-
pens'', two or three OF these compressed air
guns. capabl" of firing shclls' loaded with
twenty. afty, Or apparently even a hundred
pounds Of dynamite. .EN"'
The Increase OF Insanity and its Causes.
Tho question which hos been 50 much dis
cussed OF recent years rs to whether insanity
Il really on tho Increase in Civilized countries