Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-03-27
DYNAMITE IN WAR.
The New Gun That is 10 Destroy For
eign Fleets.
New York World

eign Fleets.
New York World
A long brass tube, with two-inch
bore. lay upon the western parapet of
Fort Hamilton yesterday Col. Ham
ilton, the commander OF the fort, an
umbrella and a World reporter stood
near by. The long brass tube was a
gun, although an ordinary observer
might take it to be a piece of a water
pipe, used for draining the parapet
This gun, continued Col. Hamil-
ton, is twenty eight feet long, with
a two-inch bore. 1t was invented by
a Mr.. Milford. an American, and is
the property of Mr.. Windsor, the tor
pedo bHilder We were asked to ex-
pertinent with it here, which we are
doing, under the direction of Lieut.
Zallinslti, an expert in projectlles and
harbor- defense weapons. We have
been trying it at half mile range with
good results, Notwithstanding that 1t
is incomplete as to its manufacture
and mounting, and has by TO means
realized its possibilities.
The motor is compressed air, with
which it is proposed to experiment at
600 and $50 pounds pressure. The
missile has been proved to nave good
power OF penetration, and is formida-
BILE as 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 explosion
of which is to produce the intended
effect. As v9t we have not expert
mented with ynamite, but have load
ed the cases with sand in order to give
them weight. The missiles are of light
pine wood, made to fit the bore, and
are 81, 40 and IS inches in length. The
brass cases, which are fitted at the
head, are / /, / and II inches. These
cases, when charged. give weight and
steady the flight of the missile arrow.
The openings at the head of the cases
are closed with a wooden plug, through
which needle penetrates connecting
with can. When the projectile
strikes the object the dynamite is at
once exploded.
"As yet very little is known about
condensed gases as motive for pro-
iectiles, though it has been success
fully utilized as a motive power The
great problem has been how to throw
dynamite shells with safety. The con
cussion of gunpowder will immed late
ly explode dynamite, and the result is,
the gun is destroyed, as we'll as every
thing in the neighborhood. With
this gun, however, think that dyna-
mite can be thrown with perfect
safety to the gunner, and with disas-
trous effect to the object it strikes. "
The gun when IN position is mount
ed on tripod, and has the appearance
of long, slender telescope. The
small tubes connect with receiver,
which in turn is connected with a
twenty-five horse power 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 mis-
sile penetrated heavy wooden target,
backed with hard packed earth, rs
inches. During the passage it OBJ
tanned a fall of twelve degrees. The
gun, however, is not intended to throw
a proiectile as direct weapon, but as
carrier of dynamite. So rapid IS the
explosion of dynamite that its force is
ALWAYS downward Consequently a
dynamite shell exploding on the side
of vessel would not produce as dis
astrous effect,as if il struck on the deck.
This gun is contracted to meet all
the necessary requirements. The
proiectile, though resembling base
bali bat, will, when shot from the
gun by an expert marksman, make a
graceful curve in the air, like an ar
row, and descend, head downward,
upon the deck of a vessel. With a
heavier pressure it can be shot as a
direct weapon. The pressure can be
regulated at will. When discharged
there is no report, but the missile
leaves the gun with a shrill whistle
which produces as disagreeable SEN
sation in ones ear as a buzz saw when
it strikes a hard knot. The force
obtained by 200 pounds pressure was
remarkable. At first discharge the
Uhree-quarter-inch iron bars which sup
port the gun were bent nearly double
by the reaction, While the projectile
shot from the bore like ball from a
heavy gun, and penetrated the
wooden target twenty-six inches.
II believe said Col Hamilton,
that the gun will prove to be an eff
fective weapon for harbor defense.
Lieut. Zalinski is very enthusiastic
over it, and is confident of its success.
As soon as we have favorable weather
we will make experiments on the
water.
unpPIRIE lRIEITN