The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-07-30
MODERN WAR ENGINES.
THE oArlINc GUN AND IT'S INVENTOR.
An Interesting Sketch OF the Man Who Do.
vised the Most Destructive of Mod
ern Guns-His Checkered and
Evontful Career.
tRooholstor N. W Horald.l

[Roohoster IN. " Herald.l
The Gatling gun is, of all modern en-
gines of war, most terrible. asked its
inventor, Richard Gatling, not long since,
how he came to bend his mind In such d.
rection. "Well," he replied, shifting his
gold glasses, 81 was in indianapolis dur.
ing the war, and most every day walked
through the Union Depot. Sad scenes
were on every hand then--families all torn
up--fathers, brothers and husbands going
10 the front, and, after bit, many of
their bodies coming back, when the walls
of woe were blended with the cheers of
recruits and the few happy greetings ofre.
turn. The terrible scenes / saw, the
agonizlng trials OK partings and meetings,
and the depths of despair--ah, shall
never forget, 1t seemed so terrible to
me, this war, STRIFE and slaughter, that
| became almost fascinated by its horror,
and finally conceived the idea Of invent
ing gun so powerful and effective as an
engine of war that soldiers might in the
main be dispensed with"
This propesi ton, inconsistent though
1t be, led the way, and the inventor
talked on as we smoked together in tho
twilight.
"Aud L did have time over that gun.
Previous TO that / had invented a grain
drill, for which had sold manufacturing
rights all over the West, realizing In the
noighborhood Of $4,000 therelrom. was
pretty well fixed; when commenced on
the gun business my shekels began to go.
After perfecting the model Of the original
gun had o long search IN quest Of an es-
tablishment adequate to their manufacture.
Finally, when six guns were completed in
the Cincinnati shop the works were fred,
doubtless by Southern sympathizers and
the whole was dead loss. The Cincinnati
type foundry was my next resource, and
as tho war had thrown a damper upon
| type founding and the works were idle, the
proprietors made a contract for another
half-dozen guns. When completed q Chi
cago man on his way to Washington under.
took theirsale. Secretary Stanton wouldn't
even look at them, however. General But
Ter was the only military man whs could
be brought 20 sec the merit Of the invention
and on his own authority he purchased
them at 81 900 each. Unluclcily for me my
selling agent failed before accounting TO
me and the sale brought me nothing. Gen.
eral Butler used the guns very effectively
in one engagement, when, the ammunition
| being exhausted, tho Secretary Of War per-
emptorily refused to furnish supplies, and
the weapons lay idle.
81 made more guns, however, my
friends advice TO the contrary. Now the
United States Government owns over one
hundred Of them, and they arc usod by
every civilized Government"
Calling has, like most inventors, had
checkered career, yet one marked through
out by less Of failure than any Of his class.
The screw as a motive power was his first
invention. AZ that time he was but boy
with his father in Virginia. A noighbor
invited the father TO inspect model Of a
boat 80 constructed as 10 operate peddles
underneath tho water and obviato the diff
ficulties OF motive power In which side
wheels were liable TO be shot away during
engagement. Young GGtling was an in.
terested spectator OF the trial and, noticing
the utter clumsiness Of action and waste Of
power in the mechanism, set his brain to
work to devise something better. In a
short time he evolved a perfect working
model with the screw propeller as motive
power. His father was called upon 10
pass Judgment upon the invention. "Its
worth patenting, Richard" the senior con-
cluded, on inspection; "in the
fall rll have business for you at Bal.
| a,I IN
Washington and make application your
self" A few months later this programme
was carried out, but, much 10 the boys
chagrin, L was found that Ericsson had
presented a similar model two days In ad.
vance Of the forner's claim, and not fully
understanding the value Of the invention,
or in fact, the means Of substantiation OF
OF prior claim, the inventor did not con.
test the matter, as there could be no doubt
that It was original with both.
During the early years ofhis progress as
an inventor Calling made visit TO Mag
ara Falls. The magnificent power of the
cataract suggested a train Of thought
which bore fruit in the formation Of com
pany in Pittsburgh with the object Of sup
plying compressed air as q motive power
from some central point. Failing to obtain
a patent upon the idea, it was abandoned
though the decisions of the case have since
been made the basis for the patent-offlce
rulings Of the United States.
Captain Calling is now about seventy
years of age, quite gray, but active and
erect as OF yore. His is familiar figure
at Washington hotels, and in fact at the
capitals of the world, though his nominal
residence is at Hartford, Conn. OF late
he has perfected several valuable i'm
provements upon the engine Of war which
bears his name, all of which are applied Il
the IN ore recent purchases of this Govern
ment.