The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-13
Thirty-ton Guns that Throw 90
Pound Projec,iIes ten Miles.

-Four well-known Detroit gentlemen
are interested in a terrible species OF
ordnance, with which important; expe-
riments have lately been made al Fort
Hamilton. y. y, and Of which q giant
representative is now being built at
sandy Hook. The charge used IS OF
dynamite, the projecting force compress
ca ar, and the inventors Of the new ord
nance thoroughly believe that i will
revolutionize the modern methods Of
warfare. They have already secured
patents IN every country where Il was
possible 10 secure them.
Il believe we have the most powerful
engine of war ever invented" said u
OF the gentlemen. There is nothing
that can stand before Il. Once we strike
an iron-clad and there is nothing left Of
her. We can demolish ii fort almost
instantly and blow up Detroit at two or
three shots. The explosion OF one OF
our 100 pound cartridges would render
Detroit entirely unrecognized Tor blocks
and blocks and Kill every person IN that
distance.
What is it loaded with.
"Dynamite.'
tltL NOW w YOU dlStlldI ~ II
by compressed air of course you
see it would be impossible to use gun
powder, for that would explode the dyna-
mite IN the gun"
How IS the dynamite carried? 2"
in projectiles weighing from ten to
100 pounds, according TO the size of the
gum
Then how is the charge exploded 2"
BY conclusion. and il explodes with
equal ease either upon striking land or
water"
Car it be fired with precision ,"
with even more thar rified cannon :
I'VE have done most of our experiment
ting with guns that throw a ten pound
projectile. We experimental mostly at
Fort Hamilton aud discharged the guns
at the sea. We we're not allowed to eX-
pertinent on land because of the great
danger of injuring people. We did dis
charge one or two proJectlles on land be
fore Gen. Hancock directed us to contine
operations to The sea, and came very
near killing some soldiers as it was. We
have permission after we get the big gun,
now making, completed to experiment
sith il on Sandy Hook"
How large is the new gum
1T will weigh about thirty tons, and
throw 100 pounds of dynamite ten miles.
We have thrown our ten pound ball three
miles. The big gun will throw a huge
proiectile that will be nearly twelve feet
long It's tail will be of light wood and
will act like the feather of an arrow. You
can easily conceive the amount of damage
that this projectile will cause when il
strikes the earth and explodes.
THE soldiers at Fort Hamilton, where
we have lately been making experiments
tell US that it will be impossible to get
men to fight when our ordinance comes
into use. Men IN garrisons would have
no chance whatever for their lives after
forts were brought within the range oil
the dynamite guns.
1t is not only capable of much more
deadly execution than the greatest can
non now extant, but it has other and
manifold advantages. The discharge oc-
c~asions a noise no louder than the short
puff sound made by the exhaust of a
steam pipe. There is no noise, no dirt,
no tremendous %recoil, no smoke. The
first intimations the enemy will receive of
the discharge will be When they see the
great projectile flying through the air.
Then there is no danger of bursting the
gun. Of course, the dynamite may ex-
piode by careless handling, but it will not
blow up in the gun"