Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-10-19

A NOn.Bufsting Gun.
A MECHANIC MAKES A CANNON WHICH
CAN Nor BE EXPLODED.

LYING snugly housed near the point of
Sandy Hook. is great gun, nearly thirty
feet long. 1t has been there for some time
and is an object of curiosity to all who
visit the nei ghborhood. This gun was de-
signed in part by Mr.. Geo. Edgar. and is
his property. Many thousands of dollars
have been spent upon its construction and
exhibition, but though military commit
tee reported favorably upon it. no steps
were taken by the government toward
purchasing the patents taken out by its
constructors. The claims made tor the
gun refer exclusively to the breecb, which
IS said to possess no little novelty and
merit.
Not long ago Mr.. Edgar visited Wash
ington on business connected with this
gun. He was accompanied by an Ameri-
can mechanician and designer OF guns,
now employed by the Russian government
to conduct their great gun works on the
Neva. After somewhat unsatisfactory
visit to the war department. the two were
sitting in the cafe of the Ebbitt house, dis
cussing the chances of the adoption of the
principle OF the big gun by the military
authorities.
They tell me-" said Mr.. Edgar, THAT
what they want is a gun that won't ex-
plode when they get such one, they say
they expect to have no trouble in finding
an easy working and efficient breech me-
chanism."
Yes" replied his companion. that's
what they are looking for all over the
world
The two men sat silent for some time
Finally, Mr.. Edgar in crossing his legs.
kicked off the cover from an Indian rub
Der cuspidor Like most of these contriv-
ances, this cover was made of hard rub
Der with beveled edge. the sides as they
sloped toward the hole in the center hay
ing fall or decline of about 80 degrees
from plane.
Mr. Edgar observed this cover intently
as it rolled and gyrated about the marble
floor Before it came to a dead stop he
seized it with something like precipita-
ton. and with sparkling eyes exclaimed
to his companion, ''I've got it -
Got what ~ asked the latter languid-
ly.
1--we got the principle on which the
non bursting gun can be constructed"
"Bahr'
Not needing this expression of incred-
ulity on the part of his friend. man, too,
of great skill in mental working, Mr.. Ed
gar gave such forcible reasons for believ-
ing non-bursting gun could be construct
ed of series of plates similar in form
to the top of rubber cuspipor, that ne
was compelled to admit that there was
something in the idea.
Returning to New York city, Mr.. Edgar
at once set to work to make gun on the
plan suggested by the incident in the Eb-
bitt house cave. This experiment gun is
four feet long, and composed throughout
its whole extent of corrugated plates of
Russian iron. At its completion, he took
it up to West Point, which. he had been
told in Washington, was one of the gov
eminent testing points for guns.
On his arrival at the works, and men,
tioning the fact that he had new gun
with him, he was told that the number of
new guns constantly appearing was legion.
"The trouble with all of Them" said the
officer. "is that they burst too readily.
What kind of test do you want us to put
your gun to ?" he added.
WHY replied Mr.. Edgar, Il would
like to have you burst it,"
Certainly, said the officer, with some
thing like sarcasm in his voice. Were
J alwas glad to accommodate gentlemen
with new guns"
The gun was now taken behind hill, a
double charge of powder introduced, and
fired with a time fuse. 1t turned two or
} three back somersaults, but remained in
: tact 1t was now loaded with quadru-
pie charge and fired, the only effect being
to multiply the number of the back somer-
saults.
This is very good indeed" said the
officer. Ppm sorry to keep you waiting
so long. III now load it up to the muzzle
and that will be the last of TT Fired
under these conditions, it rose in the air,
whirled around for few moments, and
then came down and buried itself in the
earth. After being dug up it was charged
nearly up to the muzzle with powder and
wad, and then spiked. The only result
was that it rose higher in the air than be-
fore, spun around more rapidly, and
buried itself deeper in the ground when
it came down. 1t had not even been
Clipped!
rs there anything else you'd like to
put into it ?" demanded Mr.. Edgar, it be-
ing now his turn to be ironical.
No" was the reply: ait beats me -
Having thus stumped the gun-testing au-
thorities. Mr.. Edgar brought his little
gun back to New York in triumph. -
Scientific american.