The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-10-24
A GUN THAT WILL NOT BURST.
Scientific Americau.1

Scientific Americau.l
 Lying snugly housed near a point on Sandy Hook is great gun, nearly thirty feet long. It has been there for some time and is an object of curiosity to all who visit the reig ghborhood. This gun was designed in part by Mir. George Edgar, and is his property. Many thousands of dollars have been spent upon its construction and exhibition, but though a military committee reported favorably upon it, no steps were taken by the government towards purchasing the patents taken out by it's constructors. The claims made for the gun refer ex- clusively to the breach, which is said to possess no little novelty and merit.
 Not long ago MT. Edgar visited Wash ington on business connected with this gun. He was accompanied by an Ameri- can mechanieian and designer Of guns, now employed by the Russian govern ment to conduct their great gun works on the Neva. After somewhat unsatis- factory visit to the war department, the two were sitting in the cafe of the Ebbit House discussing the chances ofthe adop- tion of the principle of the gun by the military authorities.
 ' They tell me" said Mir. Edgar, "that what they want is 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 mechanism"
 "Yes," renlied his companion, that IS what they are looking for all over the world"
 The two men sat silent for some time.
 Finally, MT. Edgar, in crossing his legs, kicked off the cover from an India rubber cuspidor. Like mos, of these this cover was made of hard rubber with beveled edges, the sides as they sloped toward the hole in the center havlng a fall or decline of about thirty degrees from plane.
 MT. E E1gar observed this cover intently as it rolled and grated about the marble floor.
 Before 1t came to a dead stop he seized it with something like precipitation, and with sparkling eyes exclaimed to his i've got it 20
 Got what" asked the latter languidly.
 five got the principle on which the uon- bursting gun can be constructed"
 Bah !"
 Not needing this expressian of incred- ulity on the part oi ms friend, a man, too, of great skill in metal working, Mir. Edgar gave such forcible reasons for be- lievlng non- bursting gun could be con. structed of series of plates similar in form 10 the top of rubber cuspidor, that he was compelled to admit that there was something in the idea.
 Returning to New York city, MT. Ed gar at once set to work to make gun on the plan suggested by the incident ln the Ebbltt House cafe.
 This experimental gun is four feet long, and composed throughout its whole extent 0: corrugated plates of Russian iron. Al its completion. he took It up to West Point, which, he had been told in was one of the government testing points for guns.
 On his arrival at the works, and men, tioning the fact that he had a new gun with him, he was told that the number of new guns constantly appearing was legion. ." The trouble with all of them" :" sad the officer, is, that they burst too readily. What kind of a test do you want us to put your gun to? ?' he added.
 Why," replied Mir. Edgar, {" would like to have you burst it"
 Certainly" sad the officer, with like sarcasm in his voice. We're always glad to accommodate gentlemen with new guns"
 The gun was now taken behind hill, a double charge of powder introduced, and fired with time fuse. IL turned two or three back somersaults, but re- mained intact It was now loaded with a quadruple charge, and fired, the only effect being to multiply the number of the back somersaults.
 This is very good indeed" said the oficer. I'm sorry to keep you waiting 50 long. I'll now load it up to the mug .le. and that will be the last of it."
 Fired under these conditions, it rose in he air, whirled around for a few mo- ments, and then came down and buried | tself in the earth. After being dug up 1t was charged nearly up to the muzzle with powder and wad, and then spiked. | The only result was that it rose higher in he air than before, spun around more .apidly, and buried itself still deeper Tn he ground when it came down. It had | ,ot even been chipped!
 Is there anything else you'd like to put into it" demanded MT. E igar, 1t being now his turn to be ironical
 "No!' was the reply; Ut beats me-" Having thus siumped the gun testing Mir. Edgar brought his little ,un back to New York in triumph.