The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-18
DEATH-DEALING INVENTION.
An Indianapolis Mans New Method of
Using Dynamite in Warfare.
Lieutenant raydon's Explanation of the ORR
ginof Some Damaging Stories About Him
Telegraphed from San Francisco.

Lieutenant James W. Graydon, late Of the
United States navy, is visiting relatives in this
city as break in his journey from San Fran
cisco to Europe. He carries with him per-
fected invention in the manner of dynamite
shells, which can be used in any form of pro-
Jectile from pistol cartridge to the heaviest
she'll An annoyance in the shape of tele-
grams in Chicago papers reached him yesterday
regarding the Dynamite Shell Company, of San
Francisco, which was to push his invention
The charges are that he broke faith with his as
sociates and left the California city largely in
debt. Lieutenant Graydon said to Journal
reporter, last night. "These charges are absurd,
and believe are manufactured and given pub
licity solely to delay me in my European plans.
Had L time I would investigate their source
and bring the writers of the kilograms,
as well as the papers that printed them. to an
swer for the wrong leave for New York Sun
day evening" and 60 thence to France and Rus
STA for the purpose of protecting my invention
and bringing it into use in the naval and arm y
services of those countries No one in the world
knows the secret Of my process, but its success
has been demonstrated time and again. be-
gan my experiments in China, while in charge of
the torpedo service of that empire along
the Canton river. The invention was
then perfected and on my way across the Pacif-
ic planned the company through which the
manufacture of the shell was to be made in this
country. had been three years in China, which
dsposes Of the statement of Major Buckley,
who claims that Major Houseworth. of the
late confederate army, invented a dynamite
shell in June, last year, before did mine had
been at work two years on my invention before
Major Houseworth's alleged discovery. 1t lis
said that the latters shell has been adopted by
England. This is not true for England has
adopted no dynamite projectiles. 1t is my pur-
pose to Introduce my shell to the service of that
country. It ia claimed that my invention is
precisely like that of the alleged Houseworth
she'll How can that be, when I never
heard of any such projectile, have not been in
the country for three years. and have been
bringing my invention to q successful practice
during all these years. BESIDES, no one
knows how my she'll is constituted and the dyna-
mite force utilized how does anyone know that
my she'll and the pretended invention of House
worth are similarQ"
'Will you please explain your connection with
the San Francisco Company
when I reached that city gave demonstra-
tons of my invention. They were successful,
won the commentator of army officers, at
tracted capitalists and excited the interest of
those who wanted a share in it's commercial
value. Among those who congratulated me
warmly was General Howard. He said: I have
but one arm. Lieutenant. If had two would
throw both around you as evidence of my delight
over your success But to the commercial
feature of the invention. It was no trouble to
complete the company paper. The stock was
readily taken and it was agreed that $50, 900
should first be paid to me. ia consideration OF
which was to assign tho invention to the COM
pany with the secret of its manufacture There
was delay in paying the $25, 600 and finally it was
proposed that 10 per cent. of the stock should be
given to the company held $4,000
shares individually, and controlled 5000
more in trust. This 10 per cent would have
reduced my holdings to less than majority of
the stock. The next step, had consented to this,
would have been assessment of a dollar or
two each share of stock for workings Ca pita
On the completion of the 10 per cent of the
the company. You readily see the posi-
ton In which this would have placed
me in regard to my own invention. It was to
freeze out the inventor, get his property for
nothing. and assess him on the balance of his
large holdings to run the company. I met this
proposition by fiat refusal and insisted on the
original agreement of $50, 900 being paid me be-
fore anything was done. I said: Gentlemen,
will give you until tomorrow afternoon until
3 o'clock to decide what you will do.
At o'clock that day was at the place of
meeting to receive the answer. No one came.
l waited until o'clock and still no one appeared.
/ depended no longer on the San Francisco par
ties, babe good bye to my friends and came East
The company was only on paper. The other
charges are absurd and I tent myself by CIV
ing them an emphatic denial"
What do you propose to do relative to your
invention in this countryp
Il have received an order from Lieutenant
general Sheridan to proceed with my demon
STATIONS at Sandy Hook, with 100 pound 40
inch Parrot gun and finch Aimes rif1ed
wrought iron gun. I cannot attend
to this myself, but will have some
body conduct it while l carry out my
European plans BY the way, received a tele-
gram from San Francisco this evening stating
Kolf Governor of Eastern Siberia, and Prince
Ferdinand Wieltsenstein, Assistant Governor of
that country, viii meet me in New York. 1t
was their purpossto join me here, but as they
were delayed in reaching San Francisco, they n o
doubt, think I am in New York We
sai, f r-, that cctv on the Both. see in this
published telegram Of insinuations against me
Colonel Savage is mentioned as one of the suffer
ers from too much confidence in me. Colonel
Savage is my associate in the contract hold for
protecting the Siberian harbors with my torpe-
does and nothing has disturbed our relations l
don't owe a cent in San Francisco. On the
contrary there are may debts due me in
that city. 1t will be matter of local
interest to know that have arranged for Cat
ling gun practice here with my shells. Aquilla
Jones, SEN, and Leon O. Bailey were to see me
tonight and both have manifested an interest
in the invention. AS to the other insinuatons
in the kilograms have nothing to say except
that they are absolutely false"