Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-07-06
A NEW PHOTOGRAPHIC LIGHT.
Fine Pictures Taken by n Flash of Gun
Cotton.


At the last meeting Of the Society of
Amateur Photographers DR.. Il.G. PilTard,
of this city, exhibited a new method Of
taking photographs by artificial light, to
take the place Of the unsatisfactory
method Of burning ribbon OF magnesium
tape that has hocn used for a long time.
Before the meeting the young gentlemen
who don't know much about the business
and the gray boards who know il all
stood about in little groups eXcitodly dis
cus,inE the new invention.
The routine business was disposed II in
n hurry, and then DIR. PilTard was intro
ducrd. lie is n tall, well built gunGlc-
man, with a head Of thick, way brown
hair, n heavy muStache and strongly
marked features. Liberal applause greeted
him. He read a shoi, address IN the
difficulties experienced in producing sue
~cesSfully an artificial light that would do
for taking pictures. lie Illustrated sew
Cral of the unsuccessful attempts that had
been made, and dwelt particularly upon
the failure Of the magnesium light. lie
lit a ribbon of magnesium tape, and
showed how apt il was 10 flare up and
then subside and suddenly To 20 out be-
fore the picture was taken.
A big camera was rolled out into the
room, and a table, whose top came mp
ever, with the lens, was placed beside it.
A brick was placed upon the table, and
upon this brick the doctor put about six
grains OF gun cotton, and Sprinklcd over
it from ten TO fifteen grains of magne-
stun powlcr. A chair WAS placed in
front If the camera about ten feet away,
and Mr.. ii. j. Newton seated himself in
this clair. \ wax taper was liz and
handed to Glr. Newton. who held il close
10 his face. lie was focused in this POSI-
ton, and then the lights were turned
down until the room was dark. a dry
plate was placed in the camera, and then
DR.. PiiIard lit a match and applied il to
the compound. There was u flash Of
Of light that made the entire room rs
bright rs MONDAY for a second. Then
the gas was turned up.
Mr.. Robert Roosevelt was photographed
in the same way. The pictures developed
in a few minutes. and negatives were
handed around. Ehcy were perfect,
and u burst of applause greeted the ex-
pertinent,
All manner of dark places can he photo
graphed by this method, such rs thick
woodland scenes and dark caves. II viii
enable amateur photographers to take
pictures in their homes at night. and will
prolong the hours of work for the prntcs-
SIGNALS, and cO~rrespOndingly increase their
incomes.
An entirely original use to which il can
be pSt was referred TO by DIR. PifTard.
He explained that a small wad Of the
compound could lie placed in the barrel
Of a pistol and exploded by conclusion.
He did this. and the flash was Just rs
bright as when il was Ignitel in the loose
state. The idea is the construction If a
small amer made SO that il can be fast
ened to the barrel Of a pistol. IL is
claimed that the uses to which this can
be- put are manifold. Among them il the
avoidance of any more struggles at police
headquarters when a picture is wanted
for the Rogues' gallery. The rogue can
be photographed in a cell So dark that he
will not be able to see the photographer.
The flash is so quick that he will he given
no time 10 distort his features, 10 close
his eyes, or To disguise himself in any
way. II will also make a handy weapon
for a man TO have 10y his bedside. For in
stance, a man can have a self cooking re-
volver with a camera fastened on the
barrel. One of the chambers can he
loaded with this compound AMI the other
chambers with bullets. When a burglar
appears, the citizen can point his revolver
toward him and take his photograph
first. The flash will enable him tO sce if
there is more than one burglar around,
AMI il there is not, then hpcan fire Il hul-
let az the M whose photograph lac has.
If the man escapes, his photograph can
be handed 10 the police. If there Is more
than n burglar, the wis,st thing to do
would bc TO shoot the one who hasn't
been Photographed, for the other n can
DE caught ut any time 10y means Of tho
picture. Suppose a desperate burglar M
tyrs u house. and the house owner has
unly time to photograph him helngr h. is
murdered. In the morning, providing
the burglar hasn't stul n tn" Ca,uvra. rs
he surely will if he happens 10 rad tlis
story, the police develop the picture and
there is evidence enough to hang him.
The ingredients in DR.. PilIard's com
pound ARE said to he Absolutely safe.
Among other things exhibited was a new
developer known rs ''hydroclniun. Snv-
eral pictures that had been l"y,lppal by
1t were SO perfect that the hatr ON mans
hand could be distinctly son. 4 film,
upon which negatives can be- taken,
created much favorable comment. These
can be- carried conveniently, aud are not
only much lighter than glass, but they
are also less fragile.
DR.. Higgins produced what he termed
a ''linder.' This is a. hr used Tor the
purpose If rapidly locating my moving
object, 50 that il can be photographed bc-
fore il can get beyond the range Of the
camera. The 'iindcr" i, a small square
box with a ground glass top and a small
lens in one end. II You want to photo
graph n running deer Ur a savage animal
in the act Of sprinying upon a victim, n
moving Steamboat, "A bird flying through
the air, or anything clsc that hasn't got
time to wait, you just place the "iindcr"
on top Of your camera, push the camera
In or out, ms the case may be-. until the
object is seen in the ground glass. and
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