Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-19

TIRELY TO THE KAISER AND HIS SOLDIERS
WHAT THE POWDER LOOKS LIKE-THE TERMS
OF THE SALE.
Among the notable men in town just now is
Capt Ledyard Ellsworth of Hartford, Conn.
He is the inventor of the smokeless and noise
less powder which has caused so much discus
sion in military circles. both in Europe and
America. Capt. Ellsworth is a short man with
a keen shrewd typical New England face. He
looks about forty-five years old, his hair being
raven black, but is in reality sixty. He appears
now to be in excellent humor with himself and
the world and the reason is, as he explained to
a STAR reporter, that he has disposed of his
great secret or a share in it to a representative
OF the German government on terms that en-
rich the inventor
THE CONVEYANCE.
Capt. Ellsworth showed The STAR reporter
the papers, which have just been signed, max
ing conveyance of the formula to Carl Won
Auderlitch of London, who, it is said, repre-
sents the German government.
Won Auderlltch, according to these papers,
obtains for his government from the inventor
the exclusive rights for all countries with the
exception of the United States, Mexico and
Central America. For these rights Won Auder-
Itch pays $500, 900 and is to pay $4,000 per
year IN semi-annual payments for ninety-nine
years. For this the German government re-
ceives the full formula for the manufacture of
the powder, with drawings of machinery, &c.
AN OPTION ON AMERICAN RIGHTS.
The contract further provides that if before
November l. 1885, the purchasers should in
form Capt Ellsworth by personal service, let
ter. cable or otherwise of their desire they
shall have the option of purchasing the re-
manning rights, that is for the United States,
Mexico and Central America, for like sum
l. e., S5OO,0OO down and $4,000 per year for
ninety nine years.
Capt. Ellsworth said to THE STAR reporter
that as patriotic American he wished the
United States to have share in his invention,
and negotiations and private trials have been
going on for some time. Now the European
contracting parties claim that on October IL they
sent to Capt. Ellsworth at his home in Hart
ford letter closing with tine option on the re-
naming rights. This letter was not received
by Capt. Ellsworth, as he was then in the west,
and 1t is a question whether by the terms of
the contract, as before stated, this acceptance,
neither received nor receipted for, can be held
as binding.
II it can, it is said, our government has no
chance of being let into the secret of this new
combustble. If not it may be able to obtain
an equality with Germany in the matter.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE POWDER.
"The POWDER" said Capt Ellsworth to THE
STAR reporter, sis my own invention, no one
else having lent any aid in discovering the in
gradients or perfecting the process. Ihave al
ways been considerable of q chemist and before
the war worked in gunpowder factory
After serving through the war turned my at
tentlon to getting up an explosive which should
be effective and at the same time noisoless and
smokeless. 1t was a hard matter, but started
on the right track and in 1879 reached practi-
cally the desired end. Since then the process
has been improved. In 1879 l offered TO make
tests for the United States and had consider
able correspondence with the government Off
Gals. The ordnance department were will
ing to test the powder but required that 1
should give them directions how to manufac-
ture 1t. This, of course. refused to do, as the
whole value lies in the secret of the ingredients
Since then have had negotiations with several
governments and after the trial of the powder
at the sham battle at Hanover the formula was
sold to Mr.. Won Auderlitch.
DARK CHOCOLATE COLOR.
"The powder is dark chocolate color" said
the inventor, 'and is absolutely noiseless and
smokeless, and gives of no odor nor gas. The
powder used for the heavy guns at the sham
battle and which the papers said gave off such
noxious vapors was another kind made in
Germany and not mine, which was used only
for the small arms. 1 should be only too glad to
allow the United States to use this powder, and
il arrangements can be made will do SO, but
If the letter sent by Won Auderlitch on the 18th
holds as notice it will be impossible to 90
further with any negotiation with the govern
ment"
Capt Ellsworth had prepared a letter to Sec
retary Proctor asking that the powder be
tested with the view of purchase, but it is
rather doubtful whether the letter will now be
sent. In the letter he says that at
Hanover during the sham battle II. 900 rounds
I'VE hy ha frpp
and he desires that three separate trials be
made by the department, one with small arms,
the second with field artillery and the third
with heavy guns.