The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1889-06-14

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A. gigantic gun used n projec'n Ing tie iatanta-
ueoils iotor BE ncllun elevator used ID leading
gun: =, loading chamber; y, honh proof hood to
gun.
This projcctilc was not, in the ordin-
ary sense Of the word, IN explosive, and
was named b. its inventors 'The In
stantancous Motor" 1t was discharged
from an ordinary cannon, but 10 gun
powder OF other explosive compound
was used 10 propel it. The bomb pos
sessed in Itself the necessary power Of
propulsion, and the gun WAS used merely
to give it The proper direction.
These bombs were cylindrical i'll form,
and pointed at theouter end. They were
liliei will. hundred OF small tubes, each
radiating outward from u central line.
Those in the middle third of the bomb
pointed directly outward, while these in
its front portion were inclined forward
at Il slight angle, and those i'll the rear
portion backward at the same angle.
One tube at the end Of the bomb, and
pointing directly backward, furnished
the motive power.
Each of these tubes could c,:art Il force
sufficient 10 move au ordinary train Of
passenger cars one mile, and this power
could be cycrted instantaueousiy, so that
the difference in time i'll the starting Of I.
train at one end Of the mile and its az
rival at the other would not be apprc-
ciable. The difference in concussionary
force between 4 train moving at the rate
of 4 mile il two minutes, or even one
minute, and another train which moves
Il mile in an instant, can easily be iInag-
ncd.
In these bombs those tubes which
might direct their powers downward or
laternIy upon the earth were capable of
instntancously propelins every portion
Of solid ground or rock to a distance of
two OF three hundred yards, while the
PARTICLES OF objects on the surface OF the
earth were iustantincously removed to Il
far greater distance, The tube which
propelled the bomb WIS of a force grad
uatcu according to circumstances, and it
would carry a bomb to rs great dis
tance as accurate observation for pur-
poses Of aim could he made. Its force
WIS brought into action while in the
cannon hy means of electricity, while
the same effect was produced i'll the
other tubes by the conclusion of the steel
head against the object aimed at,
What gave the tubes their power was
the jealousy guarded secret.
The method Of aiming was as novel as
the bomb itself. In this process nothing
depended on the cycsight of the gunner;
| the personal equation was entirely elini-
| mated. The gun was so mounted that its
| direction was accurately indicated by
| graduated scales; there was an instru-
ment which was acted upon by the dip,
rise or roll of the vessel, and which
showed at any moment the position of
the gun with reference to the plane of
the sea surface.
Before the discharge of the cannon an
observation was taken by one of the sci
nntitic men which accurately determined
the distance to the object to be aimed at
and reference to a carefully prepared
mathematical table showed to what
points on the graduated scales the gun
should be adjusted; and the instant that
the muzzle Of the cannon was in the po-
sition that it was when the observation
was taken q button was touched, and tho
bomb was instantaneously placed on
the spot aimed at. Tho cxactness with
which the propelling force of tho bomt
could be determined was an important
factor III this method of aiming.
AS soon as three Of the spring arlnored
vessels and fivo "crabs" were completed
tho syndicate felt itself ready to begiI
operations. 1t was indeed time. The seas
had been covered with American and
British merchantmen fastening home
ward, or to friendly ports. before tho
actual commencement of hostilities. But
all had not been fortunate enough tt
reach safety within tho limits Of time
allowed, and several American mer
chantmen had been already captured by
fast British cruisers.
IT0 be continued.