The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-22
Bills WoRrEs POWDER.
Il Is Both Eoisele=s and Emok eless
PoXde-.

WAsHIsGToS, Nov. 2l.-One Of the most
notable men in Washington at present is
Capt Ledyard Ellsworth. He is the in
ventor Of the smoks.sss and noiseless
powder which has caused 50 much discus
non in military circles both in Europe and
America. Capt. Ellsworth Is short man.
WITH keen. shrs@d, typical New England
face. he looks about = years old, his hair
beng raven black, cut Is in reality
% de appears now 20 be in ex-
ceIeor humOr with himself and the
word, and the reason Is that he has dis
posed % his great secret or share IN II -
a representative Of ths German government
On terms that enrich the inventor. Capt
Ellsworth showed the reporter the papers,
"nlcn have just been signed. making con-
veyance Of the formula 70 Carl Won Auder-
llsch OF London, who, ]; Is said, represents
the German government.
Won Auderlitch, according 70 these
papers, obtained 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 Auderitch pays $500, 900,
and Is 70 pay 80, 900 per year in semi-annual
payments Tor ninety nine years. The Ger
man government receives the full
formula for the manufacture of the powder.
with drawings Of machinery, ETC. The
-O--l ITOF4-4r> lA4f1t II NOV.
l, 1889, the purchasers should inform Capt.
Ellsworth by personal service, letter, cable
or otherwise Of their desire they shall have
the option OF purchasing the remaining
right, that is for the United States, Mexico
and Central America for a like sum,
100000 down and 81, 0C0 year for ninety
nine years.
Capt. Ellsworth said that, as a patriotic
American, he wished the United States to
have share in his invention, and negotia-
tons and private trials have been going on
for some time. Now the European con-
tracing parties claim that on Oct u they
sent to Capt. Ellsworth at his home in
Hartford a letter closing with the option on
the remaining rights. This letter was not
received by Capt Ellsworth, as he was then
IN the west, and IL Is a question whether by
the terms Of the contract as before stated,
this acceptance, neither received nor re-
Gel pied for, can be held as binding IL il
can, it Is said our government has no
chance Of being let into the secret of this
new powder. If not, it may be able to
obtain an equality with Germany 10 the
matter
The powder" said Capt. Ellsworth. sis
my own invention, no one else having lent
any aid in discovering the ingredients or
pertectlng the process l have always been
consld cradle Of chemist, and before the
war worked in gunpowder factory. After
serving through the war l turned my at
tentlon 10 getting up an explosive which
should be effective, and at the same time
noiseiess and smokeless. 1t was hard mat
ter, but started on the right track, and in
1879 reached practically the desired
end. Since then the process has been i'm
proved. In 1879 offered TO make tests for
the United States, and had considerable
correspondence with the government Off
Gals The ordnance department were
willing TO test the powder, but required
that | should give them directions how to
manufacture it. This, Of course, refused
to do, as the whole value lies 10 the secret
of ingredients. Since then have had nego-
tiations with several governments, and
after the trial OF the powder at the sham
battle at Hanover, the formula was sold to
Mr. Won Auderlitch.
THE powder is of a dark chocolate
color,n continued Capt. Ellsworth b, land is
absolutely noiseless and smokeless, and
gives Off no oder or 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 Ger
| many, and not mine, which was used only
| for the small arms | should be only too
| glad to allow the United States to use this
| powder, and if arrangements can be made
| will do 80, but if the letter sent by Won
Auderlitch on the 18th holds as a notice, it
"i4 70 lupOSslOIo 10 70 LurUner WIFI any
| negotiations with this government
Capt. Ellsworth has prepared a letter to
| Secretary Proctor, asking that the powder
| be tested with the view of purchasing, but
| it is doubtful whether the letter will now
be sent. In the letter he says that at
Hanover, during the sham battle, 1000
rounds were used by the troops with per
feet success, and be 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.