The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-03-14

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SECTIONAL VIEW OF REPEiIEk's BOW,
SHOWING:
4, gigantic gun ussa m projecting tho instanta-
neo0s motor; ED, incline elevator uscd In loading
gun; c. loading chamber: D. bomb proof hood 70
gun
This projectie was not, In the ordin-
ary sense Of the word, an explosive, and
was named BY its inventors "The In
stantaneous Motor" It was discharged
from an ordinary cannon, but no gum
powder or other explosive compound
was used to propel it. Tho 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 In form.
and pointed at the outer end. They were
filed with hundred, of small tubes, each
rndiating outward from . central line
Those in the middle third of the bomb
pointed directly outward, while these in
its front portion were inclined forward
at slight angle, and those in the rear
portion backward at tho same angle
Ono tube at tho end OF the bomb, and
poitfting directly backward, Furnished
tina motive power.
Each Of these tubes could exert q force
sufficient to move an ordinary train Of
passenger cars ono mile, and this power
could be exerted tnstantaneously 80 that
the difference in time in the starting Of .
train at one end of the mile and its M
rival at the other would not be appre.
ciable. The difference in concussionary
force between q train moving at the rate
Of mile in two minutes, or even one
minute, and another train which moves
a mile in On instant, can easily be imag-
imed.
In these bombs those tubes which
might direct their powers downward OF
laterally upon the earth were capable OF
instantaneously propelling every portion
of solid ground Oh rock to a distance OF
two or three hundred yards, while the
PARTICLES of objects on the surface of the
earth were instantaneously removed to 6
propelled the bomb was Of a force grad
uated according to circumstances, and il
would carry bomb to as great a dis
tance as accurate observation for pur
poses Of aim could be made. Its force
was brought into action while in tn.
cannon by means of electricity. while
the same effect was produced in the
other tubes by the conclusion of the stce
head against the object aimed ut.
What gave the tubes their power wa
the jealously guarded secret.
The method of aiming was rs novel a.
the bomb itself. In this process nothing
depended on the eyesight of the gunner
the personal equation was entirely eiimi
mated. The gun was 30 mounted that it
direction was accurately indicated b,
graduated scales: there was an instru
ment which was acted upon by the dip
rise or roll of the vessel, and whicl
showed at any moment the position o
the gun with reference to the plane o
the sea surface.
Before the discharge of the cannon a,
observation was taken by one of the sci
entific men which accurately determines
the distance to the object to be aimed at
and reference to . carefully prepares
mathematical table showed to wha
points on the graduated scales the gul
should be adjusted; and the instant tha
the muzzle of the cannon was in the pc
sition that it was when the observation
was taken a button was touched, and th
bomb was instantaneously placed o.
the spot aimed at. The exactness wit
which the propelling force of the bonn
could be determined was an importan
factor in this method Of aiming.
As soon as three of tho spring armore
vessels and five CRABS were completed
the syndicate felt itself ready to bcgi
operations. 1t was indeed time. Tho sea
had been covered with American an
British merchantmen fastening home
ward, or to friendly ports, before th
| actual commencement Of hostilities. b.
all had not been fortunate enough {
reach safety within the limits Of tim
allowed, and several American me,
chantmen had been already captured b
fast British cruisers.
Tho members OF tho sJndicate we
understood that II xwar was to bc cal
ried on as they desired c4hsy must strik
the first real blow. Comparatively speal
ing, very short time had elapsed dne
| tho declaration Of war, and the Sppurt,
tunity to take the initiative Wa 2M tper
It was in order to tako this initiaIiv
that, in the early hours Of q July morr
ing, two of the syndicate's armore
| vessels, each accompanied by q cral
steamed out Of New England port, an
headed for the point OH the Canada
| coast where it had been decided to ope
the campaign.
The vessels Of tho syndicate had no I,
dividuaf names. The spring armore
ships were termed "repelIers," and wei
numbered, and the crabs were known b
the letters Of the alphabet. Each repcll<
was In charge of director Of nav,
operations; and the whole naval force {
the syndicate was under the co,nman
| of a director-in-c chief. On this momel
tous occasion this officer was on board {
Repener No. /, and commanded the lit
.leet.
fro BE coNTINCED.I
The person whose sole object in Ii
is to further their own interest regart
less Of the conseouences to others. h: