Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-20
SOLD HIS SECRET.
The Inventor of SmOkeIess and NOISeless
Powder Disposes of His Formula to
the German Government The
United States May Also Obtain

a Share in the Discovery.
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE D1sPArcH.l
WASHINGTON, November 19.-The Star
this evening prints the following article:
Among the notable men in town Just now is
Captain Ledyard Ellsworth, of Hartford, Corn.
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. Ellsworth is short man, with a keen,
shrewd, typical New England face He looks
about As years of age, his hair being raven
black. but he is in reality co. He appears now
to be in excellent humor with himself and the
world, and the reason is that he has disposed of
his great secret, or a share in it. to represent
atlve OF the German Government on terms
that enrich the inventor. Captain Ellsworth
showed the reporter the papers, which have
just been signed, making conveyance of the
formula to Carl Won Auderlitch of London,
who, it is said represents the German Govern
ment 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 the services Won
Auderlitch pays $500 900, and is to pay $4,000
per year, IN semi-annual payments, for SO years.
For this the German Government receives the
full formula for the manufacture of the pow
der, with drawings of machinery, etc.
The contract further provides that if, before
November L 1882 the purchasers should inform
Captain Ellsworth by personal service, letter,
cable, or otherwise, Of their desire, they shall
have the option of purchasing the remaining
rights that is, for the United States, Mexico
and Central America for like sum-s5OO. 900
down, and So 00O per year for SO years.
Captain Ellsworth said that as patriotic
American he wished the United States to have
a 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 II they sent to Captain
Ellsworth, at his home in Hartford, letter
closing with the option on the remaining
rights. This letter was not received by Cap
tain Ellsworth, as he was then in the West and
it is 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 Govern
ment has no chance of being let into the secret
of this new comb dstible. If not, it may be
able to obtain an equality with Germany in the
matter.
'The powder" said Captain Ellsworth. t.is
my own invention, no one else having lent any
aid in discovering the ingredients or perfecting
the process. have always been considerable
of chemist, and before the war worked in a
gunpowder factory. After serving through the
war turned my attention to getting up an ex-
plosive which should be effective and at the
same time noiseless and smokeless. 1t was
hard matter, but started on the right track
and in 1879 reached practically the desired end.
Since then the process has been improved. In
1879 offered to make tests for the United
with the Government officials The ordnance
department was willing to test the powder but
required that should give it directions how to
manufacture it. This, OF course, refused to
dients. Since then I 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."