Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-29
LOOK OUT, GERMANY.
A Terrific Gunpowder Invented by a
Southside Chemist,
SUPERIOR TO FRENCH EXPLOSIVE.
Negotiating With Uncle Sam for Cool
100000 for His Patent.
FEARFUL FORCE OF THE NEW POWDER

we'll enough for Germany to have intentions
upon England in Africa, but when Bis
marck and the bloomin' young Emperor get
to trifing with the affections of Miss Colum-
bia in Samoa Uncle Sam is apt to become
Jealous.
All this sounds apparently indefinite, but
it is most peculiarly to the point, when it is
remembered that every individual patriotic
citizen in the United States (and every citi-
zen is patriotic) is keenly watching the
progress of the unsettled settlement between
Germany and America in regard to the
Samoa question.
A man on the Southside, at this critical
iuncture, arises and informs paipitating
public thatno one need be afraid OF Germany,
or any other nation that cannot speak with
the Yankee twang. In fact he has invented
powder that puts in the shade the famous
French powder, for which over hundred
German lives have been sacrificed in trying
to fathom the secret Of its ingredients. The
Germans, it will be remembered, have sue
ceeded in capturing several French guns in
which the strange powerful powder is used,
but they have not succeeded in analyzing
the powder.
THE INVENTOR TALKS.
That the secret of this powder has not
only been fathomed, but improved upon, is
shown by the inventions of John Hind
marsch, an expert roller and chemist in
divers Southside mills. The story of his
invention, and his connection with the
United States Government are best told by
Mr.. Hindmarsch, and vouched for by the
letters.
II have powder" said Mr.. Hindmarsch,
"that will throw 3S-caliber ball, "a very small
ball you will observe, through half-lnch
steel plate at 500 yards, and through two
inch oak plank at distance Of from one and
one-half to two miles. have done this with
only 45 grains of my powder, where the
United States military use Is grains, with
nothing like the execution.
"My powder is eight times stronger than
the explosive used by the Government mill
tary, and if you know anything of powder
you will realize the terrific force and utility
of safe powder eight times as strong as
that now used. My powder has nothing to
do with dynamite or nitro-glycerine, and is
not dangerous to handle. 1t is almost
smokeless, and at 100 yards you cannot hear
the report of the gun; but I assure you, you
will feel the tremendous force Of the bullet.
81 have been experimenting with chemi-
Gals for 25 years, and while mixing two in
gradients of my own for fireworks two years
ago, made up my mind to try the effects
of third absolutely untested ingredient.
The effect was terrific, my mortar and pestle
were blown to flinders, and my wife thought
was killed.
"The fearful force oe this remarkably
small mixture set me to thinking, and by
two years of hard work and constant tests.
1 have brought my powder to perfection
not equaled even by the famous mysterious
French powder. The military, YOU know,
use 45 to so cahber, while 1 use only SO
caliber. / am going to try splendid Win
chester rifle, but am having Remington
make gun especially for me.
AN EXPERT CALLED IN.
"I don't know Higgins, our splendid shot
in this city, but am going to ask him to 60
through some trials with me. for 1 have
long ago passed the experimental stage, and
my powder is fact. We shall certainly
shoot the Winchester off first with a string,
for fear it will not be strong enough to
stand even very small quantity of nv
powder. When my new gun comes, made
especially strong for the new powder, Mr..
Higgins will be asked to test it in regard
to force, quantity and accuracy.
Il wrote letter to the Secretary of War
telling him of the practical tests of my
powder, and said also that wanted the
United States to have the first show at it,
for know it to be invaluable.
Secretary Endicott referred my letter at
once to Charles s. Smith, Captain of the
Ordnance Department, and Captain Smith
wrote this letter as you see. The letter says
that my report had been carefully consid-
cred, and if would send sample OF the
powder, they would test it and send me q
written report. However, am not sending
any samples just now. think can mix
the powder so it would be perfectly impossi-
Die W dlNLC IL, SlllI buty mlRuI udppcu W
do so, then where would be without my
patent
"My powder consists of but three in
gradients. 1 pulverize these crude in
gradients, mix them with water into sort
of dough, roll it out like paste and let it
dry. When dry, 1 pulverize it again. and
in this last pulverizing only question of
danger arises. Such safeguards, however.
can be thrown around the process as to OBJ
viate all danger to human life, and
THE CHEAPNEss OF THE ARTICLE,
after it is finished, is simply amazing. Be-
side that it is as safe as other powders to
handle in the field outside of its terrible
effects upon the enemy. When it is fin
ished it is beautiful pink color and very
light.
GAS I said, the powder is eight times
stronger than ordinary powder, and it pos
sesses peculiar virtue in that neither salt
nor fresh water will injure it. Its utility will
especially be found in its use with small
arms, though someone will probably invent
q cannon that will withstand its force.
81 want cool 100000 from the Govern
ment for my secret, and think will get it..
for 1 am willing to go through any tests
with them to show that it will do all and
more than 1 claim for it. will conduct
some public tests as soon as my special
Remington gun is finished"
Mr.. Hindmarscn is Scotch English
man, foreigner by birth, but an American
to the core, and thinks il there is any
trouble likely to arise between this and a
foreign power, America should and will
have the first say as to his remarkable in
vention. He will not, reasonably enough,
say much about his powder, except as to its
force and cheapness. From lew side re-
marks he allowed to slip, however, it may
be that he has fathomed the secret and
turned to practical use the heretofore
mysterious power of coal dust or mill dust