The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-05-09
THE CAMP FIRE.
AN HOURS CHAT WITH OUR
OLD SOLDIERS.
succssseui smoksless Powder-The Origin
Of "Hold the Fort"-An Epi- ti
sode In Georgia-
ETC., Eto.

In the light OF the highly satisfac-
tory results recently obtained with u
new brand OF smokeless powder OF
American make. ordnance officials
are now convinced that 1t is only a
question OF few months before the
Army and Navy will be,able to adopt
q new standard powder equal In efii-
cheney 10 the very best produced by
any foreign power. Both Army and
Navy Bureaus have been experiment
ing extensively OF late with smokeless
powder. The best results obtained
by the Navy were from brand man
ufactured under the supervision OF
Capt Jewell at Newport. 1t is con-
s,dered as good as any Of the foreign
brands and better than any OF those
submitted by private parties for trial,
but the naval authorities hope to
reach still higher degree Of por-
lection before adopting u standard
brand.
The army ordnance officials have
not made much progress in making
powder under their own supervision,
but In their efforts TO procure a suita-
BILE brand for the proposed new 80
caliber rifle they have made n great
many experiments with samples sub
mitted by private inventors, and 1t is
through these experiments that they
have finally obtained brand that
seems to come up to all the require
ments. This powder was submitted
by Warren B. Houghton OF North Ad-
ans. Mass. A report received ut the
army ordnance bureau q few days ago
from the Springfield Mass armory,
where the tests are being made. shows
the best results yet obtained with any
smokeless powder. With the mod
crate charge Of thirty-two grains and
q 230-grain bullet in 30-caliber rifle
a muzzle velocity Of 1857 feet per
second with a pressure OF only
$4,000 pounds to the square inch
was . attained. With the charge
increased to thirty-four grains We
locity Of 1000 feet per second with a
pressure Of So, 900 pounds were re-
corded. These are by far the highest
velocities and lowest pressures yet OBJ
tanned with any Of the new smokeless
pc wders.
The Wetterin powder. quantity OF
which was procured from abroad es-
pecially for these trials, gave only
1850 feet velocity and pressure OF
nearly 60. 900 pounds. This new Amor
lean powder is free from smoke. odor-
less, gives a progressive rate OF burn
ing Is uniform in action, docs not foul
the piece. and is supposed to have
good keeping qualities, though this
is point it will take time to doter-
mine. In addition TO having all these
qualities. which are possessed by only
few of the best foreign brands, IL
gives the minimum interior pressure
with the maximum initial velocity,
and In these respects surpasses other
brands. This powder. like most oil
the foreign brands. has nitro-cotton
base. It's other ingredients. which
make it superior to others, are not
known.
An Incident.
The time was about May 25, 1864.
and the place one days march south
OF Kingston, Ga. The writer, in
company with some alf.dozen
.'pards." were on their way to join
their commands in the Twenty-third
Corps, after having escaped capture
by the Wheeler raid between Cass
Station and Kingston. After a hard
and hungry march we camped near a
wagon-train that had parked for the
night. The writer carried with him a
light cavalry saddle, expecting to
pick up a disability" horse
or mule on the way. While
getting ready to take up our line OF
march the next morning man came
from the wagon-train, representing
himself to be the wagon-master. and
seeing the saddle asked IL it was for
sale, and what we would take for it.
Not being u dealer in saddles, we
we're unable to quote prices. He said
he would give 81 for it. Thinking
the money easier carried than the
saddle, we told him he could have II
a. that price. Gould we change a
W. Wilt vi COuTbc, We COulu hOt,
and he said the Lieutenant at the
train would change it, and he would
return in few minute, and pay for
the saddle, and then started away.
taking the saddle with him. After
waiting a few minutes 1t dawned upon
our mind that 1t would be well to look
after him, as he had possession Of
both saddle and money.
Going to the wagon-train we made
inquiries for the n-master, de.
scribing him, and also relating our
business transaction. No such
man had been seen, neither was there
q Lieutenant In charge Of the train
After q fruitless search among the
wagons we went our way Chatta-
hoochee- ward, minus saddle and the
expected g.. Now, IL that man IL
still trying to get that $50 bill changed
we order him to stop, and will donate
him the money.
II the comrade Is still living, and
remembers the incident, and will
write to us. we will give him history
OF the saddle and how 1t came In oul
possessions. to show him that he got ar
interesting relic, II he didn't pay fol-
IT'D. l.. Thompson, Co. H, 18Th
~ FUN-