Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-06-17
Taa MAXIM GUN.
Hu dfsds Of Dsxtsr Citiz enc Witness
the Exhibition.
Tsnec,., 10 the Krxrrrro Joup,.r. /

DEXTER, june 16--Hiram s. Maxim.
the inventor Of the celebrated Maxim
Repeating Gun, srrived hare last even
ing. He 10 accompanied by his wife.
who although not attracting the stten-
tion that Mr.. Maxim or his gun does,
10 nevertheless very pleasant and sgreea-
ole lady to meet.
We enjoyed very social chN with Mr..
Maxim and in the coufse Of COW creation
asked him what he considered his greatest
inventiIn. "Weli," said Mr.. Maxim, 81
was asked that came question not long since
by noted parsonage in England, and I
told him that~ the soswef depend
ed on whether he meant that which
consided the eatest now, or at the time
it was invented, il the latter then thought
. self-sestiog mouse-srsp which invented
when was shout 16 years old was little
the biggest invention. - I then looked at it.
That WAS nearly S5 years ago, while vas
Learning the wheel rights trade with DID.
Fiynt, 1t Abbot village. My next inven-
ton Of any consequence was 4 tricycle.,
whith think was the nfst one ever run
in Maine, il net in this country. Is
.
in diameter, ard was guided by small
wheel behind, similar to many English
wheels Of today. propelled il by means
Of lever attached to bent cfapk con-
Meeting the two wheels, the operator sitting
upon small platform about four feet from
The ground. This machine operated upon
the public straets Of ABBOT unsil finished
my trade ard left the place, when my
brother run Il until one day shen he was
unfortunate enough to frishten the horse
Of man named Cissk, which 90 iucensed
the driver that he seized the tricycle. and
after smashitg one wheel threw 1t into the
Ter. from which il was never reruf-
rectsi." The wheels Of that bicycle were
bull. On ths principle Of tension spokss
iussead of the push principle like those in
the bicycles Of today, and 90 far ss kaown
wefe the first wheels ever built On thst
principle.
The fsisl ef the Gun.
Although the notice was short, . largo
crowd of people from Dexter and sur
rounding towns assembled on the shore Of
the lake TO SEQ Hiram Maxim FIRE his
famous repeating gun. The enn he has
with him il about 6 feet long, standard and
barrel, the barrel itself being about 2 feet
loeg, and carries . 45 cslibsf bullet. Il
fres Is bullets second. The recoil Of the
first bullet fired removes the old shell.
moves the belt contsiairg the cartridges
alens and discharges the mkt cart
ridge, until ali the cartridges
are exhausted, Mr.. Msxim fred
his gun into the lske where sill could
zee the bullets strike the water. He gave
an exhibition Of continuous firing with .
fixed position, the bullets striking continu-
ously in the same spot and also fred with q
sveeping motion, the bullets striking in the
water showed plainly how an advancing
army could be swept along their entire
front.
Many friends Of Mr. Maxim fred the
gun for the space Of few seconds, several
women being among the number.
Many came from quite die
tsnce to meet this famous inventor and
inspect hi, gun. One man came from
Gardirer for the sole purpose Of meeting
Mr. Maxim Many Of Mr.. Msxims old
frients came 10 call upon him and have AZ
hours chat, and the JouRSAL man was for
tunate enough TO be present and listen %
many Of their old boyhood pfsnks. One
OF these, tod BY NJ. Maxim, was especially
eood and viii give il ~ near - possible
in his own words:
ssOne evening, while learning my tfade
At Abbot yillsge, W. we're gathered around
tie stove in tn. stose RI Flank Maccmber,
vhen q man named Jim Fssnce
cana in and ssid be wanted soms
help 10 get youne calf through the bridge.
vhtch BY the vsy vas = covered one.
Maeombsf spoke up snd ssys Maxim hsre
isa coed strone fellow ard hs viii hep
ycu So out ve vent aadlwhen We sp-
p-uached the bfi5se. the calf huog bsck,
bus both tslioe hold on the fope. - had
no dificllty In walkisg The calf right along
uasil ve got about midway, when spite oi
iii ve could do the calf commenced % hsul
n bsck. Il was 70 dark Ne c3sid
not ses our hand before ~ and he
wafef roased underneath % tha1 we cosId
not hear any thing. knew thers must b
sone unsesn agency, = thst csle vonld
nsver Pail HIS iAst. C1fsfsliy psssipg ny
kand along he cslf's back un6l 7 csns Il
his tail 1 Sound shfes paif o. bands thefsen
puIling for eli they vsrs worth Sol Hal
aad several othef wnGs had slipped ou
nosseisssly behind - viii TIN Shove Sesnif
Il i needless % sssts thss hsd n SIAM
usas when ve got beck - she stpfe.