The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-08-02

the American 8-inch rifle. These Arm
strong guns in their various sizes and
weights form the heavy batteries of
England's new battle ships.
There are several curious relics in
the ordnance exhibit of the navy. One
of them is old 'Long Tom," the
famous bowchaser carried by the
privateer General Armstrong in the
days of the Revolution. This vessel,
otter capturing British frigate in the
English Channel. and subsequently
carrying destruction to the British
marine. was finally wrecked on one of
the Azores. The gun was subsequently
fished up, and for more than eighty
years has been mounted on one of the
forts in the Azores islands.
Not many months ago the King of
Portugal, thinking it would be grace
full act to return the old gun to its
native country, presented it to the
United States, and last summer an
American man-of-war brought it home.
It is now at Jackson Park and attracts
scores of visitors. 1t is of bronze of
the old-fashioned type, has a bore Of
about four inches, and it threw shot
weighing eighteen pounds. In the
days when such guns were built the
length of the gun was the only known
way to secure long range, and 80
''Long Tom" as he lies there on his
back is almost as long as a modern five
inch high-power rifle.
Of the curious old Mexican field
pieces captured in the Mexican War
there is an unusual display. Some of
these are very interesting because of
their antiquity. Many of the old
brass pieces bear date in the Seven
teenth Century, and were unmistak-
ably mounted in Mexico at the time
of the Spanish conquest. The most
curious of all this ancient display is
what is believed to be the oldest
breech-loading gun ever conceived
since the invention of gun-powler. 1t
came from China, and for many years
has been in the naval museum
at the Washington Navy Yard.
The breech-loading attachment con-
sists chiefly of cutting out a Sec
ton of the powder chamber, inserting
q charge of powder, stuffing in a plug
and letting her 60. 1t is a curious
contrivance, and shows that the prin-
ciple of breech-loading guns was
among the earliest ideas of civilized
man. The gun is said by some to be
ever so many centuries old. Contrast
ing this little piece with the rapid-fire
ordnance of to-day displayed at Jack
son Park by every Nation is we'll cal
culated to impress the human mind.
Modern rapid-ire ordnance has at
tanned its highest growth and develop
ment within the past FIVE years. In the
artillery display of every country
there is something marvellous and
novel. What the old thirty-two-pound
cannon did to win victories for Nelson
and the galaxy of American commo-
dores, who in the early part of the Gen.
tury did 30 much to glorify the Amer
lean flag, the light rapid-tire artillery
of to-day is able to accomplish ten
fold. The proved inventions in this
line Of artillery are SO numerous that
they almost become wearisome. The
Americans have four types of equal
value. These are the Hotchkiss, the
Briggs-Schroeder, another type in
vented by Ensign Dashiell, of the
navy, and yet another whose name is
not now recalled. England exhibits
the Armstrong rapid-ire gun to be
seen at the Fair, which is fully the
equal of any of the American type.
The chief feature of the Armstrong
rapid-fre is it's calibre, its lightness,
and the rapidity with which it can be
handled. It has a six inch bore,