The morning call., 1893-08-05
PATENT.
A WarliISe Device Which
Works Wonders.
The Inventor Claims 1t WIFE RevoIu-
tionize Warfare, Though First
Tests Were Disastrous.

A dispatch from Washington, d. c., in
Thursdays CALL announced that Joseph
Clark of San Francisco had secured a
patent on device for exploding projectiles
from large guns. 1t is most wonderful
apparatus is this eXpi0der.
According to the positive assurances of
its inventor it will revolutioniY warfare.
There are many and various reasons. he
claims, why it should rank among the
great discoveries of the age in the science
Of attack and defense. But because the
United States Government has the pro-
iector under consideration by the ord
nance department Inventor Clark is still
re,cent about its mechanism and its men,
acing powers.
Negotiations have been IN progress for
months between him and the War Depart
meat, and in turn between that office and
the ordnance officials at Benicia. A test
was made at Fort Winfield Scott about
two months ago, after which everything
waited patiently for report from Wash
ingt0n.
Meanwhile Clark's petition for patent
was in the patent Offices of every country
where gunnerv on a large scale vas prac-
ticed. Last Wednesday the eXplOder was
patented in the United States and stimuli
tanPously petitions for patents were made
in almost every civilized land. The devas-
tating device is a secret no longer.
There is no more need for big guns"
said the inventor, as he spoke with enthu-
siasm about his pet invention. with the
eXploder | can fire $50 pounds of dynamite
10 a projectile with perfect safety and
with almost as much precision as a bullet
from rifle. The shell will explode the
instant it strikes its mark. no matter
whether it hits head on or sideways. I'M
aGne a battery with smokeless powder
and such sure and deadly proiectiles in
wari Everything would 90 down be-
fore it.
"At present it is wel-defned fact that
only one-eghth Of the prolecti!es fired
ever explode We had enough of that eX-
perience in the Civil War, when thousands
of shells were sold for old iron. The
reason for this is that a projectlla of tile
present type can explode only when its
cOnical point hits an object. The percus-
sion fuse is fixed in the roInt, which must
strike to explode the contents. Then there
is a time fuse. If you set this time fuse
for three miles and the object aimed at
happens to be a quarter Of mile out
more or ess-the effect of the shell is lost.
No explosion takes place.
mo matter how proJectile with this
new eXploder strikes il VIII explode he
moment it strikes. If 1t hits an object
laterally, the mechanism of the inclOsed
exploder works automatically and fires
the contents. That is the secret Of my
invention.
II cannot say more now, as it is submit
ted to the United States Government, and
il | spoke all nations would have 1t. |
wish the Government to get the benefit IF
The invention. The great simplicity OF the
thing is what surprised the man who tested
il-simplcity is important In such con-
Irivauce."
From an army officer who saw the ex.
pluder it was learned that Clark's device
is piece of pipe about two inches in
diameter and ABOUT eight inches long. 1t
contains a percussion fuse. This plpe is
! inserted in the top of a cOnIcal-headed pro-
! jectile. On all sides there are short
| spiral springs that press against the
! chamber in which it is placed. The
| springs are supposed TO protect it from
conclusion at the time of firing the gun
and also to communicate the shock at the
| instant it strikes its mark. The shock
! being carried to this fuse older 1t ignites
! by conclusion and the SHE'LL explodes.
| Two tests were made with an 8-inch
convertible rifle gun at Fort Winfield Scot,
| about two months ago. The results put
| further experiments at a standstll. and
| Clark has since readjusted his exploder.
He intends going East. where further tests
Will he made by the army officers.
1.-The first attempt here was failure,
! said an officer OF artillery. Colonel BAD
bit of the Benicia Arsenal had charge OF
the trial, but he did not make a second
attempt that day. The ordnance depart
ment, on Clark's petition. ordered that
projectiles should be made to suit his ex-
poder. and ten shells were forged at
Bencia. The first one fired burst in the
gun. So the test stopped suddenly. Clark
said the spiral springs were too weak to
counterbalance the force of discharge, and
he took time to readjust his machine.
THE second test with an adjusted ex-
ploder was watched with much interest
The general and many officers were pres
ent. But they win never go so near gun
in testing again"
what was the matter?" was asked, as
the officer smiled curOusly.
''Well, the projectile exploded in the
gun. ann all present were glad to be alive
after the explosion"
The close call of General Ruger and
some mem ers of his staff was kept secret
They don't laugh when talking about il
| now.
Still Inventor Clark has great hopes
and with his experiences in practice anC
his improved apparatus he will go to Sandy
Hook and surprise the naval and ordnance
men. who are high up as experts in thei
special line of knowledge.
AS DO official report has yet been mad,
the army officers decline to pass judgmen
| on the final outcome of Clark's Invention