The morning news., 1894-10-21

wooden bow gun, used by the ancient Ger
mans. Across the end of the muzzle is
a set trigger and a hinged sight. Another,
said to be English, is artistically inlaid
with pearl, having also heavy cross-bow
of iron and set trigger. Alongside these
two bow guns-for they resemble the mod
ern boys bow gun in every details
shown the original device for springing
the iron bow. This consists of a long iron
bar, having a rack upon the upper SIDE
upon which works cog wheel, incased in
a sliding box and revolved by crank. Inc
racked rod being fastened over the grooV-
ed barrel of the gun the bow cord was
hitched to a loop on the sliding wheel box
and was pulled back to the trigger notch
bv turning the crank. Thus it took these
early gunners at least five minutes 10 pre-
pare their weapons for shooting. DO"
guns of this type were used especlaly Dy
the Germans and English from llW 10
the fourteenth century.
Although gunpowder is thought to nave
been invented by the Chinese 2OOO years
ago its first definite use in Europe was IN
the earlyp art of the fourteenth cen
t1IrN- when il was employed to eXpiode the
LARGE guns of the artillery, being used
also in email arms a few years latef. Inc
first hand guns, or hand cannon az
they were called, were so heavy that II
was necessary to rest them on a cruteh
while aiming. They were touched of by
a. slow, smolderlng match, held IN the
hand, the recoil being given by breast-
nlate instead of the shoulder. These
were soon followed by the matchlocks'
several of which are also to be seen IN
the exhibit Conspicuous among these
is one which was originally USED IN Eng
land until the seventeenth century.
1t has a swinging cock holding tne
match wood (Which resembles an Ola
niece of hemp rope), combustion being
caused by pulling the trigger just as TO-
day, and letting the fire fan in the pow
der pan, which connected with the par
rel inside. The stock resembles shoNei
more than anything else, decorated with
a large medallion in the side, bearing
saaI either the trade mark of the maker
or the coat Of arms of the owner. This
has a trigger guard similar to those on
the modern shotgun The whole Is hVe
feet in length. Another matchbox, used
by the Chinese a century or two ago mas
a long trigger, extending almost the fun
length of the stock and operated by a
pressure up rather than back The butt
is exceedingly slim and appears more than
awkward for a steady aim. Another Chl-
nese matchbox has a red frame, crescent
shaped hinge for the match and trigger
smaller and closer to the stock.
After two centuries Of use the match
locks were followed by wheelocks having
complicated devices for pressing a piece
OF flint against revolving wheel OF
steel. The first of these appeared in
Auremburg in 1871. Like the matchlocks,
they were muzzle-loaders. II is said that
II took so long 20 clean out the barrel
put in the powder and arrange the ma
chinery each time one Of these was loaded
that Il was impossible to fire more than
once IN a half hour.
About 1880 we nnd the fintlock musket
10 have been introduced into the French
army, whence it spread over the world
having n long reign. ending only IN 1872,
when % was generally replaced by The