The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-21
STRANGER THAN FICTION.
Rifle Bullets May BE Rendered |
Harmless by the Use of a Dynamo.


Harmless by the Use of a Dynamo.
From the New York Herald.
The Journal de Geneva gives some start
ling details respecting the detection of
steel projectiles by electricity. 1t will be
remembered that Dr. Conan Doyle, in the
Stark Munro letters, attributed an inven-
ton to his crazy hero for detecting shots
from vessels by means of accumulators
at the stem and stern. That which APP.
peared improbable now seems to be east
of realization-at least if the facts stated
by our contemporary have not been mis-
apprehended. They are as follows:
The committee of the federal rifle meet
ing at Winterthour has made a curious
discovery while summing up the results
of the last course. The greater number
of the hits on the target fired from the
| right side of the range were marked on
the right of the BULBS -eye, while those
fired from the left of the range were al
most exclusively on its left Moreover.
all proJectiles partly or wholly construct
ed of steel had become magnetic. These
facts suggested various theories, and
among them it was suggested that the
| diversion of the bullets might be due to
| the numerous electric and telephone wires
| extending along both sides of the range
/ at Winterthour. Fresh experiments at
the ranges of Berne and Thun conduced to
/ this conclusion. The authorities at Thun
/ seem to have little or no doubt on the sub
| 1eCC.
AT Thun authorities established paral-
/ lei with the rifle range, at a distance of a
4 little more than forty yards, an electric
1 current of 5000 volts, carried along four
/ steel cables. With a view of tracing the
| whole effect paper circlets were placed at
/ every ten yards. The first experiment
was made with the Swiss model rifle Of
| 1889. With this the influence of the cleo
| trio current was apparent. In a distance
| of 260 yards the bullet took a lateral de-
| Walton of twenty-four yards and after
| that the curve of the trajectory was stili
| more marked. The second experiment
| was made with the Japanese 932nm. rifle
| of Col Yamagata, and they We're still
! more decisive, the bullet being RAPIDLY At
| tracted to the electric wire and following
! their course with absolute servilitv,
! Further attempts were made with artil-
! lery. The range selected was one of 5000
| yards and 200 yards in front of the tar
| gets, but forty yards to the side, was
| placed the electric battery. Every shot
| was diverted by its influence far to the
! side of the target-to be exact the devia-
| ton was one of fourteen degrees
| The conclusion drawn from these ex-
! periments are that a section of infantry
| exposed to fire at 800 yards would enioy
complete safety If a dynamo or accunu-
| lator were placed on its flank; a whole
company would be in the same security AZ
| 500 yards, and artillery fire could he rem
| dered innocuous al 1000 yards If these
! facts are sound the new small bore rifle
| is doomed, and we shall have to return
| to the heavy bullet of lead, because If is
| unaffected by electricity. But TO milifarv
! reformers this will signify a repulse along
! the whole line"