The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-06-23
1T Is A GREAT GUN
Kr1g-JorgensOn Weapon of War Tester a
Fort Riley By DIR. GrIfiith


Fort Riley By DR.. GrIf1ith
Topeka, Kan, June IA letter re-
ceived from Fort Riley Saturday night
says:
IAN official test of the new military
rifle, tine Krag-Jorgenson was made on
the government target range at the
post today under the direction of Dr..
J. D. Griffith, of Kansas City, member
of the United States Association of Mil
itary Surgeons, and chairman Of the
national committee on testing new
guns, assisted by a firing detail of cav
alrymen and a dozen attending sur
geons and photographers. The test has
been in prospect for some weeks, but it
was found necessary TO postpone it
from time to time. The assisting corps
Of physicians was J. l. Binnie, w. 6.
Stark, W. Sturgis, Z. J. Pettijotn, w.
c. Tyre, Z. CT. Chambiiss, McVey,
Thrush and Stewart, Thomas James
was photographer.
''The object Of the test was to find out
the relatively humane effect of the use
of the Krag-Jorgens gun, as COM
pared with other army rifles. The test
has demonstrated to the minds of those
VINO participated that the Kra g-Jorg-
ensOn gun is not a humane gun. This
is a repetition of the verdict reached
some months since at a test at Fort
Lsavenworth, the correctness of which
verdict was disputed by some scien-
fists.
Three cadavers were placed side by
side in an erect position just at the base
of a hill and a paper traget was placed
in front of each 10 furnish a sight. Ad-
iutant Scott of the Fifth cavalry,
placed a detail of sharpshooters, first
at a distance of 900 yards, and then
at ] 500 yards. The firing was first by
singles and then by volley. Examina-
lions of the bodies were made at inter-
walls and analyses made of the wounds.
photographs were made of the wounds,
showing as much as possible their nat
Ure.
The Krag-Jorge carbine has
bore of 3o-100ths inch. The barrel is
80 inches long. The magazine holds
five cartridges and has a. gate on the
side. There is a side lever for working
the repeater. The cartridge is about
81. inches long, and the pTOjec1ile is Of
lead and anthony, and has a very high
force. The carbine Is light. but is
found TO be somewhat awkward 10
handle. perhaps because the soldiers
are not used to II. The objection 10 the
gun is that it will tear Z man TO pieces,
aad yet let him live TO suffer.
"A rest OF sharpnel shot, used by the
artillery. followed the Krag-Jorgenson
test The same cadavers were used,
and the range taken was 1000 and $500
yards. The sharpnel shell weighs 17Ia
pounds. L contains a bursting charge
Of ~ ounces.
T. -, 10
one. and differs from the common shell
in being filed with bullets and having
only a sufficient bursting charge 10
rupture the shell and release the bull
lets, which then move with the velocity
which the shell had at the time OF
bursting. To disable a man. the bullets
must have a striking velocity OF 500
feet per second. They are effective
from 1000 20 5000 yards.
The bullets are assembled in circu-
lar layers. The sharpnel for the 30
inch gun contains 162 bullets. one-half
inch in diameter. Weighing Il 10 the
pound. The total number OF bullets
and Individual pieces IN she shell is 20I-
Most Of the firing today was at 900
Yards. To do effective work. the shell
should burst thirty 70 forty yards in
front Of che object aimed at. Some
yoery. good wounds from a Scieniic
standpoint were obtained, and the opin-
ion strengthened thai the sharpnel gun
Is 20 be che man-kilier Of the future.
After The Ca5syeT-s had been fllsd
50 full OF holes rs 10 be worthless for
experimental purposes, me effect OF the
sharpnel she'll IN stopping a cavalry
charge was tested. The firing vas a.
a50o yards distance. The wounds made
were Of such a nature as 20 demon
Strate thoroughly that the shot viii
SOP horses effectively. thus disabling
II ,he best possible manner almost any
amount Of cavalry that dare face Il.
Each piece can be fired twice per min
ute, making twelve Shots per minute
Tor q ba'ccery % SIX. which would sweep
miles OF range"
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