The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-10-03
sELF-sHooTINo GUN.
Weapon with Which the Army and Navy
Ia IN Re Eauiuued.


Is to Be Equipped.
The navy department at Washington
has Just ordered so of the most remarls-
able guns in the world. Each of them
Ia able to discharge 400 rifle bullets "a
minute, and continues at that rate
until the marksman wants TO stop
More that that, IL fires itself, only re-
auiring 10 be aimed. II Is the Colt au-
tomato gun.
This wonderful gun weighs only 40
pounds. IL is n magazine rifle, with one
barrel, the caliber of which Is the same
as that OF the improved rifle newly
adopted by the navy, little less than
n quarter of an inch. This means that
the bullet, which IL of lead, with n
steel jacket, is much less in diameter
than an ordinary lead pencil. The bull
let is about an inch long, almost cylin-
drical in shape, tapering somewhat
and rounded at the front end. The gun
discharges seven OF these projectiles
each second, and they leave the weapon
with n velocity of nearly half n mile
second.
The rapdity OF the discharge Is SO
tremendous that there seems TO be a
continuous stream of bullets flying
from the muzzle OF the gun. So great
is their velocity, however, that there is
actually an interval OF 300 feet between
each two. Cartridges are fed to tho
weapon automatically by feed belts
which are coiled In boxes and readily
attachable 10 the breech. The boxes
hold from 100 TO 500 cartridges. All tho
marksman has 10 do Is TO pull the trig-
ger once and the gun goes on firing OF
its own accord as long as the cartridges
are supplied. IN fact, the Instrument
In a repeating rifle with an inexhausti-
BILE magazine and n rapidity of fire that
Is almost inconceiyable. IL uses the
same bullets as the new navy rifle, and
they are discharged with the same vc-
locity. but the discharge Is automatic,
the firing mechanism being operated
by powder gas.
The weapon may be carried comfort
ably I'm boot" at the side of n troop
er's horse. Ordinarily, on land, IL is
designed TO be mounted for action upon
n light tripod. IL Is provided with a
pivot, set into n socket on the tripod
or into n similar socket on the rail of
vessel. All the ships OF the navy viii
soon be provided with these guns. One
OF these weapons NJ n distance OF
mile might NOW down an entire regi-
ment within two minutes, 80 that hard
" man would be left unwounded.
The Colt gun is sighted ordinarily for
1000 yards, which is little over n
mile, but II is as effective ot twice that
distance. However, IL Is not practicn-
BILE 20 fire at individuals beyond 1000
yards
The marlxsman uses both hands IN
aiming the gun, whether II Is set on a
tripod or on the rail OF n vessel. IL re-
spends so readily 10 adjustment that he
is able 20 write his name with bullets
upon n good-sized target. and 10 do IA
with considerable rnpidity. II the
weapon Is mounted upon tripod, he
seats himself on n saddle that looks
like bicycle saddle. attached 10 the
leg OF the tripod, which projects to-
ward the rear. The saddle In so adjust
ed that his eye Is brought directly In
line with the sight OF the weapon. Pull
ing the trigger once, he simply holds II
back as long ns he desires the gun TO
keep on firing, varying the aim Just ne
a person directing garden hose would
do.
The United States army Is also going
20 have guns OF the Colt type. The war
department has ordered n trial OF them.
Guns OF this pattern nrc comparative
" cheap. They can be made In quaint
ties for a selling price OF about $500.
The cartridges cost only se5 per 1000
AZ cents each.--N. Y. journal.
Out of Condition.
Hostess-Miss Hightone, won't you
sing for us?