Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-12-29
FROM PARIS, MAINE, TO PARIS,
FRANCE.
No. 9.
INVENTOR MAxIM's GREAT GUN, HIS
HOME AND SOCIAL LIFE.

(FIom our spccia, Foreign CorresPondcnt,)
Is QUEENS GATE PLACE,
LONDON, ENGLAND. I
In 1883 Hiram Maxim made England
his home, where he began working out
his machine gun, which had long been
cherished idea, and which has since
proved to be the gun that "fired the shot
that was heard around the world" for II
made his name famous thoroughout the
entire world.
His first works were in Hatton Gar
dens, Holborn, where he WAS soon visit
ed by the Prince of Wales, the Duke OF
Edinburgh. and numerous other distin'
guished persons. At that place he per-
fected his machine, and succeeded In de-
featiug all competitors. In Switzerland,
in "A contest With the only one existing
that could really be called competitor,
we will use his own words: IL shall
never forget the occasion. There stood
the foreign gun-four officers were de-
tailed to fire Il. Beside IL was kitchen
table with the cartridges ready to hand.
'ut thN "hVt'''
aimed the gun, while the other two put
cartridges into the hopper as quicl l.
ss they could. They succeeded In firing
300 rounds minute. The gun weighed
$50 pounds. Nv gun weighed 80 poun Ia.
| was provided with no kitchen table,
and no assistant, aud by just pressing a
button can fire one shot week, or 40
minute"
The Maxim gun was then speedily
recognized as the greatest In existence,
and has been fired before all the crown
ed heads and rulers of Europe, as well as
experts from all parts OF the world, aud
has been adopted by nearly all the gov
ernments except the United states,
which he considers has not used him
fairly, having infringed on his patents to
some extent. The gun was exhibited to
the Sultan OF Turkey In the gardens OF
Buckingham Palace, the queens winter
residence. IL was fired at one time by
the Princess OF Wales without the least
trepidstion but the highest commends-
ton and distinction OF all, he thinks.
was 10 have il fired by his old mother, 80
wears OF age, who with fearful eyes said :
II wish your father could see this,
Hiram"
He has gun works at Erith-where Is
the largest collection OF high-class tools
in the world. some OF the lathes being
worth sl0,0o0-also at Crayford, Dart
ford and Birmingham, England, and at
Stockholm, Sweden, and Plscentia,
Spain, the workmen numbering into the
thousands The idea OF this marvellous
piece OF mechanism occurred 10 him first
as boy, when he received violent Kick
from firing rifle. The impression never
left his fertile mind, and as a conse'
quence he set shout TO contrive gun that
would not only keep loading itself with
lightning-like rapidity, but fire aud
throw away It's own empty cartridges.
The first gun fired In actual war, was
during the Sierra Leone campaign, and
In the recent Matabele war ,one conteuhpo-
rsry SAYS that at was not Mr.. Rhosdes
or Or. Jameson, but the genius oil a
Yankee born In Maine, who Is known to
all the wrold as Hiram 5. Maxim, who re-
covered the fsirest regions OF Africa,from
slavery and tyranny, and enabled u
handful OF Englishmen TO NOV down
like grass, an army OF savage warriors.
Some have called il pity that such a
splendid intellect and marvellous genius
should be employed in creating deadly
instruments OF warfare, but he says he
believes IL will eventually be the means
OF restoring peace 10 all nations, Tor
they will be appalled, by its death-deal-
ing features and be ready TO srbitrate.
when asked by the Car OF Russia why
he left his own country he explained
that las IL was his business 10 make
weapons OF destruction, IL was necessary
for him to take up his abode where the
business of destruction was the chiei
occupation Of mankind; for In his own
country they. had something else TO do
but 10 kill each other. On the occasion
of his visit 10 the Car carriage and
out-riders WAS sent 10 meet him, great
distinction.
He next turned his attention TO the
problem OF arisl navigation. and has
already spent more than slOO,Ooo In his
experiments with the Maxim dying ma
chine, which so far has outstripped all
others. the engines being the most pow
erful vet devised in the world, and the
machine the only one In the history OF
the world that can raise itself from the
earth by It's own contained power. An
eminent engineer says that This ma
chine ia not an invention but a museum
OF inventions. and Is unquestionably q
masterpiece OF work" His experiments
with this have been conducted at Bald
WINS Park, his country residence, near
Bexley, England, where he has an es-
tate OF some 500 acres and magnificent
mansion, 10 which wide driveway
sweeps from the lodge gates, and you
are confronted by glittering Maxim
gun.
II may seem absurd to some, with the
immense wealth that he has accumulated
that he should still make long days OF
work. sometimes till IL or IL O'Clock al
night, but he Is never 80 happy as In his
laboratory, or at his drawing board
studying out new models OF machinery
though AS the president Of one OF the
largest concerns in England, part OF MS
time Is required at their offices 10 We
toria Street, where nearly every day ne
has TO sign checks, very frequently 1oi
slOO. 900 at a time. He Is also mem
Der of nearly all the learned societies 10
London.
The commercial Eupopean press say
of his character that lit Is honesty and
integrity ITSELF" and regarding hi:
domestic and social relations your cor
respondent has the good fortune to know
bv personal experience that as genia
host and jolly story teller he has nc
equal. and by observation, that as
faithful and devoted husband he has ne
superior-and it has long been known
that his mother. who still lives at th'
old home in Maine, Is an object OF hi
most devoted care and affection.
One mags zine says OF him, that "With
AL ne has a sturdy Americanism which
personal interviews with half the reign
ing monarchs of Europe have not In thu
least affected, and he still retains
pleasant conviction that Of all spots OF
the map Of the world, not one Is so i'm
portsnt or so agreeable TO contemplate
az the good old down East State o.
Maine" In no sense has he ever depart
ed Fl ON the precepts OF his early train
ing there, in regard to the use Of liquo
and tobacco, for though the ordinary
Briti,her considers the bar--oom per
fectly respectable place to 60 to, Mr.
Maxim considers 1t II disgrace, and ha
never been known to enter one, or Il
touch tob Geo 10 any form.
This brief sketch Of his career will no
be complete without mention OF hi
beautiful, accomplished and devoted
wife. of whom it can truly be said tha
she is helpmeet to her husband. Sh
Is an American, born in Boston. Cas-
sier's Magazine says: "The distinguish
ed inventor and his devoted wife spen'
most of their time In scientific study ant
deliberations. Indeed, the outside worlt
inrot, hla nafurp ~