The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-04-07
STORIES OF GATLING.
Ei2htv-One Years of Age and Still In
venting-his Humane Gun Theory.

VcntOr OF the famous engine Ol utdti
which bears his name and which forms
a part of the Understanding equip
ment Of every army and navy Of the
world. is actively engaged in Cleve-
land in the construction Of mon
strous death-dealing gun on newly
plans based upon scientific
mechanically and mathe-
correct. Almost in his
slst year. the doctor proposes to
eclipse all his former achievements in
the line of gun-making.
Although the inventor of a murder
Gus weapon. the doctor is one OF the
hammered. .kindest DISPOSE
toned men on earth. He is North
by birth. but has made
He comes by the name Of doctor
being medical man by
training and profession, but as boy
he took naturally to mechanics, and
81 years ago conceived the idea which
resulted in the wonderful gun which
bears his name. He does not consider,
however. that he has reached the
height of his achievements, although
he says his weapon is hard to improve
upon. The new eight-inch gun which
is now being constructed for the
United States government. which is
nearly completed, and soon expected
to explode itself and all other theories
OF ordnance construction, he believes
will be the browning glory Of his
career.
When asked how he ever came to
devote his mind to inyenting imple-
ments of war, DR.. Calling laughingly
replied: II suppose you are thinking
that do not look like murderous or
destructive individual. Well, the
fact is, | am not. have seldom told
the history of nv inventions, but
will say that the motives that have
prompted them were the most hui
name. That sounds strangely incon-
sistent. doesn't it? Still it is none
the less true. | remember the first
idea that ever prompted me to invent
gun as well as if it were yesterday.
In 1862, during the civil war, |
lived in indianapolis. Almost daily
| watched the departure of troops
that had been sent there to be drilled
before being sent to the front. The
many touching partings that / wit
messed may well be imagined by those
who remember those awful times. 1t
was not only the departings that l
witnessed, for in little while the
trains began bringing back boxes.
Sometimes a dozen, sometimes TWEEN
ty, in single day. Each box, OF
course, contained dead Union
soldier. The partings had made a
sad impression on me, but nothing
like the one those homecoming
made.
II began to make inquiries, and
soon learned that a comparatively
few of these soldiers were killed by
bullets. Scarcely one in four, and the
rest died in hospitals from diseases OIL
in camp from exposure. Then it oc-
CURED to me that there were toe
many men in the service. | thought
if something could be invented
whereby one of these men could dc
the work of hundred. while the
other 80 might stay at home, ther
there would be less widows and or
phans in proportion. had invented
quite a number of things, notably the
first wheat drill ever used, and pu1
my mind to work to invent a rapidtir
ing gun. My early difficulties were
many. | made my plans easily
enough. and finally had battery fol
six guns built When these gun!
| were nearly completed and all paiC
| for. some one set fire to the factor,
and they were destroyed. | went tt
work again, and battery of Is gum
was made in Cincinnati, and sent t
| Washington as collected. Here there
were more troubles. Gen. Ripley, thu
| Chief of Ordnance, would have nom
of my guns. Finally my agent starte,
| back West. but he met Gen. Butler
who was on his way to the Jane
river. and exhibited the battery t.
| him. He was most enthusiastic, an,
purchased twelve guns and carriage
| and a thousand rounds of ammunition
for each for $12.
1t has only been within the pas
| year or so that DR.. Calling ha
| devoted his attention to heavy calibr
ordnance. The Calling rapidfre GU
is his pet and hobby. He refers t
it almost as one would refer to fav
oritc son, and he delights to believ
that it has done more for humanit,
than it has done in the way of de
| struction.
In that belief DR.. Calling has nue.
to bear him out, for he refers to man
cases where the mere presence of tn
Calling gun has ended troubles afte
the bullets of the troops had failed
Only recentlv.' said DR.. Calling
Gen. Miles told me of an experienc
on the frontier-in Utah. | believe i
was. \ certain chief threatened t
create disturbance. and he ha
braves enough on the warpath to d
a great deal of damage, Under a fla
Of truce Gen. Miles got him to com
to his camp and see his power. On
of the battery Of Cuttings wa
charged and turned on a distant tree
After about 500 shots had been fired
the chief, whose name was Crow Day
threw up his hands and left. II
reported that the white man had
devil gun and straightway he an
his braves picked up their blanket
and walked. The chief never stoppc
TO see whether the tree had been hi
or not. Chicago Tribune.
DR.. Jay Gum. OF Wilson, Ind. Ter, says
L have distributed the sample Pills 20
sent, and such run was made for Ra
mons Liver Pills X Tonic Pellets that N
stock was depleted in day or two The
are certainly revolution in the pill bust
ness aud people are wild in praise Of the
action. l want to keep them in stock 81
long as you keep them up to their presen
eXcellency."
Petersburg and Ridgeway Railroad
1t is announced that the Richmond
Petersburg \ Carolina Railroad Co