Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-07-28
DYNAMITE FROM A CANNON.
METHOD OF FIRING DEVISED BY
vERMONTER IN MEXICO.
Secret of Discharging High Explosive
Projectiles From Ordinary Wcap-
ons-A Daughter OF Vermont
Tests the Discovery.
Mexico, July G, 1898.

MEXICO, July b, 1875
TO the Editor of the Free Press
Vermont has scored one more! To-day
for the first time in the history of the
world Il shell loaded with dynamite was
fired from cannon with a charge of gun
Ipowder-and Vermont genius did II. In
credible as IL may seem, since the shrewd-
est inventors have been trying in vain
for quarter of II century to fire dyna-
mite from II cannon, 1T has at last Deen
accomplished.
Since the outbreak of the Spanish
American war Mr. W. S. lsham of Mex
leo CITY, has been working upon "A plan
which. like all great inventions though
simple in itself is SO abstruse that all
previous inventors have overlooked 1t.
with this invention all cannon, ancient
and modern, are practically more destruc-
tive than any gun in use at present in
any army or navy, for an almost unlmit-
ed amount of dynamite can be fired in
the same way as an ordinary projectile.
The fact that n charge of powder eNerts
a pressure of about ten tons per square
inch and the fact that dynamite is explode
ed by quick pressure of one ton per
square inch seems to preclude the posi-
billty of using the nitro-glycerlne com
pounds in shells. Mr. Isham, however, by
u very clever method has succeeded in
lcsscnng the shock from the explosion of
the powder; indeed there Is "A margin of
safety Of about 200 per cent, and by in
gcnious devices in loading, pure nitro
elycCrinc. which has Of course n more ter
rble effect than dynamite, may be used in
u shell.
TO put tcchnicalties aside the expert
ment OF this morning though not public
was certainly attended with n vast deal
OF interest Three Americans, Mr.. fsham,
Mr.. Barrett. and myself, all Nermonters.
and n few Mexican artillery officers were
the only spectators allowed. Yesterday
a shell containing no dynamite, but OF the
. same construction AS the one used to-day,
was tested to try several minor points in
the arrangement of details. Everything
being satisfactory in this test. at ten
o'clock this morning Mr.. lsham coolly
loaded Il shell with eighteen pounds of
, No | dynamite and placed 1t In front of
fifteen pounds of the best powder in an
eight-inch columbia" cannon. The cam
non was dismounted because the Mexican
. artillerists firmly disbelieved any possibil-
ity of success, Ga Frenchman not long
since blew up two fine modern cannons
for them in making the same experiment.
After the officers had sought shelter be-
hind n neighborng hill, casting bewil-
dered glanceS at tho trio of Nermonters
standing by the cannon. Mr.. 1sham gave
the honor Of lighting the fuse to the writ
err. We retired to a respectable distance
and awaited the awful result with no
small degree OF emotion. Would that old
sx-ton cannon be blown into fragments,
;" or. would there be Two reports one tne
dul Doom OF tne powder ioIIo"eu ny ,ne .
sharp snap OF the dynamite against ciii
some iifty rods away. Theory and physics
, had been used as far as could be but the
great question rcmained-would the prac-
tice he a failure.
Seconds passed without n SOUND put 'hc
whispering Vi warm oreeHe d'ioHH ii
vast sunny magucy neld. All AT once
= bang bang came the two reports haii
= second apart then TWO great CLOUDS, one
yellowish from the powder, the other white
, and black and red from the dynamite and
the torn up rocks and earth II was done!
= ihrory ana practice were one
ne hrSt SOUNDS that passed our lips
y were ringing cheers lot Ola Vermont
Gradually the Mexican ohcers came PACK
ana search was made Tor fragmehts 81
the shell. When loaded the shell wclSh'd
ABOUT 40 ppunds-whch uhloaded py tne
dynamite the largest piece round would
weigh hut Few ounces. The smell was
= bound Tor three mile trip ana some OF
inc pieces may nave covered that ais
n lance but from the looks OF the cliiI
V where ii struck big something stopped
right there.
Y The secret of the construction of the
. shell and its method of being fired has
n been carefully guarded from the public.
1t is needless to say that nearly all who
- knew OF the intended experiment were
Tree To express their disbei!ef in its sue
: cess. But Mr.. lsham went about the VIII , e
AFFAIR with deliberate sang-froid, leaving
:, no details that Were not carefully arrane.
Ell, tested, and proven correct; for he is
: man of much experience in using compli-
Gated machinery and In making some
;, thing do In parts OF the country beyond
the reach of civilization.
!, For the past fourteen years Mr. Ishlm