The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-20

r in Americas boast that IN the
even. 81 war with foreign nation
III II would he found that the invent
III i've genius OF the people OF TINS
Il Country. which hss led the wosio
for % long past. woai6 be sfiru-
lated 10 such an extent that engines OF
destruction would be invented OF % ter
rsnse nature that the CEitsd states
could speedily crush a foe.
Juss as the air IS flied with war tax
ard she country seems te be on ths verge
OF a conflict with Spain. an inventor
comes forward with al improved ouiist
that. f: is claimed. will MAIN a combat
am In the same terrible manner as "0uAa
the explosive bullet that has been barred
by the law OF nations. and yet be within
the rules prescribed for the use OF phoiec-
tiles In modern warfare The inventor,
Edwin s Field. OF Springfield, Mass. de-
ser.hss his Few bullet as follows:
My protsctils resembles the metal COW
cred bullet of small eailnre. and esp%-
cialiy the nsw SO. caliore bullet. adopted
by ths United States government 10 be
used in the army rifles instead Of the
heavier .o4s bullet. formerly used In the
Springfield muskst-
Their smaller calibre enables the sol
der TO carry more ammunition. It's
greater velocity increases the danger
range and the bullet goes further in the
ordinary sighting or firing from the shout
der without aim than the old heavier
bullet;
The metal cover takes the quick twis.
in the rifiing OF the barrel and gives the
necessary rotary motion 10 hold Ii up and
keep IL going in Il straight line towards
the object aimed at
The naked or lead bullet will not take
the quick twist. and has the disadvantage
Of fouling the gun and marring its accur-
acy. The metal cover gives 20 the bullet
greater penetration. Instead Of one body
ending its course, X can drive through
two or three.
But, and here comes the disadvantage,
the bullet being smaller. makes a very
small clean wound. going through flesh
and bone with but little disabling effect
compared with the .eiS lead bullet for
merry used.
This has given rise TO the use of what
Is called the dun dunn bullet, which has
a metal casing. covering the bullet nearly
to the point and leaving the lead exposed.
This lead expands tears the flesh and
breaks bones. but does not have the PEN
etration OF the full metal covered bullet.
My invented bullet Is not an explosive
bullet and does not conflict with the law
or agreement OF nations
by cutting notches or grooves In the
metal cover back from the point or apex
10 e. point forward OF the place or con-
tact with the rifiing OF the barrel. Ii al
lows the lead or filing Of the cover to
expand or upset when striking q hard
substance. and gives all the effect OF a
bullet OF larger caiibre, breaking bones
and tearing flesh.
''It may be said that my bullet, which
mains 30 cruelty by 'mushrooming' at the
moment of contact with the body into
which 1t enters. Is crual invention. but.
as other men have pointed out, the more
terrible war is made the nearer we are
to the millennium, for when armies are
provided by science with killing appli-
ances fhat are too deadly for anything 10
live before them, then the nations will
be forced 10 Danish war forever.
The new bullet IS also q humane !nyen-
ton from another point OF View. TO
MAIN one man 81 that he IS put effect
ually out OF the fight. Is surely a lesser
evil 20 the fighters than TO have the sama
missile wound three men 50 that they will
be added 10 the list Of injured without
being retired from the list of cornbatants.
In other words, II Is. more humane in
ms opinion. 10 badly MAIN one man than
10 half MAIN three.
'Furthermore the battle will be sooner
ended. for recent fights have shown that
a man injured by one OF the bullets that
make clean hole will frequently keep
on fighting until compelled by less OF
blood to give UP. while the bullet that
mushrooms puts HIM out OF the fighting
entirely. II is a grim way to view the
matter. but 7 think IL Will be conceded
10 be the NEST humane when looked on
calmly