The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-17
IT PROVED A GREAT GUN.
WHITEHEAD ELECTRIC AUTO
matte VOLLEY GUN TESTED.
A Most Wonderful Engine Of Des-
truction Invented By Salt Lake
Mana New Smokeless Powder.

The way that the Whitehead electric
automatic volley gun fired shots at the
minimum rate OF 1880 shots per min
ute, was a startling revelation yester-
day to = number of citizens who wit
messed the feat in the southeastern part
of the city. The inventor is Mr.. Leo
s. Whitehead, the proprietor of the
steam carpet cleaning works, and the
well known Populist. The perfection of
his volley gun, and also his own smoke
less powder, means that the methods of
modern warfare will be revolutionized
beyond comprehension. The products
of Whitehead, the inventive genius. are
Veritable giants of destruction, if not
Incompatible peacemakers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE GUN.
The complete field gun IS mounted on
a carriage. 1t contains 20 barrels, each
with a revolving apparatus capable of
Gischarging 240 to $50 shots or more
per minute, the ra oidity of fire being
regulated by an electric battery. The
gun which gave such a satisfactory test
yesterday contained only two barrels,
but e was sufficient to demonstrate
the capacity of the complete 20-barrel
volley machine. It is light in weight
and compact, and without changing pO-
sition it can describe half circle. The
gun has no springs, triggers nor ham
mers, and the barrel is unrified, being
smooth. It is gas-tight and breech-
loading, the 40-caliber shells or pro-
jectileS being thrown indiScriminately
into a hopper which automatical' y feeds
the loads. One man can continuously
load and fire the gun. The Drojeetiles
have velocity OF S,GG0 feet per second
and ct . distance of tone mile shots
can be accurately fired. AT a range
of geo yards a projectile charged with
% grains of black powder will pene-
trate three inches of pine timber.
WHITEHEAD'S SMOKELESS POW
DER.
Yesterdays test was made with the
use of common powder, but Mr.. White
head can get infinitely better results
using a white smokeless. powder of his
own make. THIS powder does not eX-
piode by conclusion, but an electric
spark sets it off. If the powder becomes
wet. or caked, it does not lose any of
it's explosive qualities. Mr.. Whitehead
says he can manufacture the powder
here at one-half the cost of common
black powder.
THE SECRET OF TRIUMPH
The real secret OF triumph in the
Whitehead gun is the use of his new
cartridge. The Drojectile and powder
chamber are one piece of the same
metal, the weight Oh it being in the
end, to facilitate feeding the revolver
and give accurate direction to the mis-
sile. There are no empty shells to be
dropped out OF the gun at any time.
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE MA
TIONS.
Mr. Whitehead has obtained patent
on his gun, and is endeavoring to pro-
tect his rights as an inventor of the
smokeIess powder. He will leave short
ly for Ansonia, Conn.,, TO supervise the
construction OF a complete model at a
big gun factory. After this model is
completed Mr.. Whitehead will respond
to an invitation to let the war depart
ment at Washington give the mighty
volley gun a trial Mr.. Whitehead has
also been invited by the governments
of Great Britain and Germany to Five
demonstration of the possibilities of
his invention.
In the opinion of Otto Hanisch. Mr.
Whitehead's head, Dhrenologically
great mechanical genius and inventor
and no doubt the opinion is philosoph-
icall-- formed.
Mr. whitehead has associated with
him in the promotion of his gun en-
terprise Hon. H. w. Lawrence. L. H.
Gray, Nat Ward Fitz Gerald,
D. C. Roberts and August Stein
of this city, and they will
also likely assist Mr. White
head in the manuf; :ture and introduce
ton of his smokeless powder. Besides
these gentlemen mentioned, the follow
ing well known citizens, who witnessed
yesterdays test were Hon. f. d.
Hobbs. ]. E. Bamberger, H. G. Nc
MILAN. J. M. Thomas, S. T. Godbe and
D. f. Walker. Henry Altman of New
York and Addison Bybee of 4 idianapo-
lis were also present, having come to
Salt Lake to investigate the merits of
the Whitehead gun All were well
pleased with the test, and declare the
gun IS all that the soon to-be wealthy
inventor claims for it.