Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-11-16

and Hot Lead-The ProjectiIe Is
Filled With High Explosives and
Carries MurderOus knives, Which
Open During Its Flight.
The acme of human ingenuity in de-
visinS methods for the destruction in
battle of the members of the human
race has been reached in the recent in
yention of a Washington man. At least
such is the consensus of opinion OF
number of prominent ordnance experts
after examining the latest production
of the well known inventor and all
round genius, William Whitney Christ
mas.
When ready for firing the base
SHE'LL as he calls it, differs but little
In appearance from the long conical
shell now in use in United States field
and fertilization guns. says the Cincin-
natl Enquirer. Like them it is filed
with some high explosive. For setting
off the contained explosive the shell car
ries either n time fuse or Il percussion
cap. An important particular in which
Mr.. Christmas prOjcctile differs from
those in ordinary use is that it has 4
base which is separate from but at
tached to the main body of the shell.
This base works on ball bearings and
is so attached that. while the shell re-
wolves in its flight, the base, working
on frictionless steel balls. remains free
from any but the forward motion of
the projectile.
But the main point of difference and
the distinguishing feature of the base
shell as compared with the shells in
everyday use at present is this: Attach
4 ~.
of the shell and fitting in specially
fashioned grooves, which run the en-
tire length of the shell, are four long,
murderous looking steel weapons. In
shape and appearance these weapons
resemble when opened from the shell
the American bowie knife. whose bloody
and effective record is known to all.
When closed. these knives fit closely
into the body of the shell and conform
so closely to the shape that they are
scarcely distinguishable from the main
body of the projectile.
The base shell is touched off from
the powder charge after the ordinary
method. In its passage to the muZzle
of the gun the rifiing causes the shell
to rcvolve at high rate of speed.
Thus, almost at the moment the pro-
jectile leaves the muZZle of the gun. a
set of specially contrived springs. aided
by the centrifugal force of the revolv-
ing body. causes the knives to be
thrown outward and back. y simple
mechanical continuance locks each
knife in it's place. The four blades
held thus perpcndicularly to the length
of the shell steady the base and cause
it to come to n state OF rest while the
main body of the shell continues to re-
volve on the ball bearings.
With the four terrible razor edged
blades locked in its base and covering
in an effective manner space equal to
more than - regulation shells of its
own caliber. the base shell plows into
the ranks of the enemy against whom
it is directed. Its possible execution is |
something fearful to contemplate. For |
example. take n five inch base shell, |
whose length is little over 20 inches; !
add to its base. which is five inches, |
the projection of two 20 inch knives. |
The distance from tip to tip of these |
knives is Al inches. The shell itself |
weighs probably n little less than 100 |
pounds. But the impetus which the |
touching off of the powder charge |
gives it makes its forward force equal |
to many hundreds of tons.
Now imagine the base shell flying, |
with knives set, into the thick ranks of |
n great army. The ancient conception |
of Death, the Grim Reaper, with his |
Anticipated scythc, paleS into ludicrous |
insignificancc beside the figure of this |
shell of Mr.. Christmas, with its four
wings of sharpened steel cutting to
pieces everything that stood opposed |
to its path and leaving within n few
seconds long, clear path through the
enemy's lines where fighting men had
stood.
But when the shell has cut its way
through the ranks of the enemy
against whom it is directed its work is
by no means finished. 1t has yet TO
explode. and even in its bursting it
will prove more baneful than the ordi-
nary shell. as the four flying knives
will be almost certain to strike some
one. There are several additional ad-
vantages in the base shell as a pro-
jectile for purely destructive purposes
One is the terror which its use would
inspire in the breast of foe.
In the course of an interview on the
subject of the base shell Mr.. Christmas
said: There are many very decided
advantages to be gained from the use
of a projectle such as the base shell.
In the first place, it would be particu-
larry destructive when used on the
flank of an enemy Then, again. owing
to the much broader line of fire that Is
obtained through its use, it would be
desirable shell for unmasking batteries
and for clearing out woods and under
growth. l should say that for clear
ing out canebrakes and for close under
brush work, such as our soldiers are
now called upon to perform almost
daily in the Philippines. this shell
would be especially effective. With