The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-22
THE OLDEST GUN EXISTING.
A Relic From China With an Inter.
esting History.

(frOm the Denver hepubiican.)
Charles MeA. Wilcox recently received
from DR.. Carl johnson. Vice Consul at
Annoy, China. valuable relic, which has a
long and interesting history.
IL is an ancient gun, probably one Of the
oldest in existence, and it is presumed to
have been the property Of Chin Fooy, a
mandarin. who lived in China thirteen cen
turtles ago. but whose memory is still pre-
served in history on account Of the bar
barities which he committed with the aid
OF the great black smoke.
The gun consists of eight tubes. about
ten inches long, roughly clamped together
and mounted on a pole about three feet
long The gun weighs about thirty pounds.
At the end Of each tube is a fusehole, and
between each Of the tubes is a shutter
When it was desired that "the black
smoke" should be unlimbered the tubes
were rammed full Of powder and any old
scraps Of lead that were handy were ram
med on top Of the powder A eooIie was
sent for piece of punk, and when the vic
tim had been carefully posed the punk was
applied to the fuse and in due course OF
time an explosion occurred.
II this was not Immediately fatal the
next barrel was exploded, and. according
to the chronicle found by DR.. Johnson at
TIE time he got the gun. the victim was
often not killed before six barrels had been
hred.
In the mean time, while arrangements
for the execution were being carried on.
the victim could easily have walked into
one of the neighboring provinces had he so
desired, but so great was the power OF
Mandarin Fooy that it is not hrown that
anyone took this liberty.
When Chin Fooy, the mandarin. was a
young man, which was about $50 A. D.. he
was a great traveller and visited many
lands In the course OF his wanderings he
sojourned for time in Arabia, and there
he learned many things concerning PER
fumes flowers the medicinal properties Of
herbs, and more than all did he study about
the great black smoke"
When he returned to the home Of his
fathers. which was not far from Annoy. he
told of the things that he had learned in
his travels and showed many wonders to
the people, who thereafter regarded him as
a sage and a man of mysterious powers.
When he had been in his home for many
months there came the feast day of Budd-
ha. and it was then that Chin FOoy de-
cided to show the people the wonderful
powers Of the great black smoke, which
he had reserved for a special occasion in
order that he might receive a final ac-
acknowledgement Of his wonderful powers.
was much contention as to who should be
honored by being the first victim of Chin
Fooy's wonderful implement. which he had
brought with him to the square in which
the joss house stood. Lots were drawn
and the fortunate one was finally placed in
position before Chin Fooy and his thunder
maker, which he adjusted with the great
est nicely.
Chin Fooy applied the lighted punk to
Cured which caused all the people to bow
their heads in awe All but the one who
had been selected to face the great black
smoke" He sat upright in his chair and
smiled.
"Buddha blew his breath across my
face" said he.
Then the people knew there would be a
Judgment upon him for speaking in such
a testing manner of so great a god. and
sure enough, when the next great thunder
came the man was dead.
After this there were many who wished
to pose for Chin FOoy and many or them
did Buddha strike down as Judgment.
At last Chin Fooy grew tired and his
thunder maker grew warm When he
placed his hand upon it after he had fired
a fourth time, he was burned, and ne
cursed # in the language OF Arabia.
This was what caused Chin Foy's down
fall. He SWore Ihdt ne "Ouiu tedCh inc
great black smoke" that 1t must know its
master. and he loaded one Of the barrels
until It could hold no more. When IL ex-
ploded Chin Fooy was suddenly stricken, it
was presumed at the time because he had
cursed his thunder maker in foreign
tongue.
An effort was made by other people to
ms the wonderful implement, but very soon
there was a startling decrease in the popu-
lation. and the priests in the josshouse for
babe its use.5
few months ago a party Of men build
ing a railroad unearthed a skeleton, and
beside II, wrapped in a substance which
had preserved 1t from destruction, was the
gun. One Of the laborers brought it TO
Annoy and sold il to Dr. johnson for a tri-
fling sum. together with the roll Of manu-
script which was found near by.