The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-10-07
COLLECTION OF
RELICS FOR FAIR.
Government Exhibit at st. Louis
Will Be of Unusual
Interest.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.


Washington. Oct. s.--Among the interest
ing features which will be exhibited by the
Government at the st. Louis Worlds Fair
are collections of relics just made by the
scientists of the various departments. They
have not been shown at any previous ex-
position. Among them will be a collection
of firearms. just presented to the National
Museum by Colonel w. II. Carter OF the
United States Army, who lately returne !
from China.
This collection. numbering some 1850
guns. Colonel Carter secured from the old
Chinese Arsenal in Ten-Tsin China at the
time the allied forces took possession Of
that city and. in the minds of the museum
officials. tine donation is Of unusual interest
and Importance. Several years ago there
was established in the museum a collection
of guns. etc. to show the progress Of in
vention in firearms. from the Twelfth to
the Twentieth Century, beginning with the
earliest cross bows and harduebuzes. and
ending with the latest and most improved
Mausers. Krag-Jorgcnsens, Martin-Henrys
and Winchesters. The collection is still very
incomplete and Colonel Carter's contribu-
tion Is welcomed FOR the reason that II In
cludes old, rare and out-of-date guns from
which Doctor MAYNARD will be able to Sc
cure much that Is lacking in the east hall
collection.
The Chinese Government has at all times
been very close-istcd in the matter of pur-
chasing improved arms. and at the outset
of the war just closed, with the exception
of one or two well-eguipped stations, and
well-armed and up-to-date regiments. her
arsenals were perfect curiosity shops being
filled with everything from biunderbuss
ff hp of f'nIrip1fljtg 10 few nU1ern
Mausers. while her troops bore every kind
of equipment from bow and arrows to the
latest Colt revovers.
The Chinese are not at all choice In the
matter of firearms II gun will shoot
that satisfies them. the manner in which
the gun shoots being matter OF, small con-
sequence.
Collection of Fjrenrms.
The collection donated by Colonel Carer
is. therefore, OF a character most unique.
one gun measures exactly q feet in
length. Four men were required to hold II
while fifth did the aiming ard shooting.
The Chinese evidently reasoned that the
longer TN. gun the more powder II woui /
hold. and the farther it would shoot. An
other gun measured Is feet In length.
The stock is painted bright red 1t is
hammerless. and 1t is said when firing it
three men would hold IT. one man would
aim and fourth. when all was ready,
would strike the cap with small hammer
which is attached to the stock by a chain
and hook.
Other guns of this collection resemble the
old Kentucky squirrel rifle; others still ap-
pear to be OF Persian or Turkish make In
short. nearly every variety OF gun, from
matchbox to a repeating rife. may be
found in this array Of war implements.
from which Doctor Maynard will be able to
fill up the gaps in the collection he is form
ing to show the history and progress Of
shooting irons"
Among other things to be sent to st. Louis
Will be new pottery exhibits. Oovaer Wal