The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-11
Francis s. Hall Has Designed a
Breech-Loading Gun for
Coast Rescue.
MODERN CARTRIDGES USED.
Cylindrical Projectile Is Inserted
Into the Brcech With Il
Life Line Attached.
REpiHIIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
New York. Dec 1c-The heroic rescues
and valorous deeds of our firemen and
policemen are matters of daily record. eu'
they are not entirely lost in tie shuttle OF
the worlds activity. for nothing delights
human nature more than to honor living
men who show great courage in times OF
danger and to offer homage to those who
die in their efforts to save the helpless.
There IS a third class OF llfe-savers. OF
whom little is ever heard. but who like
wise rcfu:e the ancient axiom that pro-
claims self-p,es.ivation 10 be the first !aN
ot nature.
These are the men who form our iife-
saving crews. who are unqualihediy the
finest in the world. but while their con-
duct is just as valiant to-day as 1t was
when organized, over n half century ago,
the methods and apparatus used by them
Rave suffered no material Improvement.
but. OH the contrary, remain practically
unchanged. ard this is particularly no
ticeable in the type of guns employed.
In the army md navy since the Civil
War guns of all sizes. from the pocket
pistol to the largest cannon, have been
subjected to a complete change. both In
their construction and in their operation.
leaving but little in common between the
old and tine new. the wonderful improve
ments having resulted in quick-iring and
automatic breech-loaderS, hut the peace
full lifeline guns have continued old-fash-
ioned and cumbersome. muzzle-loaders
and all, together with their inherent dis
advantages and weaknesses.
Is It progressive. Is IL right. for death
dealing guns to represent a higher stand.
Manifestly no! But these were the inhu-
man conditions of affairs that led young
Yale man. Francis S. Hall Jr.. of the ella ss
Of 80. Scientific School, to pick the old
breech-loading lifeline frearm worthy of
the corps who are to use 1t and destined
to wonderfully increase the efficiency of
the life-sayinY service.
The perfection of Mr.. Halls life-saving
cannon is the elimination Of several years
of practical experimenting. begun In col
lege, where he designed and then built at
a local machine shop a rapid-fre gun
on steamships and yachts for signaling,
saluting. etc.
The operation of the life gun when a
vessel has been wrecked on rock near
the shore Is simple process. for 1t is
used to shoot line to the ship. where 1t is
made fast. while the shore end is elevated
by means of great braces. forming a
earth.
Why a Misunderstanding gun would not be
As good for this purpose as the most nigh
~ improved breech-loader may not at first
be apparent, but II must be borne in mind
that the value of the whole equipment
depends upon the rap.dity with which 1t
may be gotten ready. for every moment
DrlnGs the ship nearer to destruction and
Its crew closer to death.
Wrecks most frequently occur during
storms and the darkness Of night. and re-
gardless of time or weather il then be-
comes necessary to load the old-style muz-
zie-loading guns with powder bags usu-
ally unprotected. while its open bore points
at an upward angle. permitting the rain
forming receptacle for 1t.
The Hall gun is constructed Of a bronze
and steel alloy which will not rust under
the action Of salt air and water. A SELF
,oeking device made up OF the least num-
and also provides for instantly draining
on any water that may find its way into
t. The powder and primer are both con.
tained IN cartridge case made OF Lronze
and sealed up air and water tight This
without trouble or loss of time. To FIRE
the line the cartridge is placed in the
preech and the latter closed. The pro-
JeStlle. which is in the form of a cylindri-
Is S ,sno Sno'' s nss the line attached to it and
takes place In the usual manner
Highly satisfactory tests Of this new
gun have Just been concluded at the
Sreeomoor State range, the photographs
having been taken at the moment Of firing
mediUm-range shot while the gun had
an elevation Of twenty degrees: the shot
mad Just left the muzzle of the gun, and
the saot line may be seen paying ont Of
the case At the present time number of
these guns are building in the shops of an
electr1c company for vessels owned by the
United States. s