The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-04-01
ALONG THE BYWAYS.
PEOPLE AND THINGS.
Editorial Correspondence

been IN his "Old Kentucky Home
for the past several days superin-
tending a series of tests with an ex-
plosive shell for service in the army
and navy, which was recently in
vented by the writer.
As a patent is now pending on the
device, business reasons prevent my
giving The Commonwealth readers
a detailed or scientific explanation
of the machine of death; but | am at
liberty to say that experts who we're
present at all of the tests, and who
have carefully studied the shell, do
not hesitate to claim that it is I'M
undoubtedly the most destructive
| piece of war material now in exist
ence. The instrument is so vastly
different from anything else ever at
tempted in that line, tt at a clear
description is we'll nigh impossible
without exposing it entirely to the
sharks who live by the ideas of 9th
ers. The strength and usefulness
of the machine are in it's extreme
simplicity. To briefly illustrate the
terrific working of this idea, when
in commission, one gunner may be
able to explode 100 shells in the
neighborhood of an enemy within
a minutes time, and that, too, with
a saving to the Government of
n~inety-two charges of powder out of
every 100 shells fired. This saving
alone means many thousands of dol
lars daily on each gun using the
shell herein mentioned. And any
sort of large gun nov in general use
may be used in firing the shell.
One of the very strongest features
of this new piece of ordnance rests
in the fact that when once dropped
on the field of battle it will automa-
tically richochet, or move itself, back
and fourth over an + of not less
than one mile square, exploding a
charge every few yards, thereby rem
dering untenable any trench, breast
work or other temporary protection
hastily erected. Another remark
able feature, heretofore unknown in
warfare, is the fact that when n OF
these shells explodes it Immediately
sends up toward the skies
a series of red, white and blue
rockets of fire, so that the mar oper
I ating the gun can tell instantly JUS
, where his shots are striking. This
unique feature is said to be thu
. safest, surest and most easily oper
ated system of range-fnding known
to science and does not consume on
minutes time.
Until last Monday all these al.
: castles were dreams and theorie
5 and we're beliefs of the inventor
I but today they are facts that canno
be controverted by anyone, as rigid
o severe and thorough tests clearl
E demonstrated the truth and valu
and practicability of the device.
) On Monday afternoon when tn
expert on explosives announced tina
he was ready to make the first crud
test, | went about the little city an
extended a cordial invitation to
few of my friends and all Of m
enemies to be present and watch th
fire works. Twas particularly am
q ious to have a few of my choice ent
mics present, so that if my "dev
machine" got crazy and had to kill
! a few of US, some of them would /
included in the list Of dead. b
Z my enemies never did have a gree
deal of faith in me, and on this o.
y casion they did no show up.
But seriously the first test Of MOI
day surprised all interested in tt
n splendid manner in which the d
ID vice acted. A deserted gravel p
o. was selected for the proving ground
G a shell was charged with a ligl
load, guards were posted to kee
travellers at a distance, and when Il
red flag fell there was a scatterir
d. for places of safety. The two faitl
full operators who has been with Il
al