The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-10-09
rLW GUN WITHOUT BULLET
1t Shoots Binding Gas and Will be
arricd by Secret Service Men.

Inc bulletless gun has at last
made its appearance. 1t is a German
invention, and. instead of bullets. it
ShoOls gas which temporarily
blinds and chokes the victim.
The cartridge used contains sew
eral ingredients, which, when ex-
ploded, combine to form a vapor of
peculiar character. The gun it
self differs very little in appearance
and mechanism from the ordinary
double-action revolver. 1t holds five
cartridges.
The action of the vapor may best
be imagined by considering the posi-
ton of the person shot at The ap-
pearance of the weapon, the report
and the flame of the powder COM
bine to convince the victim that he
has been shot at with an ordinary
firearm. His eyes and mouth open
in surprise, and the gases generat-
ed by the combination of chemicals
envelop his head completely, pene.
tratng his eyes and affecting his
sight.
For several minutes he is prac-
tically blind. simultaneously the
mucuous membranes of the nose
and throat are irritated and the vic
tim sneezes and chokes For a
minute or two the victim finds it al
most impossible to breathe.
1t is obvious that no individual
even if he were as strong as Hercul-
es, would be in a position to put up
much Of a fight while in such a con-
dition.
The shotless gun is intended prin-
cipally for the protection of tour
lists. commercial travellers, doctors,
cyclists, automobilists, bank officials,
mail carriers. watchmen and police
men. No one wants to kill a cri-
minal unless 1t is absolutely neces-
sary for ones own preservation, and
this invention is intended to make
such course unnecessary.
Chief William ]. Flynn. Of the
United States secret service, has de-
cided to adopt this weapon for use
In the service. In rounding up
bands Of 'cOunterfeiters and other
offenders against the Federal laws
the chief believes the chemical gun
Will prove just as effective and at
the same time more humane than the
ordinary weapon. Overpowered by
the fumes Of this new gun any cri-
minal. however dangerous may be
readily, captured, and by the time
the effects Of the vapor have worn
off the prisoner Is safely mana cled.
At the laboratories Of Bendiner q
F'Schlestnger. at Third avenue and
Tenth street. New York, one O. the
cartridges used with the chemical
gun was thoroughly analyzed. It
was found to comprise pasteboard
holder with Illuminating cap at one
S''N "'""iAoi W eHdS uScu III TIE. Or
dinary bullet cartridge. .&Immedia-
tely next to the cap was a small
charge OF coarse grain gun powder.
Then followed a large charge Of cap
sicum. or red pepper, mixed with
lycopOdium, an inflammable yellow
powder consisting Of the spores Of
club moss. and a slight trace Of
saltpeter. The remainder Of the
holder was filled with lycopodium.
With the ptilling Of the trigger the
cap explodes the gunpowder and
the force Of the explosion unites the
red pepper and lycopodium and pro-
duces the binding, suffocating vapor
upon which the principle of the wea-
pom depends.
To test the effects of this cartridge
Mr.. Schlesinger produced gum
ca pig from his laboratory and dis
charged it at the animal at a range
of some three feet. The guina pig
seemed to suffer no pain, but was
unable to open its eye for the space
Of minute and seemed to have
sCn:e difficulty in breathing, as the
fumes penetrated its nose and throat.
The test, however, hardly did jus.
tlce to the weapon, for naturally
enough, the guinea pig was not ir
the least alarmed at the sudden sight
OF the gun, as human being might
be, and kept his mouth shut and mis-
eyes nearly so. With a human be-
ing, of course, the surprise anC
shock would operate to open its vic
TIM ; eyes and mouth and give the
fumes Il better chance to work.