The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-04-28
NARROW ESCAPES
Hudson Maxim Has Figured In
Some Perilous Incidents.
LUCKY AT CHEATING DEATH.

One of the most thrilling adventures
In my experience took place at the gov
ernment proving grounds at Sandy
Hook, N. j.. when the United States
government was testing maximite be
fore adopting it.
Near a light frame building In which
was filing shells with maXimite, q
ten inch gun was being tested. A mum
ber of shots had been fred from the
big gun. Just as | had concluded my
work and started for the wharf to take
the government tug for New York, the
signal was sounded for another shot
was walking along a stretch Of rail
way track directly behind the gun.
At that instant remembered that
several years before. when one Of these
guns was being tested. the breechlock
bad blown out, passed through the
bombproOr and killed six officers and
men. but argued with myself that the
chance was infinitely remote that the
breechIock would be blown out OF the
present gun on this discharge at the
very instant was In range, but upon
a sudden impulse ran with all my
might
The gun was discharged. looked
round just in time to see the huge
breechlock pass through building near
the one In which had been at work.
1t came up the track. striking and
breaking one OF the rails over which !
had passed 1t ricocheted against the
top Of the old granite fort and glanced
high into the air. A shower Of stones
and debris fell over wide area and
many fragments struck the ground
close to me.
walked back to the scene Of the ac-
cident aud found that the windows In
the little building where had been
filing maximite shells were completely
rtddled with partly burned cylinders OF
smokeless powder that had been blown
from the gun
once had another curious expert
ence at Sandy Hook during some trials
OF the Maxlm automatic machine gun.
Among the severe tests to which the
gun was subjected was one intended tc
simulate what might occur In making
landing upon the seashore. where the
mechanism OF the gun might get filed
With sand The test Is known as the
sand test
The gun being tested at the time was
of the kind using black gunpowder
t.lI fNv , hAp t,A nj frn-
duction Of smokeless powder. There
was 80 much energy in the recoil OF
the barrel that a great deal OF sand
could be thrown into the mechanism
without interfering with the working
OF the gum
The commanding officer did not ar
rive to see the gun fired until after the
board In charge had completed the test
He then appeared and demanded that
the firing should be continued for his
benefit. The chairman OF the expert
mental board demurred saying that
the gun had passed through the test
admirably and that 1t was too bad to
fire 1t more than was absolutely neces-
sary, with its mechanism tlled with
sand. But the commander insisted.
A schooner was approaching near
the line OF fire. The commander said
ared and that the firing would be com
pleted before the schooner would come
within range. Accordingly belt OF
1913 rounds was inserted, and the firing
begun. After perhaps dfty rounds were
fired the command was given Cease
firing" but the gun kept right on. 1t
afterward proved that the trigger was
blocked by sand, SO that il was impOs.
sible to stop the gun. The schooner
came into range. and the bullets flew
over and around her.
Ny assistant. who was tiring the gun.
did his best to work the trigger and
stop it. 1t did not occur to him ON the
instant to unlimber the gun and swing
it round so as to bring the schooner
out OF range AS the gun fred at the
rate OF 7j0 shots minute the tiring
was all over inside hale minute.
Fortunately 40 damage was done.
When the same gun was undergoing
sund test at Annapolis, Md, | came
very near being killed by II.
The gun had passed successfully
through a severe sand test, but the
officer III charge wanted TO see wheth.
er he could put enough sand into the
gun TO stop it, SO he had the gun box
tilled full Tue gun Cred about l50
rounds aud then stopped My assistant
threw down the safe--that is to say,
locked the trigger, so that 1t could not
be pulled-and began clearing the gun
box.
Thinking that the gun was safe,
was just about to step round in front
OF it, Suddenly 1t fred dozen or
more shots so close to me that my
clothes were scared by the powder
gases,
One Of the tests made at Annapolis
was 10 Are Maxim gun vertically
into the air We had fred couple OF
hundred shots in this manner. when
something struck very near us. II
then occurred 70 the officer In charge
tnai what goes up must necessarily
'ome down, Firing ceased and we
tought cover for few minutes 90
I,uid the leadeu rain Hudson Maxim
10 Youths Companion