Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1896 — CAN HURL DYNAMITE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CAN HURL DYNAMITE.

Two Men Have at Last solved the Very Difficult Problem. Western men have invented and successfully experimented with a contrivance that will throw shells charged

with high explosives into the cainp of an enemy. The inventors are Messrs. Bremner and Le Ferre. The shell was of cast iron, six inches in diameter, about thirty inches iu length, and weighed, when loaded. about sixty-five pounds. It Was of the ordinary shape, flat at the base, and conical at the point, from which projected a steel peg, held in place by a half or a three-quarter thread. This is the firing-pin, which, when struck suffieien 11 y hard, breaks off its thread, strikes a common musket cap within, igniting the powder and explodes the dynamite or nitro-gelatine

compound. The base of the shell unscrews, revealing two inner cases, which revolve on a hollow steel tube running through the length of the projectile. The shell Itself was of three-quarter-inch east iron. The first inner ease was of thin Russia sheet iron, and within this was another ease of wood, less than a sixteenth in thickness and flat at each end. This last was about ten inches in length and received the explosive, which iu this case was a nitro-gelatine compound, guaranteed to develop 30 per cent, greater destructive force than the highest grade, or 75 per cent, dynamite. In appearance it bore a very close resemblance to uncooked country sausages put up in the ordinary tube-like cases. While a group of interested spectators stood around Mr. Bremner unscrewed the base of the big shell, took out the inner cases and proceeded to load the wooden one with the explosive, first rolling It in fine sawdust. Into the small central shaft or axis, which is hollow, a few ounces of common black powder were poured, the round cover to the wooden receptacle was tacked on, a common musket cap was placed on the end of the steel shaft and the whole replaced within the iron shell.

The entire shaft was oiled and its cap point adjusted under the firing pin before mentioned. In conversation with Mr. Breiuner a correspondent learned that he had been experimenting and working on the Idea of the high explosive shell for about nine years. The friction caused by the rotary motion of the shell as it leaves the cannon’s mouth was the hardest thing to overcome. This is obviated by the rotation of the shell upon its hollow steel axis, permitting the inner wooden explosive receptacle to remain almost motionless. Three nicely adjusted steel springs, of varying resistance, arranged at each end of the shell, receive the shock of the powder and prevent a premature explosion of the nitro-gela-tine compound. The illustration of the cannon car repIbsents the Idea of a genius who has

had several perfected to be sent to Cuba. They shoot In every direction, and the whole car turns on a pivot, when unlocked.

THE PROJECTILE.

THE CANNON CAR.