A TERRIBLE WEAPON.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2032, 28 August 1880, Page 3

A TERRIBLE WEAPON.

A new gun, which can fire fivo thousand shots in thirteen minutes, was recently tested in Washington. The Gardner is a machine gun, like the Gatling. It has two barrels made of steel, enoased in brass. This is an auxiliary to small arms, and is simply a gun which, by the ingenuity of the designer, is calculated to do the work of a number of muskets, and do it more rapidly and effectively. It cannot, probably, shoot so accurately as a musket, but, if properly handled, must be fearfully destructive, especially when dirocted against a line or an advancing column. Its calibre is 0.45 inch, and the same cartridges are used as in ordinary practice. The charge is 70 grains of powder, and the ball weighs 405 grains. It is mounted on a small field carriage, and is light enough to be carried by two men. The whole lengthof the gun is only 4ft. Itcanbo fired 500 times in a minute, its capaoity_ in this direction being only limited by tho rapidity with which it can De fed. If steam could apply the motive power, and it could be fed fast enough, there is no telling how rapidly it oould be fired. The firing is done by turning a orank in the rear of the gun, and it is fed through a flat-shaped box, into which the cartridges are placed in blocks holding twenty each. They fit down neatly into the box, whioh holds about fifty cartridges, and as fast as the crank is turned they drop down into a channel and are carried forward for discharge, and the empty partridges returned and dropped beneath. 5000 shots were t fired in thirteen minutes, three men relieving each other at the crank.