"Inventors of Evil Things."
[The following is taken from the N. Y. Journal of Commerce.] Implements of Destruction. Every few days some new invention is announced, the chief merit of which is its extraordinary ability to destroy human life. Men are earnestly endeavoring to discover the best possible means for slaughtering each other. At Baltimore, an improvement in artillery is exhibited, called "Shaw & Ames' Patent Revolving Battery." It consists of a brass cylinder, revolving horizontally, and containing any number of chambers, with a stationary barrel. It is loaded, primed, fired and swabbed, all with one simple movement of a break, which was repeated eighty times in one minute. The whole operation can be performed by one man. At Boston, the 6th inst., an experienced trial was made with a breech-loading carbine patented by Col. J. D. Green, which was discharged fifteen times at a target 175 yards distant, but one ball missing the mark. At 200 yards, 26 shots hit, out of thirty. The carbine weighs only seven pounds, and can easily be discharged ten times per minute. In this city a new "revolving rifle" has been exhibited, which is claimed to possess many advantages over Colt's invention. It contains eight barrels, in separate pieces, to be detached from the gun before loading. Two or more sets of barrels may be used in connection with the firing apparatus, and can easily be carried in the pocket. By using three sets, twenty-four balls can be fired in a minute.