f 364 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[DsOBMBKB li, 18B(J. 



»uuply Stated what Carl Dittmar— under oath— said that he 

 thought of them. And this brings us to the sworn testunony. 

 5. Hespecting the sworn testimony of Mr. Dittmar, which 

 we published in our issue of September 23, the Dittmar Pow- 

 der Manufacturing Co. explain : 



"In the first place, this deposition has no even remote application 

 to sporting powder. It refers only to blaBtiug powder and to the 

 incredieuts used to produce such powder." 

 A portion of that deposition was as follows : 

 United States Circuit Coukt. 

 jV-ao Yorfc, Feb. lUh, 1880.— Before John A. Shields, 

 United States Commissioner Southern District of New York. 

 Deposition of Carl Dittmar, of Binghamton, K. Y., who, be- 

 ing first duly sworn, deposes and states : 



"JMy GtiKrowDKR, when T first mmU it, had tJie mme ten- 

 dency an nitro-glyceriiie powder. It burst most all t/ie gwis at 

 ,/irst, w/ien I began to introduce it. It wa^ijtist the same as if 

 I would use nitro-glycerine powder. I have it ni/a so that it in 

 tamed down, and dimH bttrnt any mere guns." 



"My gunpowder," the Dittm-ai' panipldeteers explain, 

 " refers only to blasting-powder.'' "It burst most all the 

 guns" "has no even remote application to sporting powder. 

 It refers onlj^ to blasting powder." "Don't burst any more 

 gnm" "refers [Feb. 19, 1880] only to blasting powder." 

 This "tamed down" stuff, which "refers only to blasting 

 powder," is, or was, for sale at No. 24 Park Place. The price 

 per can is, or was, 65 cents and 85 cents. " All cani.sters are 

 sealed, and only warranted when the seal is unbroken." 

 The manufacturers warn the pmchaser that the powder is 

 " not guaranteed if this seal is broken." He is sensible who 

 leaves the seal mibroken. 



We may explain just here that the deposition from which 

 wo have quoted Mr. Dittmar's confession, referred princi- 

 pally to his blasting powder. The statements therein made 

 by Iiim respecting hia ' ■ sporl Ing powder " were in no wise 

 pertinent to the case, and Mr. Dittmar might just as well— 

 and better — ^liave omitted them. But the words, which we 

 have quoted, he did utter under oath, little dreaming that 

 they would ever be brought before the public m contrast with 

 the delusive letters he had written about his " sporting pow- 

 der." 



The Dittmars allege that we have garbled the testimony. 

 A copy of the deposition, as written out from the stenogra- 

 pher's notes and pruited vmder the supervision of Mr. Carl 

 Dittmar's own counsel, is now at this ofHce. It is open for 

 inspection. Any one who has sufficient interest in the mat- 

 ter may satisfy himself that we have quoted Mr. Dittmar 

 fairly. We invite the fullest reference to every letter depo- 

 sition and article cited by us in this discussion. 



The Dittmars lay stress upon the fact that Bogardus and 

 Carver used "Dittmar sporting powder." Well, Bogardus 

 was paid to use it. M''hether ornotheis paid now, we have no 

 means of knowing. Moreover, we refuse to believe that Bo- 

 gardus ever used it alone in a pigeon match where he was 

 shooting for bona fids stakes. lie has admitted to us, person- 

 ally, that in such a match he would not use it in the second 

 Ijarrel. And as to Cnrrerhe, too, used the "Dittmar sporting 

 powder" for pecuniary considerations. Moreover, we are 

 credibly informed tlmt Carver shattered two gims with the 

 " Dittmar sporting powder." 



The Dittmars strenuously deny that their "sporting powder" 

 is a nitro-glycerine powder. The Fokbst aito Stream stren- 

 uotisly denies it, too. 



The Dittmars and the Forest AND.STBEAjr are agreed on 

 that. But we have said, and we reiterate, that t7ie .w-mlled 

 ■" DMnmr sporting powder " is nnalogovs to nitro-glyccrine 

 powder, that is to say, that imder given conditions, which 

 ai'e absolutely beyond the control of the man who uses the 

 powder in his gun, the "Dittmar sporting powder" will deto- 

 nate. 



We insist that the Dittmar ]iamphloteers must not evade 

 this statement of the true nature of the explosive. Mr. Ditt- 

 mai-, being first duly sworn, knows it to be correct. That is 

 whore Mr. Dittmar— under oath— and the PonEsi' and 

 Stream agree again. 



Aud when the Dittmar pamplileteers Issue theii- second 

 edition, we advise them to omit the self-contradictions and 

 falsehoods now existing in their pamplilet, anil in place there- 

 of, to explain in their rationale of their nitro-cellulose com- 

 pound that the conversion of the powder into gas may be 

 by detonation; aud for a "more extended scientific con.sidera- 

 tion" let them exiilain that the man who pidls the trigger of 

 a gun loaded with their " tamed down " stuff is just a.s liable 

 to blow off his own head as he is to kill the bird. 



The Dittmai- Powder Manufacturing Company accuse us 

 of having been personal in our discussion of their explosive. 

 We recognize this bid for sympathj' on their part as an old 

 dodge, but we submit that any reflections, wliich may have 

 beencast upon the character of the manufactm-e of the "Ditt- 

 mar Siwrting Powder," have been only the reflections sug- 

 gested by a fair presentation of his past written and sworn 

 utterances respecting his powder. We suggest to the manu- 

 facliu-es of the "Dittmar sporting powder," that the sports- 

 men of this country are not to be caught with their chaff. 

 A bm'nt child dreads the fire ; the "rationale" of the process 

 of combustion will not induce the child to put his hand into 

 the flame a second time. The most vigorous pumping of gas 

 will not keep a bursted balloon in the air. Scurrilous 

 pamphlets will not float "Dittmar sporting powder." 



We have repressed our indignation at the course of a man 

 who for greed of paltry gainhHS placed a powder analogoufl to 



nitro-gljxerine ki the hands of the sporting public, and then 

 systematically and shamelessly bolstered it up by fraud and 

 deception. We have directed oirr remarks so far as possible 

 to the powder and not to the man. We have preferred, and 

 we still prefer, to leave any reference to Mr. Dittmar's per- 

 sonal character out of this discussion. But if Mr. Dittmar 

 and the present Dittmar company want a change, and would 

 have us leave the discussion of the powder for a considera- 

 tion of JVIi-. Dittmar's "honesty with respect to past and 

 present life, and the purpose which guides him," let them 

 distinctly say so. 



We fail also to see what is the bearing on the case of the 

 statement that the Forest and Steeam in the past has com- 

 mended the powder. JIurderers go unhung and thieves 

 associate with honest men until they are found out. That 

 the powder looked well at first is shown by the fact that it 

 was accepted without question and thoughtlessly commended 

 by many until we set to work (o find out what its true natm-e 

 was. Om- investigation showed that its true excellence 

 was all seemini;, and the deeper we got into it the more ex- 

 traordinary it seemed that the public should so long have 

 been imposed upon. It appeared to us, after we had discov- 

 ered the nature of the explosive, a plaiu duty to annomice it 

 to the shooting world ; and having done that, we have done 

 all that can be expected of us. 



The allegation of the Dittmar Company that their business 

 has increased and that ours has diminished since the publica- 

 tion of the article is one which has nothing whatever to do with 

 the question of the safety of the powder. It makes not a 

 particle of difference to us whether they sell oimces or tons 

 of their compound : that is a matter which interests, we pre- 

 sume, only the manufacturers and the consumers of the 

 article, and among the latter we are not to be counted. On 

 some accounts it would be an excellent thing if their business 

 were to prosper greatly. It would cost some lives, no doubt, but 

 it certainly would make the gun tratle very lively, and many 

 of our advertisers would acctmiulate wealth at a surprising 

 rate. 



The public do not care whether the exjwsure of the char- 

 acter of the powder has benefited or injured the Pobest 

 AND Stream, nor did any calculation as to what would 

 be the effect on our business enter om' minds when the 

 articles were published. We had a duty to perform ; we did 

 what we thought proper in the case. 



Tlie Dittmar Company thought that the price of their 

 advertisement should have purchased our silence. We di.s- 

 agrced with them. 



This paper is not managed to please the Dittmar Company, 

 but the Forest and Stream Publishing Company and tie 



subscribers to this journal. If its management suits them 

 the Dittmar people may, we think, possess their souls in 

 patience. 



As a matter of fact, the circulation of Fokbstand Stream 

 is, aud has been steadily, increasing since the publication of 

 September 28. But that is wholly beside the question. 



We have purposely avoided any discussion of alleged results 

 of tests alleged to have been made by the Dittmar manufac- 

 turers. We do not question Mr. Carl Dittmar's ability lo 

 s,nfely perform, with given .sjmiples ot his "sporting powder," 

 any experiments he may see Hi to devise. It is a matter of 

 record, and he swears to it, that "ii [which does not referonly 

 to blasting powder] burst most all the gnus at first." But Mr. 

 Dittmar has repeatedly told us before that he never had any 

 accident with the powder and that he never burst any of Ma 

 own, guns with it. Moreover, in the absence of other proof 

 than the Dittmar powder manufacturer's unsupported asser- 

 tion, we must be excused from giving credence to what they 

 may say. 



The Dittmars again characterize om' exposition of their 

 ' ' sporting powder " as maliciously false and slanderous. 

 This we again deny. If they think that they can make good 

 the charge of wrong motivsiji liihI lal^" representations, their 

 proper com'se is to sue us, jJiox'e i- in llie courts and ref:over 

 damages. Thej' may easily satisfy tficmselvesof our respon- 

 sibility by consulting any of the mercantile agencies. And 

 if they did not recover six ceuts, a simple judgment in their 

 favor would be of more decided advantage to them aud their 

 product than they can ever hope to gain l>y the dissemination 

 of twenty tons of such rodomnntude as this pamphlet. 



T.he Dittmars have proved ?ucli uilepts in misrepresenting 

 their own powder that we cannot trust them to fairly repre- 

 sent tlie charges of the Fokest and Stream against tlie ex- 

 plosive. We have therefore reprmted in convenient shape 

 our scientific discussion of their nitro-cellulose detonating 

 explosive, and we shall be happy to supply the articles upon 

 application. They contain the simple and direct explanation 

 of the difference between the " Dittmar sporting powder," a 

 chemical combination, and common black powder, a me- 

 chanicid mixtm'c, and the different explosions of the two. 

 The manufacturers whfilly ignore this. There was nothing 

 else for them to do. 



MoKB Carp eor the East. — In drawing down the national 

 carp ponds at Washington Prof. Baird found 1,000 yoimg 

 "leather carp " which he did not know of. These have been 

 sent to iMr. E. CI. Blackford, Fulton Market, New York, for 

 distribution, making the third lot. These are fine fish, from 

 four to six inches in length. 



"Homo" manages to put a deal of information into his 

 weekly letters from PUikdolphiu. 



WALTON'S COMPLETE ANGLER. 



"jyrESSRS. JOHN WILEY AND SONS, 15 AstorPl^ 

 -'-'-'- New York, have supplied a want in giving the a^| 

 ing public a new and haudsome edition of the. late n| 

 Bethtme's Walton. Of all the editions of Walton, eithlf 

 English or American, we have preferred Bethune's, and itt I 

 popularity is attested by the fact that his editions were ex I 

 hausted before his death aud have been in demand since I 

 The volume now before us is a reprint of the original, aar I 

 opens with a letter from the Doctor to his friend Chai I 

 Lauman, the graceful writer and accomplished angler, iuif, 

 followed by Bethuue's poem, " Saptogus," which, when i e , 

 in winter, stirs the angler's blood until the lines, 

 O, that the willow's leaf were free, 

 Aud the dogwood were in flower 

 rise to his brain during the cares of business, and he knov, * 

 that there is a time coming when he can throw aside his caro>^ 

 and get beyond the screech of the locomolive. Dr. Bethuni: 

 seemed to be thorouglily imbued with Walton's spirit of an, 

 admiration for nature, the feeling that is at the bottom trt 

 all true angluig enjoyment, aud wlueh gives more pleasm'c \a 

 its possessor than the mere capture of a few fish which oiui 

 be bought iu the market for a dollar. How many men misfl 

 this enjoyment and measure their pleasure by the munber of 

 trout in their creel. They find no muB« in the chirr of thi.' 

 kingfisher, the call of tlio loon, nor companionship in Ji 

 chattering of the squirrel, which scolds them as an iiUni?! 

 into his domain ; but Walton felt all tins aud more, and if t. 

 modern reader is <x:casionaUy tempted t» smile at his craili 

 lity and superstitious notions he cannot help admiring i 

 quaint style, which is in perfect accord with his simplicii 

 and freedom from technical lore. 



In the bibliographical preface to the first volume ! 

 Bethune gives us ninety-two pages of notices of fishing bin ' 

 before the time of Walton, which is followed by "The €-: 

 plete iVngler," with copious loot notes, aud illustrated v, i 

 fine steel engravings of Walton, "The Salutation" ,. 

 "Landing a Trout," as weU as numerous woodcuts, all fr 

 the original. 



The second part opens with "some account of the life audi 

 writingsofCliarles Cotton, Esq., by the American Editor," 

 and steel portrait of Cotton. The list of birds is intersper-^r' ' 

 with entire poems and precedes the second part of the "Cn 

 plete Angler," while the appendix contains songs and pocn. 

 and an "Arrangement according to the method of Cuvier, i:i 

 the Americati species of fishes alluded to in the precediilg ' 

 pages. By.JamesE. De Kay," whicli was authority thirly 

 years ago, but is not followed now. 



In the apixmdix is also found "Extracts from the Journal 

 of the Lake Piseco Trout Club," and Trout Fishing on Liii' 

 Island (Frank Forrester; ; a "list of books on fish and t1- 

 ing founded on Sir Henry Ellis' catalogue, as reprinted 

 Pickering, but very greatly enlarged and carefully correct 

 making the most complete list over published," and " bi.' 

 in the cathedral Ubrary, Salisbury, formerly belongini^; 

 Isaak Walton, 



The volume is a large one, printed in large tirpe on gj 

 paper, and will no doubt meet with alar^e sale. It is a lar. 

 and handsome volume ; price $8 to 815, according to style. 



THE EASTERN FIELD TRIALS. 



IN last week's issue we gave the full account of the rimninu 

 of the Nursery and Puppy Stakes, with the names of i ■ 

 successful youngsters. The running of the All-Aged Sta; 

 commenced on the day of our last publication, 'I'lim 

 day, and continued during Friday and Saturday, emliogoi 

 as the sun went down on the last day of the week. Tl 

 days therefore l:ad been devoted to the great event, an 

 was deemed expedient to declare the running of the Br.i 

 Stakes off and postpone the running of the Club Stakes, i 

 definitely. A special train was engaged, and the piuiy 

 returned home late on Saturday night, well satisfied at havii.., 

 been present at a most successful fieUl trial meeting. 



Considering the lateness of the season the Club is tu be ci i 

 gralulated on having secured the good services of the clerl; 

 the weather, for ouly one day, Wednesday, turned out to 

 a bad one. 



The entry of twenty-seven names in the All-Aged SIsk 

 was a very large one, and brought together many of the fin 

 strains of dogs in the land. The draw was remarkable, 

 only that the braces were to an extent evenly balanced, 1 > 

 it certainly was strange that the pointers should fall togetli 

 as they did in the different heats. 



There were plenty of birds in the openings at the start, I" 

 towards the closing hours of the trials the bevies had drs., 

 into the dense cover and breaks, where they were hard to fi; 

 aud when found in many instances impossible to move. 



Taking the words in Instruction to Judges, "The d _ 

 are to be hunted in all respects as in an ordinary day's sh^ > 

 ing in a sportsmanlike manner," as our text, we have writtr 

 our report as weaaw it with our own eyep, without fear > 

 favor. We consider that the decisions rendered by the judg ■ 

 were in the main correct, several of them astonishingly t 

 particularly in tho.se cases where a good dog was handicapi 

 by an inexperienced handler. Bat in several decisions y 

 have begged to differ in our report, and we have tried i 

 make it clear why we did so. 



As a rule there was less " kicking" than ia usually the c:'^ 

 Btcompetitionflof the kind, and the only regular withdrawn i 



