At Essen are the far-famed Krupp Works, one of the greatest manufacturing
firms on the globe. These works are the outgrowth of a small old forge,
driven by water power, and established in 1810 by Frederick Krupp. His
short life was a hard struggle, but he discovered the secret of making
cast-steel, and died in 1828. Before his death, however, he revealed his
valuable secret to his son Alfred, then only 14 years of age. After many
years of severe application, Alfred Krupp's first great triumph came in
1851 at the London World's Fair, where he received the highest medal. At
the Paris Exposition of 1855, as well as at Munich the year before, he
also won gold medals.
Abundant orders now flowed in for his breech-loading, cast-steel cannons.
In severe tests which followed, the famous Woolwich guns were driven from
the field. The Krupp guns won great victories over the French cannon at
Sedan, which was an artillery duel. At Gravelotte and Metz the Krupp guns
surpassed all others in range, accuracy, and penetrating power, and Herr
Alfred Krupp became the "Cannon King" of Europe. Americans remember well
his gigantic steel breech-loading guns at the expositions held in
Philadelphia, and Chicago.
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