The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-02-07 00:00:00

BIIRSTINa or THE THUNDERER GUN.

The experiments with the 38 ton gnu of the
Thunderer were brought to a conclusion at Woolwich
on Tuesday, when the gun was double-loaded and
fired—the result being that it burst almost exactly as
the sister gun did in the turret whilst at prac-
tice in the Sea of Marmora on the 2nd of
January, 1879, and the particulars of which our
readers will doubtless remember.--We take the
following account (slightly condensed) of the final
experiment and its result from The Times of Wednes-
day :

"On Tuesday afternoon the problem set by the
accidental explosion of the 38.t0n gun on board the
Thunderer was solved by the explosion of the
sister gun with a double loading. The prelimi-
nary tests already made and recorded have shown that
the theories of the shot slipping and the shot jamming
were unfounded, and it only remained for the com-
mittee to demonstrate their own hypothesis, Their
decision, being practically in favour of the gun and
the accepted principles of gunnery, was naturally
questioned by the advocates of contrary systems, and
consequently the greatest possible interest was felt in
Tuesday's experiment, as was manifested by the large
attendance of official personages, military and naval
officers, and scientific men. [Here follows a long list
of the names of those present. I
"Preparations commenced about twelve o'clock, and
while these were proceeding the spectators examined
arrangements and discussed probabilities. They saw
before them first a great pyramid of earth, which con-
tained the bursting chamber, and almost touching it a
compact square pile of yellow sacks, which they were
told were filled with sand and were piled against and
above a butt of earth 401 t. thick, intended to receive
the projectiles and any fragments of the gun which
might be driven in that direction. A roped en-
closure was formed around to keep off intruders and
a party of police, under Inspector Cavall, were there to
assist, but care had been taken to admit only those
who had full authority, and the police had nothing to
do. As far as could be gathered, the majority of
opinions were against the contingency of bursting the
gun. The members of the committee remained true
to their conviction that double loading had buret the
former gun, and their expectation that the same con-
ditions would bring about the same result in the pre-
sent case. Mr. Bramwell, indeed, whose opinions
have been strongly expressed to the like effect, declared
that the issue was beyond question. An additional
piece of evidence in support of the decision arrived at
in the Maltese inquiry was afforded on the proof-ground
yesterday by an elaborate calculation prepared by
Mr. Greenhill, M.A., the mathematical professor at
!he Royal Artillery Institution. He had been re-
quested by General Gordon to report relative to a
brass stud found in the Thunderer's turiet after the
explosion, and supposed to be one of the front etude
of a Palliser shell, from which it was argued that the
gull, which was known to have been loaded with
common shell, contained at the same time a Palliser.
The front studs had been taken from the seven Palliser
and from all common shells removed from the butts,
pine from each shell, and the whole had been placed
in the bands of Dir. uireennui, wno round tnat tne
mean weight of the common studs was 1,282 grains,
and the mean weight of the Palliser 1,383 grains.
The stud picked up-in the turret weighed 1,313 grains,
and without allowing for the supposition that a piece
had been chipped off it, he calculated by mathemati-
cal process that the probabilities were some millions
to one in favour of its being a Palliser.
"The gun was carefully loaded under the-supervision
of Captain Morley, RA., proof officer, and others
specially appointed to be present in the cell, and then
a diagram was painted outside the gun showing the posi-
tions of,the two charges and their projectiles, First was
rammed home the Pelliser cartridge of 1101 b. of pebble
powder, next the Palliser shell of 1101 b., and the papier-
mschd wad, The second charge followed—namely, 851 b.
of powder, a common shell, and another wad, and the
double loading was complete. As marked on the
outside of the gun, the 851 b. of powder lay just in
the position where the gun swells in thickness to
strengthen the powder chamber, and many who had
been sceptical were convinced by this illustration that
the ignition of a charge in,such a weak and improper
position would be at least risky. Doubts, howeverse
were expressed whether the gas check upon the base
of the Palliser shell would allow the flash from the
rear charge to ignite the one in front, cased as it
was in a flannel bag, and the explanation that
the flame would ride over the gas check with
inconceivable force before the former could set up was
scarcely received with confidence. At last everybody-
who wished to had visited the gun and had had the
opportunity of forming an opinion, and then the bell
was sounded as a warning to retire. The splinter.
proof houses, which had been reserved as covers for the
principal visitors, were very little in demand, for every
one wished to see whatever there was to be seen, and
accordingly the spectators retired some 300 yards to
the left front, where the high bank dividing the
river from the marsh afforded a capital position for a
bird's-eye view of the scene. Some doubts were ex-
pressed as to the safety of the position, but the
suspense was of short duration. Captain Morley was
seen to retire to the instrument room, and a sergeant,
after seeing that the ground was clear, dived for a few
moments into the bursting cell for the purpose of
adjusting the electric fuze toa the vent. A second
bell was then rung. An instant after Captain
Morley had touched the fatal pin, and the pyramid
of earth seemed to be lifted by a dense mass
of smoke and wreckage which flew into the air
to the accompaniment of a loud report. For some
time the smoke poured out, and before any one could
enter it was necessary to make use of the fire-hose; but
anxiety to know the resuleovercame all idea of danger,
and several of the committee groped into the
cell and came out again with the tidings that the gun
in making
ges under Co
everything
gsloencuel YJ
secure, and
were2pAredse'ungtoolyntethoenTglittle Engineers
dark cell was filled with persons
stumbling over the broken fragments of the gun, the
breach end only of which remained on the carriage,
resembling with marvellous fidelity its unfortunate
companion now exhibited in the Royal Gun Factories,
Hearty congratulations were exchanged, and it was
admitted that the cauke of the Thunderer explosion
had now been conclusively established and the reputa-
tion of British guns for refusing to burst, except under
con.d_ttiono navor onaht ti itriFin, triumphantly
maintained."