The Sun.
London, England, 1852-09-28 00:00:00

LONDON,

TRIALS OF ANCHORS AT SHEERNESS.
FOURTH SERIES OF EXPERIMENTS.
STEAM TRIAL PLAN.
The Committee of Menegeolent, presided over by
the lion. Montagu Stoptord, acting commodore and
senior officer of the port, assembled at the dockyard at
half-past eight, A.M., on Tuesday, the 14th instaio, and
shortly afterwards etanarked on beard the Lizard
steamer and proceeded to the Note. The competing
anchors. eight in number, had been previously place
on two dockyard lighters esnecially selected for the oc-
casion, and towed by the African and Adder steamers
to the scene of operations. Hero the lighters, with
standing gear attached to each, were moored in en ave-
rage depth of water e quarter loss thirteen fathoms, the
African and Adder being berthed outside of them.
To the outside catheads of the steamers the opposing
anchors were tax, d, with stoppers ready to be cut at a
given signal, the ends of,a chain cable WA fathoms in
length, previously hove through an iron-bound single
sheave-block, going attached to the anchors. The
steamers, of the joint power of 229 horses, were lashed
to the lighters, one ou each side thereof, and on the
anchors being let go (a sufficient time being allowed for
their reaching the ground) were propelled astern at full
speed, the power being kept on the pendant of 23 fathoms
attached, for the purpose of testing the holding proper-
ties of the anchors at long scope of cable.
The necessury prelimit ariee having been gone through,
the anchors, in accordance with the drawing for stativas,
were assigned the following positions:—
Port. Starboard.
1. Rodgee(Exhibition prize) 1. Aylen's
2. Honiball'e (Porter's) 2 G. W. Lenox's
3. Trounan's(improved Por- 3. Admiralty (new)
ter's) 4. Mitcheson and Son's
4. Isaacs' (American)
Everything being ready, the trials commenced, and
wereptroeiitr, Exhibition
dsedwithinthe order here given. Lieute-
nprize anchor being opposed to
Mr. Aylen's. On steam power being applied Aylen's
was run up to the block, when it was discovered not to
have taken the ground, owing, it was supposed, to the
strain being applied too quickly after its being let go,
hence the committee decided that this should be consi-
dered as no trial. The men employed on board the
lighter were so panic-stricken that they omitted to cut
he stopper of Aylen's anchor until atter Rodgers' had
been let go, the strain of the latter in full run bringing
Aylen's
to the block. Mr. lloniball's (Porter's) was
next
put in competition with Mr. G. W. Lenox's ;
this trial occupied two hours and three minutes, and
was a severe one. Lenox's was drawn one link and a
half of chain in twenty minutes. At length, after a
protracted struggle. Houiball's was brought up to the
block, but not until after a large warp had been broken,
and the mooring lighter (from the heavy strain caused
by the steamers backing at full speed with a tide in
their favour, at two-and-a-half knots per hoar), was
pinned down four feet by the head. With this termi-
bated the first day's trials of the present species, the
various persons engaged therein returning to Sheerness
in the Adder and Lizard; the African, with thelighters,
remaining at the Nero.
SECOND DAY'S TRIALS, SEPT. 15.
The parties interested embarked in the steamers ap-
propriated to their use at nine A.M. On arriving at the
Nore the experiments were resumed. Mr. Trotman's
(improved Porter's) anchor being pitted against the
Admiralty anchor constructed on the plan of Sir W.
Parker, which resulted in the latter being brought home
to the block at the first trial at long scope of cable.
Mr. Isaacs' American anchor was then „tested with
Mitcheson and Son's; the inferior holding power of the
former was evinced by its being drawn up to the block
at the long scope on the first trial.
Further operations were now suspended, it being
necessary to allow time for the placing of the winning
anchors in new positions for testing. This was effected
during the ensuing day, under the superintendence of
Mr. J. Aylen, the master-attendant, whose exertions and
perseverance throughout the whole of the experiments
have been most praiseworthy.
THIRD DAY'S TRIALS, SEPT. 17.
The operations commenced this morning at the usual
hour with a further trial between Mr. Aylen's and Lieu-
tenant Rodgers' Exhibition prize anchors. In this case
full steam power was employed with 184 fathoms bite of
chain through the block on each anchor cast in 11
fathoms water, wiih a tide in favour of 2i knots, the
steamers backing at the rate of 3i knots. The competing
anchors held firmly. On sighting the block Aylen's
was found to have gained au advantage of one fathom
over its rival. The committee then proposed that the
steamers should go ahead for a short distance, and after-
wards astern at full speed. During the trial Commodore
Stopford superintended the steering of the steamers in
order to prevent any undue advantage being given to
either anchor by steerage way. The heavy strain brought
upon the gear caused the lighter to be pinned down up-
wards of three feet. Shortly afterwards, the steamers
working together up to 220-horse power, Rodgers' an-
chor came home, Aylen's not having started from its
original position at long scope of cable. The trial was a
most interesting one, the strain on the gear having
been greater than in any of the preceding cases. At long
scope the advantage of Aylen's anchor over its compe-
titor was so trifling, that both were considered equal in
holding power, and it was not until after a most severe
struggle at short stay peak that Rodgers' anchor gave
way.
The two rival anchors of Trotman and Mitcheson had
row to be tested against each other. Two trials were
afforded them at long scope of cable, the full power of
the steamers being put on, without the ono showing
superior holding power to the other. At the first trial
at short stay peak both held on; at the second, however,
Mitehezon'e was brought up the block minus one-half of
the stock, which being constructed of two separate parts
shipped into the shank in dovetail grooves, the breaking
of the stock is supposed to have been caused by the
anchor embedding itself in the ground. In consequence
of this circumstance the committee decided that Mr.
Mitcheson's anchor should be further tried with
ire competitor, if Mr. Mitcheson chose to re-
place that portion of the stock which was carried
away. Further operations were then suspended until
the following morning. Scarcely, however, had the
committee arrived at the Nore when it was deemed
advisable, owing to the threatening appearance of the
weather, to return to port, and to deter the continua-
tion of the experiments until Monday, the 20th instant.
FOURTH DAY'S TRIALS, SEPT. 24.
At 9 30 A.N. the African and Adder steamers pro-
ceeded to the Nore, with the lighter in tow, on board
which the anchors and gear had been placed. The Lizard
steamer, with the committee of management, followed
Shortly afterwards to superintend the further experi-
ments. Lieutenant Rodgers' Exhibition prize anchor
bad during the present series been twice placed in com-
petition with Mr. Aylen's anchor, proving victorious in
one instance, and being beaten in the other. In order,
therefore, to determine which possessed the greater
holding properties, a third trial took place between
them, which resulted greatly in favour of Lieutenant
Rodgers'.
Mr. G. W. Lenox's anchor having now become next
best to Lieutenant Rodgers', it became necessary to op-
pose these to each other. Both having been lot go at
the yam,® time, the steam power was applied, when
Le'nox'S brought its rival up to the block. The steamers
L zard and Adder then returned into port, the African
remaining at the Nore in charge of the lighter.
FIFTH DAY'S TRIALS, SEPT. 25.
The experiments were resumed this day at 10 Amt.,
end commenced with a farther trial of Mitcheson's and '
Trotman's anchors, which resulted in Trotman's being
speedily
brought home.
On reference to the result of the 17th inst., it will be
Seen that Mr. Trotman's anchor, after a severe contest
of some boors, brought Mr. Mitcheson's home with a
broken stack. This having been repaired at the dock-
yard, the two rivals were again placed in competition.
A struggle was expected, but from some cause, possibly
the mere accident of the one anchor falling on its stock-
end and the other on its pee, in which position the mo-
mentum imparted by the two steam-tugs backed at full
speed is suddenly brought to bear upon them, whereby
no chance is given for the canting of the one anchor, the
few fathoms of chain fly through the block, and in a very
short space of time all contest is at an end. The result thus
far is in favour of Mitcheson's; in the former instance
to Trotman's, which makes it, so far as these trials at the
Nore are concerned, a drawn affair. Should a further
trial between these anchors be decided on, circumstances
may afford a better opportunity for deciding which of
them is the best.
Mr. Mitcheson's anchor was then pitted against Mr.
G. W. Lenox's, the latter holding equally with its
competitor. At short stay peak, however, Lenox's
yielded to its rival—in fact, broke the ground first.
The four trial plans, in accordance with the sugges-
tions of the committee of naval officers and shipowners,
have thus been fully carried out, whereby the holding
properties quickness in taking the ground, tripping, &c.,
of the competing anchors have been subjected to every
available test that the means at disposal would admit.
The results cannot fail to afford many valuable hints for
the further improvement of this instrument, which ought
to be the most perfect within the powers of human in-
vention, more •especially with reference to its peculiar
and important uses. On the anchor the safety of our
ships and their crews, when riding in furious gales,
mainly depends. The possibility of improving it, or
imparting to it that firmness and durability of construc-
tion which the trying nature of its services so imperi-
ously requires, is a matter worthy the serious attention
of scientific men. He who can render it the moat per-
fect will confer a great boon on the maritime portion of
the community and on humanity.
A most important property appertaining to the rival
anchors—that of strength—has yet to be ascertained.
For this purpose they are to be taken to Woolwich,
there to he subjected to hydraulic pressure until broken.
The labours of the committee will then terminate, with
she exception of drawing up their report, which, from
the important positions they fill, cannot fail to be charac-
terised by the considerations due to the high interests
involved.
The following account of the results of the various er-
periments will afford our readers a correct idea of the
holding qualities of the several competing anchors:—
FIRST SERIES OF EXPERIMENTS (AT THE DOCKYARD).
Trotman beat Rodgers (Exhibition prize), Admiralty
(new), lloniball (Porter's), Rodgers' stream kedge, Ad-
miralty (new). 6 cwt. heavier.
Honibail beat Aylen, Mitcheson.
Mitcheson beat Isaacs (American), Admiralty (new),
Rodgers' stream kedge, G. W. Lenox, Aylou.
R enter,' beat Aylen, Admiralty (new)
Aylen beat Admiralty (new) Isaacs (American).
Admiralty (new) boat G. W. Lenox.
SECOND SERIES OF EXPERIMENTS (ON THE TEACH AT
GARRISON POINT).
Trotman heat Ayleu, G. %V. Lenox, Hosiball, Ad.
mirelty (new).
embell boat Isaacs (American), Mitcheson.
iteheton neat Rodgers (Enhibitton ptize),
Ayl, (r,ct3.;,lci
Ayleii boat Roegers (ii: st trial).
G, Lenox beat Admiralty (liew).