Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-08-10
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
THE MONSTER MORTAR OF ANT
WERP


The following particulars respecting the gigan.
tic mortar e'aployed at the late seige of Antwerp
are cleaned from an account of that siege which
occupies nearly the whole Of the last number of
the United Service Journal, and which, for the
circums,antality and completeness Of its details,
does infinite credit to the conductors of that able
and very useful periodical
The idea Of constructing mortar Of such mag.
ntude originated with the celebrated Colonel
Paixhans, of the French artillery. 1t was cast
at the Royal Foundry at Lege, under the direc-
ton Of Baron Evan, the Belgian Minister Of War.
1t is feet ii inches long, is S9d in diameter,
and 245 inches in the bore, and weighs 14,7OO
lbs. The weight of the empty shell is 9i6 los.
Of the powder contained in the she'll, 80 lbs; Of
the shell, when full charged, 1Ol5 lbs; as
will be afterwards seen, considerably less guam.
ity than so lbs suices to discharge the shell when
the range does not exceed 800 or 900 yards. -
The weight of the wooden bed which contains
the mortar is 10000 lbs.
The name Of - Monster Mortar was well Sc.
lected, for it is scarcely possible to conceive a
more ugly or unwieldy implement. With the
exception Of the mortar at Moscow, the bore of
which is Sc inches in diameter, and which, if ever
masses of granite, the :. Munster Mortar exceeds
in magnitude any other engine OF the kind hitherto
known. The immense pieces called Rarthauns,
which were common on the Continent III the ear
~ part of the 18th century, rarely exceeded be-
tween 20 and so cwL, and projected ball of
not more than 60 lbs. weight
1t was conveyed from the foundry at Liege, on
a carriage made for the purpose, to the heath of
Braeschaet, near Antwerp, where it arrived on
the 18th of December. On the day after, a
preliminary trial took place in the presence Of a
number Of French and Belgian officers.
Previous experiments made with it at Liegc
had not succeeded, either owing to some defect
in the she'll, or in the mode of firing. Ii had
been tried with the usual wooden saoot as we'll
as with wad of twisted straw, but, with one or
two exceptions, the projectile burst at the mo.
ment of quitting the piece This was attribut
ed to want Of thickness 10 the she'll, particular.
" Of the culot or part coming in contact with the
charge, which, from the great diameter of the ca
vty. had not sufficient thickness TO resist the
shock Of the powder and conclusion Of the air.
Fresh shells were directed TO be cast Eight or
ten experiments were first made with the dead
shell, filled with its proper weight in sand, aud
fired with various charges, from 6 to IL lbs. gra-
dually increasing. No accident occurred. The
artillery officers being satisfied with these trials,
the she'll was loaded to third, aud so on to a
full charge, upwards Of barrel and quarter
Only one she'll out Of six burst at the mouth Of
the piece; the remainder fell near the target. and
exploded with fierce defamation, tearing up ma
ny cubic feet Of earth and scattering spIntcrs 10
The distance Of $50 yards. The shells are hoist.
ed to level with the mouth of the cylinder by
means Of chevaIet (tresselj, supporting sw.
,el-bar, on the one end OF which were suspended
two chains with hooks to catch the rings of the
shell. and on the other weight nearly equalling
that of the projecte; it was easily raised by this
means, and then lowered, without any jar, into
the chamber. A straw twisted wad was employ.
ed as sabot. The operation Of loading requir.
ell on an average from 81 to SO minutes. The
vent was fitted with spring detonator and the
man who fired stood behind traverse aud pulled
the string with long cord.
The efficiency of the mortar having been thus
satisfactorily determined, it was resolved to con-
vey it into Antwerp, aud to place it IN battery
against the citadel. Eight horses we're requir.
ed to draw the carriage on which it was placed,
and eight others to draw the carriage containing
the bed. The station selected for the mortar va.
close BY the Malnes gate. aud within 500 Yards
OF the Fernando bsston Of the citadel
AT midnight Of the 2lst and 22d, the mo rtar
was loaded with la bs, of powder, and the
first discharge took place. The she'll was watch.
ed With extreme anxiety as it made its paraboa,
aud look out person. stationed on the tower Of
ST Andre lin the city,, reported that it had fal.
len and exploded near the great powder maya
Zine, at the gorge Of the bastion Fernando. At
the second shot, which took place nearly an hour
later, the she'll burst on issuing from the mouth
of the mortar, not by explosion Of the fuse, but
from the weakness Of the pruiectis ITSELF Great
care was therefore,, ordered TO be taken to select
others with thicker colots The mortar was
fired at intervals during the following day, and
the shell was then easily to be traced in its pro.
sress from the mouth Of the mortar. In the air
it had the appearance Of huge cricket. ball, and
seemed to have but little velocity. On the Esd,
Gen. Chase capituated, and there was fortu.
nateIy no further occasion for the use Of this
instrument Of destruction.
*One Of these machines, christened the Foul
Weneh," was mounted on the rampant Of the
water. gate at Dresden when that city was besieg.