Arkansas intelligencer., 1843-09-23

Captain Stocktons Piece of Ordnance.-An
experiment was made last week with this enorm.
Gus piece of ordnance, that carries a 242 pound
ball, at its station near the Light House, below
Sandy Hook. A point blank shot struck line on
target three miles distant, and penetrated through
the target. which was constructed of iron bars
and wood combined, rendering it more strong and
solid than the hull of the largest seventy four
The gun is made OF wrought iron, and is of i'm.
mense size. Experiments will be made again this
week.-N Y. Sun.
Captain Stockton's gun, here spoken of. together
with his innrnvan,en,s in rnnA..,inn with il. NAV
be classed among the great improvements u, s.is
age. The gun itself is n curiosity. 1t is made
entirely Of wrought iron highly finished, and is
some twelve or fourteen feet in length, with ball
bore Of twelve inches in diameter, sufficient in ca
pacity for Ieaden ball Of three hundred pounds
weight, or an iron ball Of the weight above men,
toned, and chamber somewhat smaller in dia-
meter, calcula led, believe, for cartridge of
twenty-five pounds of powder, enough in power,
If rightly confined, to produce young earho uake.
1t was calculated by its protector, TO carry ball,
point blank, for certain execution, three miles,
as the experiment above mentioned proves It to
have done Being of wrought iron, it is Of course,
much lighter in weight of metal than would neces-
sarily be required for one Of the same capacity,
ii made Of cast iron, if, indeed. of its capaei-
opposes less resistance to the re-active force of
the explosion upon the ball. would be likely, from
that force. to make a greater rebound. To obvi-
ate this difficulty or Inconvenience, Capt. S. had
so contrived a couple of heavy timbers in connec-
tion with the carriage, as that the rebound itself
forms them into double inclined plane, the ncli-
nation being made to increase gradually in pro-
portion as the momentum dmnishes.
For deck service. Capt. S. has introduced an
improvement, simple in itself, yet calculated for
mathematical precision and certainly in the shot,
as well upon rough sea and rolling vessel as
during calm. 1t consists in the application of a
lock for firing, to be worked by plumb, which lat.
ter is brought to bear upon it by the very roll or
motion Of the vessel, when such motion shall have
brougn: the gun to the right position. In connec-
ton ;:ith this is very fine and exact angular in
strument, for mc.ss""rlng distances; so that when
the exact powers of the gun s,s..! s,;.. have become
learned, in case Of firing over the distance above
mentioned, the required elevation of the piece ca
be decided upon in a momont.
In the old mode of gunnery-sighting by the
eye and firing with q match-the roll OF the ves-
sell tho distance Of the shot, the time Of applying
the match, the powder burning, the ball passing
&c. &C., had all to be calculated and adjusted in
the mind of the gunner, and there could then be
/ but little certainty upon rough sea, with the mos
thoroughly practiced gunners. while mathematics
certainty is obtained by the improvementso Of Cap.
Stockton. ~
We can see nothing to prevent small fast sail
ING vessel, carrying one or two guns Of this de-
scTin,ion. and tho improvements connected with it
nroyup itself successful against the largest IA, il
not indeed whole fleet Of them. While it coulc
b, kent entirely out of the reach of their guns,
could bring constantly to'bear upon them these In
struments of terrible destructon.-BaA. Sun.
|