The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-03-15

"
~ recently, the welding together of such mass
of iron was never attempted. In former times,
the forging OF an anchor for line OF battle
ship was considered the heaviest Job that could
be executed, and the demand alone Tor shafts
for large steamers has brought this heavier
work into existence, 10 execute which, entirely
new arrangements are 10 be made with the fires,
hammer, &c. think | do not risk any thing in
the assertion that the metal of the peace
Maker" is the largest mass that ever was
brought under forge hammer.
The shank Of an anchor will occasionally
break short of, but who has ever reasoned from
this fact, that cast iron would be better mate
rial for an anchor than wrought? Who would
hire cast iron musket or fowing piece or pis-
tol Who would shoe his horse with cast iron
or, indeed, ever use il where tenacity was re-
CURED, IN preference 10 wroughti No facts
within my knowledge have ever been recorded
10 show that the quality, the nature, | may say,
Of wrought iron undergoes such change when
welded together in masses, as il would appear
the metal OF the bursted gun has undergone
the hbrous quality OF the iron appears 10 be
wholly destroyed, large chry stalls form the mass,
and the specific gravity is found to be nine per
cent. less than that Of ordinary hammered iron.
No doubts were entertained as TO the quality OF
the bars ofiron from which the gun was forged
it was supposed TO be the very best that could
be procured il so, some chemical or organic
change must have taken place in the manUfac-
lure hitherto unknown and undreampt Of
Those, therefore, who would rely on former
experience, could have no surer guides than APP
pear TO have led TO the introduction and use OF
this gun.
Question by Judge Adrocate. Willyou please
TO state particularly The knowledge you may
possess of the character of Mr.. William Young
as a man of science, and particularly as to his
practical acquaintance with the manufacture OF
iron?
Ans have known Mr. Young many years
first as the manager Of the West Point Foundry
and afterwards of the Ulster Iron Works, and
now manager Of the Mount Savage Iron Works,
near Frostburg, Allegheny county, Maryland
His general reputation is, and | have always sc
considered hun, as man OF science IN
MS profession, and as possessing the hes,
practical knowledge of the manufacture of iron
He has executed large contracts with both the
War and Navy Departments, and to the entire
satisfaction of those Departments.
Question by the same. You have spoken OF
accurate calculations which led Captain Stock
ton to form his judgment and decision as to the
construction OF large guns OF wrought IRON
What were they2
Ans. They were, as understood at the time
calculations believed made by Capt. Ericsson
from scientific works on the subject, and from
his own experience.
Question by The Court. You have mentioned
the Yorkshire iron-what is the character Of that
iron?
Ans. 1t is considered the best used in Eng.
land for tenacity and strength, and is much used
for steam engines particularly. speak of tae
iron made at The Law Moon Works from which
the iron, Of which the first gun was made
came. But do not consider that iron as equal
10 the best American iron.
Cues. Do you know any thing Of the cha
racter OF the works where the Peace Maker was
fabricated
Ans. ] do not.
William &. Hunt, Lieutenant in the Navy
Of the United States, being duly sworn, deposes
and says
Cues. VIII you please to state such informa-
ton as you possess, as 10 the experiments and
proofs of the large guns on board the Princeton
and the circum stances attending the loading and
explosion Of the same, and your rank and station
on board said vessel?
Ans. Having been, by orders from the Navy
Department, detailed for special duty under
Captain Stockton, IN compliance with orders
from him, proceeded to New York found
there a large wrought iron gun, said to have
been manufactured in England; had it convey
ed TO Sandy Hook for tie purpose of proving
and making other experiments with il. The
gun was landed al the Hook and upon the ar
rival oil Captain Stockton, all The necessary ar
rangemens having been completed he proceed
ed TO prove the gun with the following charge
80 pounds powder, 40 yards above Navy proof
a wad filling the chamber; one shot of PIP lbs.
IN weight and wad over H. l then proceeded,
by order of Captain Stockton. TO mount The gun
on carriage prepared for other experiments
a. III l.
the chamber was discovered. This was ex-
amined, and although II was, at the time, not
supposed TO extend through TO the chamber, il
was thought advisable TO strengthen the breech
by putting bands around it, An order was Civ
en- 10 that effect, and further experiments post
poned After being banded, the gun was again
mounted, and the experiments continued. After
firing about twenty times with cartridges vary
ing from Ia TO % pounds, the shot of 2l2 lbs, it
was found that the crack in the lower part
OF the breech had opened through into the cham
Der 10 such an extent, that in washing the gun,
water drained through the rent. IL was then
determined 10 ascertain how many discharges
of 25 lbs. Of powder, with shot of 212 lbs.,
the iron hoops, which were about 81 inches IN
thickness, would bear without bursting. On the
following day the gun was fred Al times with
rs lbs powder, % yards above Navy proof, and
each shot weighing 2l2 lbs, without any visible
eff, CT except that The exploded powder blacken-
ed the outside Of the hoops directly over the
rent in the gun. Having fired from this gun
from I20 to $50 shot without injury TO The hoops,
which alone sustained ii, and having by such
means ascertained TO our entire satisfaction that
a wrought iron gun if overstrained would only
open, not fly to pieces, and that about 81 inches of
good wrought iron would sustain such firing as
this gun had been exposed to, we believed that a
gun could be made of American iron sufficiently
strong to stand any number OF pounds of pow
der that could be burnt IN IL. In consequence
of these results, Captain Stockton ordered an
other gun made with similar chamber TO that of
the first gun, with an additional thickness of II
inches metal al the breecL.