Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-05-24

The heavy piece of ordnance, ordered some
time ago in this town to be made for the
"princeon," United States steam triga,e, is
now approaching completion aud being the
largest cannon ever made in this county, aud
requiring IN its construction great skill aud at.
tenIion to perfect it as a solid mass, lit has be.
come an object Of considerable interest and GU.
rosity among nautical and acien,ifc men.
1t will be remembered that the Princeton
had on board gun great weight and csbre,
which. last year, burst on being fired, while
large party of American officers were present to
view the vessel, by which several parties los,
their lives including the Secretary OF State.
IT is in lieu of the gun then destroyed, which
was OF malleable iron, and made impeltec,ly,
cfthe same material, (requirng if well made,
lees bulk for given strength than cast ron)
The gun was manufactured in the solid, by
Mr.. lIorsfah at his "Mersey Steel and Iron
Works" and being of great length, and proper
tonate thickness, the securely welding or CON-
elomerating the whole from pieces into one e.
quail mass, before turning and boring, required
the utmost effort of modern skill, and the aid OF
powerful machinery in heating and fashioning
IT, In the rough it was nearly fourteen feet
long, and little short of thirty inches in diane
ter at the thicker end. A round shaft Of seven
inches in diameter was first formed, and on this,
as foundation, were successfully lamiuated
wedges Of iron placed longitudnally, on edge,
and reversed in position SO as to fit These.
placed round the original spindes, were (as
well as the shafD brought 10 a white heat, and
securely welded by hammer, eight tons in
weight, worked by steam. Another layer, in
like manper, was added over the former, and so
on until the whole was of the requisite thick
ness throughout. When thus so far fashioned
and proved to be perfect and equal in all its
parts, the mass-a most credtable and, indeed,
extraordinary specimen of forged work-was
sent to the works of Messrs Fawcett d. Co, en-.
gine makers and founders.
The gun as sent to the foundry, weighed
ii tons 3 3cwt 2qrs IL lb. In the turning and
boring it was reduced in weight about tons
cwt. The length Of the cannon, now that it is
feet in length, and IL inches in di,me,er, lea.
wing thickness of solid metal of one foot at the
breecl. In form the piece is plain AMI unas-
suming in appearance, without raised mouldings
and rings, (on the French system,) the object
being to attain the required strength at each
point, without useless metal; and the whole ia.
perng nearly equally from the breech. which
is 27I inches in diameter, to the mnzzle, which
is 10 lnches-giving thickness of metal to i,
as tube of7i inches at the former, and 81
inches at the latter. The model for this gun wa,
made on an inch-and a-half scale.
The turning and boring occupied over g
space of nearly three months, though the oper
alton s by no means slow, considering the quan
tity of metal to be cut away at gradual and
cautious rate to prevent any impertcctlon
The first drill introduced was seven inches il
diameter; and about foot from it, 10 incl
boring head followed on the same shaft, ma kim
bore of ten inches at once. An 1lS inch drill
ling was next used, and finally one OF IL inch
es. The gun was finally adjusted in the lathe
was turned, the borers being stationary. Th
finishing operation with the l2-inch drill tool
three successive days and nights, without inter
cession, the engine being kept at work, lest
ceasing even for a short time the contraction Q
expansion OF the iron might, from alternate hea
and cold, prevent the production of the desire
irueress of the bore, or leave mark. As it ii
the bore is as fine and smooth as that Of fir,
rate towling piece and the interior Of the Gu
is equally bright and even.
Through the centre Of the breech a large mol
is drilled to admit thick bolt, with larg
head, to be counter sunk in the rounded cup
basin OF the breech where the charge will /
deposited This bolt terminates eXleriorly in
strong screw, upon which will be secured Ii
outer or terminating brecch piece IS finish
and this pin is so passive at the head, and W
be so closely fitted, that it will become part al
parcel of the gun, and cannot be blown out
any explosion which the piece will bear.
looking through the hole (noY open) the who
resembles huge telescope.
The piece will he poised on its carriage
strong trunnors of s. inches long, forged up
a MASSIVE iron belt or ring encircl,ng the e.
near its centre. The belt is liz inchcs
width, aud - IN thickness and will also
brightly polished. 1t will be put in hot sta
so as To contract in cooling, like the tire OF
wheel, Immediately in front of the belt (whi
caanot move toward the breech, from the iDcr,
sing thickness OF the gun as well as a SIN
fanche) groove fat ribbon indcnture
been turned out of the gun Round this h,
ar belt of iron will be put on to fit flushly,
not welded and over this in contracting v
II. 9th. tt,-l,tI ~.