The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-06-28
Experiments with Ordnance e.-Efect oi
Proiectiies on Iron Plates.


Some very interesting expert.
ments, going to show the effect o.
lprojectiles upon cast Iron plates,
were made at the proving grounds,
mp the Allegheny, yesterday. A
twelve FOUNDER gun was loaded with
a charge Of ak pounds OF powder
and a twelve pound ball, and dis
charged at a plate Of iron. furnished
from the works OF Mr.. Shoenberger.
nearly five inches in thickness, and
about two feet square. The plate
was made up Of AK distinct plates,
all bolted together. and manufac-
tured from excellent iron. The ei
feet Of the shot was almost incred,
ible. The distance between the gnn
and target was not measured, but
was probably one hundred yards.
AT this distance tho twelve-ponnd
shot penetrated three plates of the
Shoenberger nlate, dished the whole
mass several inches. and partially
broke through the remaining three
plates. Tho ball was crushed +"
fragments, and the front hemisphere
evidently half fnsed. The same ef.
feet on the ball followed every shot.
Tho second plate tested was solid
and four inches thick. OF beat Juniata
iron. The ball penetrated about
one inch and an eighth, and dished
the plate lees than in the preceding
experiment. The third experiment
was with two inch plate. which
the ball 80 nearly broke through
that q light hammer would have re.
moved the fragment. The pla,es In
all the experiments were sim ply set
on edge, with no other support than
was necessary to keep thern in that
peAi'ion. Tho nix FOUNDER war
proved by two charges Of solid shot
and one and ono fourth pounds Of
powder.
While the experiments we're going
on, a gang Of men had removed the
columbiads from the cara, and SC,
the entire lot-ten in number-in
order for proving. Two Of these
guns were trained by the same gnn
ner, with the Same lack Of means
on fourth plate of iron, solid. about
eighteen inches wide three feet long
aud nearly five inches thick. The
guns were loaded with twelve
pounds Of powder. solid, etrapped
shot, and wal. Tho cartridges are
carefully picked, fuses affixed, and
the lot touched off together--tho
heavy reports following in rapid
succession. A cloud of smoke GOV.
ers the muzzles, and q shower o.
sand the bank where the balls ctr Ike
and when these clear away, one or
two heavy trees arc found to have
been knocked down. Tho lower
half OF the iron plate is half imbod |
led in tho bank. with the half fused !
portion OF the ball beneath il. The
upper portion OF the plates show an
intention Of about two inches and
a fracture completely through, furth /
nr up the hill. The result of all the
hiring proves that at short range no
ordinary or practicable iron sheath
ng, would resist tho power OF CO.
nnbiad shot. The second shot was
ired with fifteen pounds Of powder
and shell; the guns were cleaned
and inspected, and tho days work
was done. In firirg the columbi.
ads, the brecch was sunk in a slight
excavation, in order TO level the
boro; yet such was the force OF re
coil, that several Of the guns jumped
five or six feet. The
work OF inspecting and proving the
guns on behalf OF the government is
now in the hands Of Captain Nc.
Mutt, who has been stationed for
'omo time A. tho Allegheny arsenal.
-[P,usbnrg Chronicle.