Newbern weekly progress., 1862-11-08
Testing "a Monster Gun.

The first lj-iach Monitor gun, finished
1T the Fort PIT Works, Pittsburg, Pa. i
has been proved at the proving grounds,
Wallis Station, on the Pennsylvania rail-
road. The 1l-inch and 9-iach navy guns
are taken uton the ordinary platform cars,-
and run out on the switch beneath stout
oycr-hcad railway" by means of which
they are transferred, when swung up Ly
screws to the proper position for firing the
regular proof OF ten service charges. "a
In order 10 sustain. the enormous weight
of the l5-inch guns, it has been necessary
to rebuild The entire frame in the most sub
stan,iih manner, and set up q. triangle Of
massive proportions. This triangle is form-
cd by the framing together of two sets Of
massive timbers IN the shape OF triangles,
upon the apex of which massive cross tim
Der rests OH semi-oircplar bearings. -
From this cross-timber depend the heavy
rods by which the gun is supported two
encircling the trunnion, and the. otter pair,
much lighter, embracing the brcech and
supporting its preponderating weight. Not
withstanding the enormous weight to be
handled, and tho incompleteness Of sonie
ofsthe arrangements, the gun was mounted
under the active superyisionsof Mr.. Joseph
Kaye, and ready for firing before five
o'clock. M
The first three loads TO be fred are proof
charges composed Of fifty pounds Of Rot'
mans mammoth grained powder and stlcsH'
Of three hundred fifteen pounds. As the
firing Of such an enormous load is a very
severe lest, the utmost anxiety was felt as
the lanyard was pulled and the gun dis
charged. The report which followed was
by no means rs heavy as might have been
expected.
The shell struck the ground a short dis
tance in front Of the muzzle, glanced up
slightly. and passing through an immense
pile Of dirt in the "bullock pen," buried
itself in the hill beyond. TEefrcc manner
in which the gun is suspended permits o,
the greatest latitude Of melton, and the re.
coil. was tremendous, in the second roun(
breaking defective breach rod, and bring
ing the tri Il for the day to summary con
clusion.
The damage will be repaired, and th'
firing, after another proof charge, contln
ued for some time with service charge 9
thirty pounds of powder and a shell weigh
ing three hundred and thirty pounds. TIL
firing is conducted under the supervision Q
Capt.. Berrlcn of the navy, and Mr.. Lee o
the works. The charges already fired ar
sufficient test Of the endurance Of TN
gun.
The model Of these guns differs consider
ably from that of the regular 0 and 1l-inci
Dahlgrens, and still more from the model
the l5-inch columbiads, or Rodman guns
As the iron turrets in which they will b
mounted furnish but cramped fighting quar-
!. lersAbeing generally of twenty-five feet !
diameter-the guns are made very short y
proportion to their calibre, being some tw
, feet shorter than the Rodman l5-inch. :
They are not turned from muzzle to breach
as all other guns now are, but from lip
some seven or.eieht inches behind the trla|
, Mons TO the mnzzle; leaving Abe brceciII
! huge unfinished mass.
8 The arrangements Of The breech for. or
r Grating tackle differs from the regular nav
4 pattern, having no horizontal opening ~
Y recying the hawser, and in its place sim
/ pie scmi-circular projection, some sevel
: inches in diameter and the same in thick
ness. The trnnnions are much shorter thal
!. those of the regular navy guns, beih
e adapted to an iron carriage. The "watcr
t circulating core" now adopted in castip
the columbads has also been adopted to th
l5-inch monitor guns, all other navy gun
Q being cast solid. Of these guns half dot
, en- at least will be required to arm the Mon
, itors IN course Of completion.
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