The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-11-20
Thursday Morning, November 20, 1862.
Another Victory of Iron-cIads.

The first actual trial trip Of the Passaic, the
new iron-clad on the plan of the Monitor, late
ly launched at Greenpoint, took place Satur-
day. The vessel has been from her dock be-
fore for the purpose of experimenting as to
certain results which Capt Ericsson desired
to accomplish. From these trips, which were
not intended to try the speed, or general ca
pacities OF the ship, many naval men predict
ed the conclusion that, In many important
points, the vessel would not come up to the
standard expected and required. Capt Erics-
son, however, well understood the merits Of
his own inventions, and only awaited an an
propriate opportunity not merely to convince
them OF their error, but rather to astonish
them with degree of success which the most
sanguire had not anticipated. Not satisfied
with building a vessel that is utterly impreg-
nable, and placing on it 6fteen-inch gur-a
gun never before used in naval warfare-he
has now consummated an invention by which
this gun is fired inside the turret, the muzzle
not protruding outside the shield, without
danger or Inconvenience to those outside, and
worked by only four men. 1t is also proved
that the vessel will be able to attain speed of
at least nine knots an hour.
1t needed the experiment of Saturday to
prove these results. All the navy men were
increuulUus that gun, twenty-one tons in
weight, could be fired inside a turret twenty
one feet in diameter, without having its muz-
zle protrude through the port-hole. Alone
among the faithless, with only one engineer to
join him, was Mr.. Ericsson.
At 10 o'clock the Passaic was reported
ready. She had come from Greenpoint 10
have her boilers cleansed-divested OF the fl
thy coating which builders deem indispensa-
ble-and the job being done her steam began
to rise. A large number Of scientific officers
men who could never see anything until ey-
erybody else could see it-congregated at the
iron works.
The vessel left the wharf at the foot of
Thirteenth street, between ten and eleven
O'Clock in the morning, and steamed up the
North river against strong ebb tide, and a
heavy northerly wind. Her speed, from the
start, averaged over seven knots through the
water, and her screw making only fifty-eipht
turns, which Is twenty-five less than she has
the power to give. But, the boilers foamng,
It was not deemed advisable TO drive her to
her maximum speed, the trial being more for
the gun than the vessel.
Passing down the bay and up the river, the
vessel was the observed of all observers.
FIRING THE GUN.
Arrived at the Palisades, opposite Fort
Washington, the vessel was headed in toward
the western shore, and preparation was made
for firing the great gun. The cap missed
This gave confirmation to the incredulous
ones. Another cap missed. 1t was Just as
they said, they exclaimed; it couldn't be done.
A third cap falling to touch the powder, they
became sure that the gun was failure. But
the firing of the gun checked further remark.
The ball struck about 300 yards from the ves-
sci, in the water, glanced of, and struck the
rocks, causing them to fly like so much chat,
followed by terrible echo, which, in its force
resembled the explosion of a powder MILL
The noise outside the turret was TERRIBLE
while inside there was no conclusion of any
account, and the noise certainly did not exceed
that which would have been produced by the
firing OF an ordinary pistol Every one was
surprised, and unwilling at the first trial to say
much; all were anxious to see the effect of a
full service charge of thirty-ive pounds of
powder. The gun only recoiled seventeen in
ches.
The very first fire, then, results in no smoke
to speak OF, no inconvenient conclusion, and
the complete success of grand idea. The
first charge consisted of 20 pounds of powder
and hollow shot, 1880 pounds) fired out of the
l5-inch gun.
At the second shot the entire charge of 35
pounds Of powder was put in. Captain Dray-
ton pulled the trigger. Once more the echoes
OF the Palisades rang out. The recoil and the
smoke were reported "insignifcant.n and the
shot-a hollow one-buried itself again in the
beach. Cheers were loudly given for the Pas
sale.
The gun was fired twice again, the last time
with solid shot, and gave fuller evidence of the
success of Capt. Ericsson's idea. The follow
ing Is recapitulation of the shots: