Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-10-02
Teatinr a 1Ionster enn.


On Tuesday last the first 15-inch Moni-
tor gun, finished at the Fort Pitt Works,
Pittsburg, Pa, was proved at the navy
proving grounds, Wallis Station, on the
Pennsylvania Railroad. The 11-inch and
9-inch navy guns are taken out on the or
binary platform cars, and run out on the
switch beneath stout Overhead railway"
by means of which they are transferred,
when swung up by screws to the proper
position for firing the regular proof of ten
service charges.
In order to sustain the enormous weight
Of the 15-inch guns, it has been necessary
to rebuild the entire frame in the most
substantial manner and set up triangle
of massive proportions. This triangle is
formed by the framing together Of two
sets Of massive timbers in the shape of tri-
angles, upon the apex Of which massive
cross timber rests on semi-cireular bear
ings.
From this cross-timber depend the
heavy rods by which the gun is supported
two eneircling the trunnion, and the
other pair, much lighter, embracing the
breech and supporting its preponderating
weight. Notwithstanding the enormous
weight to be handled, and the Incomplete
ness Of some of the arrangements, the gun
was mounted under the active supervision
of Mr.. Joseph Kaye, and ready for firing
before five o'clock.
The first three loads to be fired are proof
charges, composed of fifty pounds of Rod
mans mammoth grained powder, and
shells of three hundred and fifteen pounds.
As the firing of such an enormous load is
a very severe test, the utmost anxiety was
felt as the lanyard was pulled and the gun
discharged. The report which followed
was by no means as heavy as might have
been expected.
The shell struck the ground a short dis
tance in front of the muzzle, glanced up
slightly, and passed through an immense
pile Of dirt in the bullock pen" buried
itself in the hill beyond. The free manner
in which the gun is suspended permits OF
the greatest latitude of motion, and the
recoil was tremendous, in the second round
breaking a defective breach rod, and
bringing the trial for the day to a summa-
! ry conclusion.
The damage will be repaired, and the fir
ing, after another proof charge, continued
for some time with service charge Of
thirty pounds. The firing is conducted
under the supervision of Captain Berrien,
of the Navy, and Mr.. Lee, of the works
The charges already fred are sufficient
test of the endurance Of the gun.
The model of these guns differs conside-
rably from that of the regular 8 and IL
inch Dahlgrens, and still more from the
model Of the l5-inch columbiad or Rod
man guns. As the iron turrets, in which
they will be mounted furnish but cramped
fighting quarters-being generally Of
| twenty-five feet in diameter-the guns
are made very short in proportion to their
caliber, being some two feet shorter than
the Rodman 15-inch. They are not turned
| from muzzle to breech, as all other guns
now are, but from a line some seven OF
eight inches behind the trunnions to the
| muzzle, leaving the breech huge unfn-
ished mass.
The arrangement of the breech for the
operating tackle also differs from the reg
ular navy pattern, having no horizontal
opening for reeVing the hawser, and in its
place q simple semi-circular projection,
some seven inches in diameter and the
same in thickness. The trunnions are
much shorter than those of the regular
navy gun, being adapted to an iron car
riage. The "water circulating core now
adopted in casting the columbiads has also
been adopted to the 15-inch Monitor guns,
all other heavy guns being cast solid. Oh
these guns a half dozen at least will be
required in few weeks to arm the Mon
itors in course of completion.