The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-11-29
Trial Trip Of the Naugasuck With hsl

Trial Trip Of the Naugasuck with her
4sr, - ~, ! New Gun. 49,.
The United States Stevens battery Manga
tuck made trial trip up the river on Mon
day, to test the qualities of her new gun,
which is to succeed that which hurst at Fort
Darling. o. ssc5I4sss Ia 10
Mr.. Richardson, partner of Gen. James, the
rifed cannon inventor, now deceased, Capt.
Norris of the Revenue service, Capt. Wilson,
and the officers of the Naugatuce were on
board.
The vessel left Hoboken at O'Clock p M,
and started up the river. It was raining rath-
er heavily. Arrived at the Palisades steam
was shut off and ten pounds Of powder-the
regular charge is II or 14-was put in the gun,
with the shot weighing 104 pounds. The dis
charge was satisfactory, the ball entering the
earth without striking the water. 1t was eie-
vated little. e.
The second shot was elevated about 60 de-
prees. and WAS intended to strike as high up On
the esrthen wall Us possible. It struck some
short distance from the top and burst. The
recoil Of the gun WAS not more than about Il
inches at any time.a There was but one new
principle involved in the experiment which was
chiefly intended to try how the new gun work,
| ed. and the vessels general arrangements.
which have been improved since her arrival
The new principle alluded to is an India,
rubber apparatus for checking the recoil Of .
gun. It Of an ingenious. nature and admirably
answeredsthe purpose for which it wss intend
ed. OF course an analytical exposition Of II
would be improper at present. ads a.
The new gun Of the Nsugatuck is q regular
Navy az FOUNDER, which was rifed at the james
establishment. tits strengthened by brass re,
inforce cast over the breech, and is about five
inches thick and thirty. six inches long. aG The
piece itself weighs about 6 Or tuns. Aftcl
the trial the vessel returned to her anchorage
where she will remain for few days. 'ssT's a
| The Naugatuck does not belong to the Navy
She is in the service Of the Treasury Depart
ment and flies the revenue flag. When she
was presented to the Government sort oi
promise was given that she would be put into
active hostile service, IS it Was desired BY the
builder that the plan on which she is con.
stfucted should get . fair trial under fire.
There is no iron armor on this vessel. HeI
hull is iron up to the main deck. In action
she is submerged 80 % to be almost on leve
with the water. Between the open or tor
deck, and the lower apartments, are from two
to three feet of water. This water is the ar
NOR. A sho: striking the deck is supposed to
ricochet and pass away.
T. The upper. works on! the spar deck are moi
necessary, being intended for officers comfort
There are two Of James's brass riaed l2-pound'
ers on the top Of the deck. the breech Of the
4 gun, however, is exposed in fight as the
/ lowering of the muzzle to load necessitates 8
corresponding elevation of the breeth. There
are four compartments, which divided by three
bulk heads .sthwsrt ships" the forward and
after one filed with water by two of Andrew:
4 centrifugal pumps, driven by the oscilatine
engines which are fed by belt. The engine;
are ITO horse power, carry 10 fb of steam and
make IS turns minute. This is the average
speed. The cylinders are Is by "a inches in
diameter. Her boiler is fed by one Of Clifford:
injections. The berth deck is the loading
room of the gun.
The Naugatuck is now nearly ready for ser
vice. Annexed is list Of her officers: -,
Lieut. commanding, J. Hale Wilson; Decl
Officers, Mr.. Morton and Mr.. Burling; Chic
Engineer. Thomas Lingle; Assistant Engineer
Joseph White. ~