The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-02-14
THE GREAT GUN.
Important Event at Gho Fort Pitt
Works-Casting OF Twenty-Inch

Manufacturing or Twenty-Inch
from the Pittsburg Commercial, Feb. 1877
One OF the most important events In the history OF the
rebellion and which inaugurates new era in the manu-
facture Of heavy took place Thursday between
twelve aud one O'Clock. 81 the Fort Pitt Works. gum
with calibre Of twenty inches diameter, cast the
time OF tapping the furnaces. The arrangements for
casting this mammoth piece OF ordnance per-
work The amount Of metal used for this huge gun was
eighty TONS or one hundred and seventy thousand
uhch were charged At Ave O'Clock in The
morning. At twenty minutes past twelve everything
and the mosD me va, Sv
means OF three conductors to large reservoir close to
the mould The mould was set perpendicularly in
suspended from two large cranes Of lifting capacity Of
forty tons EACH and worked by steam AS soon the
reservoir sufficiently charged the metal flowed from
II into the mould, and in twenty two minutes from the
time Of tapping the furnaces the mould flied to
within a few inches OF tho top the metal settled the
mould filed by the workmen with metal from fur.
naces held 10 reserve 10 case Of accident The casting
vas peIec'ca ~nons no snsntes. con.nsion tne wnoe
Joseph Kaye, foreman Of the works:
We are indebted TO Captain Joseph KNAPP for the fol-
lowing statistics which will give our readers better
idea Of the magnitude Of the casting
Weight OF gun 10 rough ............ 1870 goo lbs.
Total length when finished ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 20 II. in.
, Ma T;mr Of p H;on,s,.,
The gum estimated viii use spherical shot Of half
ton weight, ana smell OF seven nundreu anu nity
pounds. the gun was rihcd il is thought 1t would
throw solid shot OF ton in weight The amount OF
powder to be used In charging the gun s estimated from
eighty 20 hundred pounds This gun Is said 10 be the
largest In the world and to Pitsburg belongs the honor
OF adding such heavy peace Of ordnance to the science
| OF war.
The casting OF the gun, before remarked
the hollow core principle. invented BY Major Rodman,
der half inch in thickness through which stream OF
water kept continuously running during the process OF
casting This cylinder Is wrapped with rope which Is
covered BY sand and outside Of this distance
from the mouth or the mould s sheet iron cylinder.
During the casting the water discharged from core
dicated temperature OF from forty to forty.two de.
grees The gun will remain in the pit undergoing the
cooling process some ten days two weeks after which
II will be hauled out by OF the large refer.
red to- and removed on railway truck TO the finishing
department OF the works. where IL will DO placed 10
lathe and finished.
IL not yet known what disposition will be made OF the
gun when completed but 1t is thought not improbable
that will be placed in or the defences OF Now York
harbor II would not like TO insure the safety OF
the Black Prince, Warrior Royal 0ak Or Ia Gloire,
should they attempt entrance Of the harbor with
like intent. One shot from this monster would crush
such vessels 10 pieces
Although the day fixed for the casting was necessarily
military and scientific persons present. by invitation
OF r. KNAPP. Among those present noticed the follow
ing gentlemen-Maor Dyer Of the Ordnance Department
Major Rodman the inventor OF the principle upon which
the gun cast Captain R. Aulick, Assistant Chief Of
Bureau OF the Ordnance Department Of the Navy Capt.
j. H. Berran Inspector OF Ordnance United States Navy
Captain Bennstt Chief Inspector OF Ordnance; Captain
Fde. Chief OF Ordnance General Meades staff Captain
Professor Barker Of the Western University and
Two distinguished representatives, from abroad wit.
messed the process Of the castngMarqus dc Bascour OF
the Italian army and Captain Goodenough OF the English
navy I'll these gentlemen were highly pleased with the
great OF this experiment and none shan
the last two named.