Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-06-05

A British Journal Of The 5.h April reports
Ths trials Of the WbitTorth and Armstrong
guns, which have been continued during the
week, have been confined entirely TO ascertain
ing the range and accuracy OF the three Geld
guns experimental with from the irst at eisva-
lions from Two to six degrees, and have resulted
gensrslly ia maintaining the sAms relative posi-
fion of the guns. The three guns have now
fred 336 rounds; they have been cleaned az
aEined, and "a impression in gutta percha
taken Of their borrs, and, We believe, without
the least sign Of . hEW or iDiury Of any kiRd As
yet. They are, however, doomed to ultimate
destruction, as it is part Of the programme to
continue firing them until they are all rendered
unserVieeabis. This. Indeed, forms q part of
the trials, which is looked forward TO with the
greatest curiosity, as it will go far to settle the
YeKed question Of cells 5eTsHs steel-cast and
hammered This event will probably not come
of for at least fortnight To-day the srronR
stocksdes are to be fred at from 900 yards, and
tomorrow The guns ara to undergo the ordeal Of
rapid firing
THE MACKAY GREAT GUN.
Il was intended to have thoroughly tested
this gun on the Crosby sands on Saturday last,
but owing 10 the unfavoTabe state of the at
mOsphere the experiments proper were not car
ried out. A thick hazs prevailed along the
coast, and prevented the target being visible At
a distance Of four hundred yards There were
times, however, Whau the fog was partially
lifted; aud during one of these intervals six
-hots were fred at = wooden target (placed At
two h1udred yards distsnce) for the purpose Of
obtaining the range. Four of the shots struck,
and two were rather wide Of the target Ths
initial velocity obtained was l640 feet per sec
Ond, which Is considerably higher, We believe,
than the velocity Of the Armstrong shot, and
1 about equal 70 tha 6S FOUNDER old ordnance as
/ lhs two bundTsd yards distance.
1 When the six sh0is had been fred ct ths
/ wooden target tho experiments Wsrs postponed
until thia day, or the frst ire day, owing 70 the
l thickness Of the weather. To the right Of the
/ wooden target is placed segment, rsnrssentinR
CONSTRUCTED By Messrs Laird, BiTksnhead. Tbs
| target is strengthened by extansivs backing and
wooden props which have been driven into the
/ ssnd to = depth of eight feet. The Target is
stronger than the side Of any yessel at present
| aRost, yet Mr.. Aackay is confident that his gun
viii shatier it 30 pieces, and drive shot, If sufi-
GENTLY good, clean through il. The next sx-
| p8rmsRts, hsWsVsr, must be awaited before any
dtfnits report can be made. The expsFimentS
on Saturday were Witnessed by several naval
and military gentlemen Interested in gannery.
Under dAts May 6lh, the same journal re-
ports:
A comparative trial of two nsw Armstrong
guns-ons smooth bore, snd the other rifsd,
| both throwing steel shot-has been made as
/ Shoeburyness, before msmbers Of the Board of
| Admiralty, and several naval oficsTs. Tho
success Of the trial was only partial the steel
shot did not make Its way through the 81 inch
arrnor plates against which il was directed,
while the elongated and the 5pherical slot
showed tendency TO destroy themselves in the
| process Of destroying tbs plate. This Tssult
was attributed rather to she metal Of tho shOt
/ destructive power at shors range was awarded
| In favor of the smooth bore, which, however,
was considered comparatively ineffsetive against
iron-elsdB.