The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-24
THIRD EDITION
FROM HAMPTON ROADS.
Ship News-Th EquinoctIal StOrm-The
Great Artillery Experiments, Etc.

Great Artillery Experiments, Etc.
FORTRESS MONROE, Sept. 22.-The schooner
~ & FL. Gould, from Boston, with ice, arrived
at Norfolk yesterday.
The ship John Clark, brig Mountain Eagle,
and Bremen barque Estdfetd, all from Balti-
more, went out OF the Capes to-day.
The barque Queen Victoria lays at anchor in
Hampton Roads,
The equinoctial storm commenced last night
with heavy squall from the southwest, and
was succeeded by heavy storms of rain, lasting
the entire night. The weather became suddenly
cool and uncomfortable-a striking contrast
with the unusual heat of the preceding days.
The wind to-day is due north.
The steamer city Of Albany encountered the
stolm off the Capes, and was obliged 10 seek a
harbor.
The barque Tdhsmdn, from Rio, bound here
for orders, in consequence of the squall was
unable to make the Capes, and mad to put to
sea till this morning. She got in this morning,
and awaits orders.
The telegraphic communication with the
North has been interrupted all day.
The Board of Engineers are ener5 5etically en-
gagged IN pushing forward their experiments
upon the iron,clad target on the beach, near the
fort, with all the dellb"ratIon and accuracy that
are due to so expensive an undertaking. Six
shots were tired this morning, and the effect OF
the smooth-bOre and rifed proiectiles thrown Dy
the Rodman guns becomes daily more astound-
ing and bewlldering to the officers of the Board
every one OF whom has made the study OF Dro-
iect les and the power of resistance offered by
different kinds OF detenses q speciality in their
profession. On one occasion to-day l5lnch
solld shot struck the upper plate In nearly the
same indentatiOn made by a rlhed proiectile,
crushing ID the iron and peneh ating several
inches into the stone work.
hnN N.1hn NsA AoA npn 10 nta.lN
il 20 about $40 pounds, struck the upper edge of
the plate, and glancing on into the granite wall
lmbeddeu iJsel Utmost out OF sight amidst the
crumbling fragments and powder of the crushed
blocks OF stone Heavy pieces of granite, weigh
Ing hundreds of pounds, we're thrown distance
OF nifty yards by the violence OF the shock to the
TARGET, while fragments of stone were scattered
over surface of several hundred yards. Tue
eleventh and final shot was aimed by Captain
@. b. Reese, Recorder OF the Board, directly at
one end of the target, unprotected by any arma-
ture, and where in addition to the usual thick
ness of eight feet, it was braced and supported
by heavy granite abutment. The shot was
pronounced an excellent one by the officers,
aud with the scene OF rum and havoc it created
terminated the experiments for the day. Accu-
rate views, in three different positions, of the
damage done to the target were taken by a
photographer employed for this purpose.
On reaching the target a critical examination
was made by the officers of the immense breach,
and the broken blocks of stone, wrecked iron
trated far into the masonry, and their power OF
destruction was visible over the entire work. Fis-
sures and cTevices, with the projecting mortar,
were seen in every direction above the armature,
while the strong walls bulged out in a manner
quite difficult to comprehend. The shock OF the
Pinch rifle shot, which finished the experiments
to-day, was transmitted to the stone abutments,
and although the damage was less heavy,
the blocks of granite were moved from their
former positions, and appeared to be left in a
totterng condition. General Barnard remarked
that this shot satisfied him tor the present, and
the firing was discontinued until Monday.
Eleven shots have been so far fred by the
Rodman guns from the l5-irch smooth-bore and
the l2-inch riAe and the target as it now stands,
| presents a faithful and suggestive commentary
| upon the waste of material and means which
have been so idly bestowed upon the present
| manner of building stone and brick fortiica-
| tons. 1t is a crumbling mass of ruins even now,
save where the iron plating with It's nearly pene
| trating indentures have protected the granite
wall; and before the firing can be resumed the
useless and dangerously wrecked material must
| be removed.
FORTRESS MONROE September 24.-The equ
noctial storm has been prevailing here for the
past three days; wind from the northeast and
frequent heavy showers. The weather still con
unues unsettled. A fleet of vessels, sedward
bound, are detained IN the harbor.