Connecticut western news., 1871-11-10


 would say in conclusion, that the General and his estima'le wife, are yet hale aud hearty and bid tair to outstrip many of Us younger ones in the race of life. Long may they live. AJAx. Falls Village.
 MR. EDITOR Having read the contro- versy going on through the columns Of tht NEWS between your correspondents W. r. and "Cario," relating to the trial of tue Ames gun at Bridgeport, ask permission to umpire the case and give few facts as they occurred under my own superinten- dance. On the 9th of Aug. 1864, left the shop and followed tue gun to Bridgeport. The next day had it removed to the prov
 ing ground, which was on the beach al the foot of Division street. Having gotten the chassis in position, l had the gun mounted and by the 3lst 1 had everything ready for action, when I received and transmitted telegram from Gen. Gilmore, chief of tue board, to Mir. Ames 10 post pone the trial till the 10th of September. MT. Ames arrived the next day, Sept. lst, and we decided to fire three shots. l set the gun at 25 degrees elevation and charged it with a l5 pound cartridge and l20 pound shot. Here let me say that the heaviest shot weighed only l20 lbs: The flight was very good. The next charge was with 20 pound cartridge, elevation T Nha Hifrht 1lx, as good. The last charge l used 25 pounds of No Hazard powder and l53 pound shot; elevation 25 degrees. The result of this fire was a long and smooth flight. l do not think obtained better one dur ing the trial. We did not time it nor measure auy distance, but think we must have gotten a range of four and half miles. That night MT. Ames returned home much pleased with the performance. After having the gun thoroughly cleansed I turned it over to the. police, in whos' care it remained until the 18th. On tha, day the Board" arrived and immediately commenced operation. My first charge. under the direction of Maj T. T. s. Laid ley, U S. A., was l4 lbs of powder, ano shell weighing about lO5 lbs loaded witt lbs of cannon powder. The discharge was very bad, the shell bursting between the trunnions and coming out in fragments flying in all directions, which made it any thing but pleasant for ones ears. Upon examination 1 found the bore badly cut. fired few more shot that day with char ges varying from l5 to 20 lbs, and eleva tions tue same, but failed to get good flight; most of the shot having tumbled, caused by the rifilng being too shallow, only 20 of an inch deep: thereupon it was decided to take the guu back to the shop and add another l-2Olh to the depth of the groove. which is the usual depth. On, Friday tho 18th, had it dismounled and truckea |" the city, and Saturday reloaded and taken up hy the evening passenger train.
 During the next week had an embank- mcnt of sand raised l2 feet by 20, and 6 feet high, 50 feet from the muzzie of the gun, for the purpose of saving the shot for examination. By Saturday the 24th, I had the gun back and remounted for duty again During the next two weeks l fired about 400 shot, with charges weigh ing from l5 to 20 lbs. Most of the shot used were of the Hotchkiss old pattern, although found good many other kinds, such IS the "Shenkle ;" Brooks j" Fer ris ;" "Glmore and some others which l have now forgotten, all of which gave good results with light charges. About this time MT. Ames being desirous of form ing some idea of the distance fired, sug gested the sending out a boat in the charge of the pilots, to take position three or four miles out and observe the shot. They ac- 'cordingy did so, but they took no measure ment nor time of flight, neither had they any instructions to do so. While the boat was out, I fired three shot at long range, one with 20 lbs, and 25 degrees; one with 20 lbs, at 27 degrees and the other with 25 lbs, at 30 degrees. The later gave good flight and occupied thirty-nine seconds. l do not think it was any longer than the third shot fired, and feel very sure it did not reach over five miles. We did not commence taking ranges until some days later. The construction of the carriage was such that up to this time, had not been able to get but about 30 degr ees, but by cutting away part of the ''Transoms," was enabled to record nearly 35. While taking ranges we had ono instrument placed at the gun. and another on Pointno Point" some two miles to inc left: fired several shot with 25 lbs at from 25 to 3O degrees, several with 25 lbs at 3+ degrees, and several with 30 lbs at 34 I-2 degrees The instruments recording from 5000 to 5000 yards. After firing over two hun dred shot at long range, our best record was with 20 lbs powder; l20 lbs solid shot and 34 l2 degrees elevation. Time thirty nine and half seconds. Record 9,360 yards. I subsequently got with 30 lbs at 34 degrees, one flight of Al seconds and one of 43, but as only one instrument re. corded, we got no measurement, but from the initial velocity think it must have reached very nearly six miles. We closed the trial about the first of November, after having fired 7l3 shot, and burning pearly 7 tons of powder, thus proving the gun of the greatest endurance and longest range.
 ". Q. DALEY,