The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-09
GREAT BRITAIN'S BIG GUN.
A CANNON TH4T CARRIES A 100
POUND PROJECTILE.
Elaborate Preparations for the Great Expio-
sion-A shower of Window Glass and Plas-
ter-The Telling Eject of the DISCHARGE.

sion-A shower of Window ella 80 and Plas-
ter-rhe Telling Eject of the DISCHARGE.
Prom ne London Ddiiv Ee,cs.
sHoEBURYNEss, Sept, q. Guns, great
and small are fired every day over the sands
from this solitary and remote corner OF Essex,
aud the Inhabitants OF this little town and garri-
noises az scarcely to notice sounds which would
torture the unframed ear; but day has been
a day OF dread and its population. TO the last
mao. woman. and child, has been all day in a
state of nervous excitement and appre-
hension as to the possibilities attending
the discharge OF such an unwonted monster
IA the Sl-ton gun, with its $40 pounds Of powder
and its three quarters Of ton shot. There was
really some ground for this elarm, because the
gun does not stand with the rest Of the guns at
this school of gunnery, but Is placed on the
beach close to the barracks and ITS contiguous
tborOugbfares, and barely hfty yards in front OF
a rather extensive block Of soldiers cottages,
and no one could say what effect the concussion
mTst hay I'VE upon adjacent e hs buildings al whe
even on the contingency OF the gun bursting,
and scattering Its fragments Ike hail upon the
devoted colony. The breaking OF windows aud
crockery had been a foregone conclusion, and
Yesterday a sereeants party went round pro-
claiming with the sound OF the trumpet at the
street corners that from 10 o'clock til 5 to day
Tomorrow, aud on Friday people who were wise
would leave their windowe and doors ouen, as
some sort OF precaution against the expected
disturbance OF the atmosphere by violent ex-
plosions., The Inhabitants were given to under
stand, likewise. that VI, Notwithstanding their
caution and care, damage should be done, IL
would be made good out OF the public funds,
TO allay the popular disqulet and appel ension.
IL certainly appeared AS II all the Inhabitants
were out Of dours. some Of the shopkeepers, as
an extra precaution, SHUT up their shops entire
". and everybody seemed TO be drawn to tho
spot where the terrible giant lay.
The trials were to have been begun at 10
o'clock. but 1t was two hours later before the
order was given to make ready. The loading APP
paratus worked admirably under the control OF
about dozen artillerymen, aud the time re-
quired to run the shot and cartridge down from
the magazine, and to ram both home down the
mn la Al hA hAra HN I'M limit
loading carriage and derrick were then drawn
under the chase, or barrel Of the gun. the fire.
buffers OF the gun carriage having been removed
IN order to gain more space tue electric tube was
inserted, and the buQe sounded to prepare for
action. The extremely cautious betook them
selves to safe distances, every one gave the
gun wide berth, and most Of the spectators
gazed out seward, In the hope OF catching sight
OF the wonderful prOjectile in its hight. The gun,
through an alteration In the programme, was
laid at an angle Of seven degrees. toy which the
muYzle WIS to some extent elevated, and about
6,OOO rds away a range party, consisting ~ half
dozen Runners In wagon and two mounted
sergants In charge, were posted to keep obser-
Vations, aud signal by nag 10 the nring point
There was no target to take aim at, but a
straight range had ooen pegged out for about four
miles, and the rlmping OF horsemen had made
the oath OF the shot very legible for some dis
lance. The bugle sounded the order to Fire"
an officer in the instrument room touched a
stud, the crash came. and then the LOO pound
shot vas clearly seen ceaving its way through
the air to an altitude Of apparently several hun
dred yards; then descending and diminishing
until lost to view,until, after what seemed long
interval u struck the earth. throwing IN a volca-
no Of mud and water. and. bounding on again, to
fall and bury itself with another splash far be-
yond. IL was afterward reported that this shot
made It's lrst contact at distance Of 1857 yards.
and that the rcochet carried II about far
again. The next consideration was the gun,
and how had tho carriage withstood the unac-
customed strain consequent on the higher ele-
walton.
Both gun and carriage were In perfect condi-
tion and then came question "a to what had
been the consciousness OF the atmospheric DIS
turbance. An officer went round To take an in
ventory OF the damages, and the soldiers wives
came about him with dismal records OF broken
windows aud shattered ceilings. Most Of the
cottages along the sea front mad one or two
broken panes OF glass. several had their rooms
Uttered with pas er from the walls and ceilings
and one or two mad their window sashes blown
completely out. but the most remarkable effects
were manifested at greater distance. The plate
glass window Of Mr.. Cause. grocer, opposite
Mr kirkwood's canteen, fully 800 yards from
a quarter OF an inch thick. scattered about the
road. barrack gate was burst open and It's
lock broken, several sashes had vanished, and
there were broken windows In every street.
Each subsequent round added something to tbe
damage, but the greatest mischief was neces-
sarily done at the first discharge.
-Four other rounds were flred at the same ele-
yation namely. seven degrees, and each shot
appearing to bury themselves at once, and the
other two bounding after number one into tho
German ocean. The gun was then depressed
to an angle Of only one degree, and two shots
we're sent skimmine over the water max ne
disappeared. The second was observed splash,
ing up foam at distance OF ll.5OO yards, or
nearly seven miles from the shore. aud as the
twist In the proJec;le gave IL u constant
tendency to the right, II seemed to get unpieas-
antly near TO some shadowy- looking eamers in
the haly distance.
nom ne Aec York Times
LONDON, Sept. 23.-The eighty-one-ton
gun is landed nigh and dry on that spit OF
gravel which runs out into the Thames at the
at WOolwich arr deemed highly satisfactory by
military authorities, and hundred rounds have
been fred from 1t Without producing the slight
est strain In any part. The charges fired ranged
from $50 to $40 pounds OF powder. and II has
been found that the results are improved IN
proportion as the charge l. Increased. A charge
of310 pounds gave velocity Of 1879 feet, viii h
pressure OF 20.3 tons, and a developed energy
Of 27,5e3 foot IONS. The service powder charge
LIS inch powder, with l 100 pound projectile.
Though the gun had done so well at Wool
| she would be got TO Shosburyness, at the mouth
OF tho Thames. special barge, with opening
ends, was built for the purpose and a tramway
was constructed TO carry the gun from the fac
| tory TO the river side. There was little hitch
In Its nrst journey over the rails, but this was
soon got over, and yesterday IL was, in spite OF
Gense fog, safely Davigated down the river.
and disembarked at its destination, where
! fresh experiments will be made with 1t.
Twenty rounds OF Palser shell cast in Iron
have been delivered for the first practice weigh
| ing loo pounds. There will also be fifteen
round. Of Paill'er she'll with chilled points. ar
teen common ones and az many shrnpnels.
| The latter will contain 1000 balls Of an inch IN
! diameter. Oddly enough, though this gun Is in
tended exclusively for the navy, I'll Just the
other day no naval officers were on the Consult
| ing Committee, and II was only owing to
| pressure from the Admiralty that shrapnel
shells are to be fred. The diameter Of the shells
| is sixteen inches, to at the bore. The Royal En-
Rineers have marked out the FIRST range OF the
gun at 500 wards over the Mopltn Sands, and the
| Admiralty VIII supply sentinel vessels To warn
passing ships 10 keep out OF the way. Tho tar
GET WI be ton feel BY sixteen feet in four plates
| tons, with three teak boards each i've inches