Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-10-30
A GREAT GUN.
Casting a Monster Piece of Ordnance
at a Boston Foundry-A Terrific EI-
ploaioN.

plOaioH.
Boston, Oct. 2S.-Tbe fifth of the
great guns being built by the South
Boston iron foundry was cast to day
that is, third attempt was made to
cast it, which may prove successful.
The amount of metal consumed was
103 tons, and after Is hours subJec>
tios to intense heat it was started IN
its flow to the pit at o'clock. The
casting was performed ID this wise:
A core>arbor of wrought iron, sur
rounded b., a core of rope and clay.
stood upright IN the center OF a pit 40
feet deep. The flask or wall of the
mould was of iron, linsd with sand,
the diameter of the mold proper belag
FIVE feet at the mouth, diminishing
gradually to the bottom, where 1t
measured two feet. The fluid iron
was poured into two conductors on the
outside of the flask, finding its way
into the mould at the bottom. The
walls of the flask was provided with
due holes at convenient distances
from bottom to top fer the escape of
the gas and heated air, and inside the
core cold water was passed continual
ly, for the double purpose OF prevents
ing the core from melting and to
cause the fluid metal to CONCEAL from
the center outward. Everything went
well until the melted iron was within
Ave feet of the surface, when sudden
ly there was loud report, followed
by succession of scarcely less fear
| full explosiods. The flames shot in
great volume toward the high roof and
the building Was full of fireworks
that might make the most enterprls-
ing pyrotechnist hang his head in hu,
initiation. Something happened, and
worse was likely to follow. The
crowds of spectators were driven out
doors. Perhaps driven is too strong
word, considering how very ready
all were to go, most of them even be-
fore they were asked, 1t appears that
| the clay around the core>arbor had
broken away, aRd the fluid iron had
set the rope on fire, and the flames
were m ainlv from the gas thus gem
Grated. The coro~arbor, valued at
81, SOC was ruined, and there were
grave doubt as to saving the casting
itself. If the water, now risen to a
temperature Of 2O2 degrees, csutd be
kept running In this cOJe-arbor things
might be no worse, bat whether t
could Or not was doubtful. TIE spec
tators were informed, by the way,
that if the fluid metal turned through
10 the water every thiDg-the great
building and all its contents, specta>
tors would be Knocked into
flinders. The spectators retreated
still farther, aad many, finding the
exhibition to have suddenly lost ali
interest, took the cars for the city
proper. Meantime the furnaces had
been plugged up, but after careful ex
animation and serious consultation II
was decided TO go on The three
molten streams resumed their course,
and at As the mold was full, and the
explosion which had been moment
ariiy feared, was indefinitely post
poned. 1t will take week for the
casting to cool, and the case will have
to be bored out instead of being with
drawn by derrick power, as would
have been the cass had no accident
happened.
After the removal of the case
the steel tube (wben it comes
from the Whitworth wo ks has TO be
screwed in, and it will BE- four month,
at the earliest before the gun will be
ready for firing. 1t will throw al
800 pound pr jactile, with charge OF
| 265 pounds of powder.