Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-14

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A Washington telegram says: The
second in the series Of dynamite pro-
iectilc trials, under the auspices Of the
Senate Military Committee, took place
to-day ON the banks OF the Potomac,
about half way between Georgetown
and Chain bridge. This change Of
proving ground was due to the refusal
OF the District authorities to permit
any further trials within the corporate
limits Of Washington, on account Of
the destructive conclusions which were
among the results of the preliminary
trial on Monday at the hayward.
-Four shots were fired to-day with six
inch shells, carrying eleven-pound
bursting charges Of nitro-gelatlne,
which contains about 95 per cent. OF
pure nitro-glycerine. The range was
one thousand yards, and the target was
a perpendicular ledge Of solid trap rock
on the south bank Of the river. The
first shell struck near the eastern mar
gin of the ledge and exploded by con-
cussion, SCATTERING the face of the rock
for a radius of about thirty feet,
and carrying away several tons
Of debris, which 'were hurled for
hundreds of yards up and down
the stream. The second shell struck
nearly in the centre Of the ledge, ex-
ploding as before. 1t opened cavity
in the face of the ledge about twenty
five feet in diameter, and excayated q
pit or crater about six feet deep. Some
Of the fragments Of rock from this explo-
sion were hurled half mile, one piece
weighing nearly twelve pounds being
thrown clear across the canal and lodg-
ing near a farmhouse adjoining the
Georgetown reservoir. The other shots
were similar in their effects.
Notwithstanding the drizzling rain,
quite a concourse of people assembled
to view the trial, among whom, in addi-
ton to several officers Of the army and
navy, were the military and naval at
taches Of the German, French, and
Italian legations, and the Russian Min
lister in person. The trial was regarded
as a success in every respect, and as a
conclusive proof Of the destructive
power of the six-inch shells. The next
test in the series will be made in a
few days with eight-inch shells, carry
ing thirty-fve-pound charges Of nitro
gelatine. II is possible that, in view Of
the effects Of the six-inch shells, carry
ing only eleveApound charges, the local
authorities may refuse permission to
fire thirty-fve-pound charges anywhere
in the vicinity. If so, the next trial
will have to be made at Fortress Monroe
or Sandy Hook. The members Of the
foreign legations present manifested
great interest in the trial, particularly
the Russian Minister and the German
military attache, who took copious notes
Of the proceedings.
No damage was done to person or
property, though flying fragments of
rock passed in disagreeable proximity
to the heads of spectators at each dis
charge. Some idea of the power Of the
explosive used may be gathered from
the fact that though the shells struck
squarely against the face of solid
ledge of trap-rock hundred feet wide
and sixty feet high, and exploded by
their own impact, tons of rock were
blasted out at each discharge, and not
only removed but broken into small frag-
ments and hurled in all directions for
half a mile. Some of the military and
naval experts present expressed the
opinion that any one of the shells fired
to-day would have completely wrecked
any unarmored ship ahoat, and seriously
racked the strongest iron-clad. The
safety Of the system Of firing seems to
be assured by the two trials that have
been made, the shell leaving the gun in
every instance as safely as an ordinary
powder-charged shell could do.