The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-19
CASTING A GREAT GUN.
A Fifty -Four-Ton Rified Cannon-Many Tons
of Metal Poured Into an Enormous Mold

BosToN. Oct 1.-THE third attempt was
made at the South Boston iron works to cast the
great fifty four-ton breech-loading rife gun
ordered by the government. with what success
is, as yet uncertain. The foundry was lighted
brightly as the white masses of fame in the
three furnaces cast their glare outside the
CRATES. One hundred and five tons of iron had
been melting since o'clock last night. From
each furnace ran a long trough, through which
the iron was to flow to the centre of the building
where receptacle prepared to receive it.
From this receptacle two troughs led to the PIT
close by, in which the great mould was erected.
The gun is to be a breechoading rife with a
steel tube. It's length will be thirty feet and it's
diameter two feet at the muzzle and five feet at
the breech. The bore is twelve inches, and the
gun is expected to carry a charge of 265 pounds
of powder, capable of projecting 800 pounds
The pit was dug in the ground over forty feet
in depth, with diameter of twelve feet This
was lined with boiler iron to keep the whole pit
atertight Inside this boiler iron heavy
brick wall was laid. making huge we'll. In this
pit was suspended mould of the gun, mnzZle
end down, which extended TO within two or three
feet of the bottom. A core arbor ran through
the centre of the mold to form the bore of the
gun. The rough casting will be nearly eight
feet longer than the finished gun. In the top of
the mold were holes, and at intervals down the
SIDES were openings into Which the molten iron
could be poured.
The foreman gave his order at l2:45 P. NJ, and
his assistants at the three furnaces seized long
iron pixies and began an onslaught on the cover
ing to the holes which were to let out the seeth-
ing iron. Suddenly a loud noise was heard, like
the discharge of a small cannon. 1t scared the
crowd, but didn't affect the workmen. After
dozen punches at the opening to furnace No. 2 it
was broken open and stream Of whlte-hot iron
slowly coursed down the trough AS the aper-
ffJrn y,larrv tl,o 49,
flow faster, and dashed along. sending up a
shower of brilliant stars. Then the other two
furnaces started their streams There was
general rush forward to gaze down into the pit.
Each man held his hat before his face to ward
OH the heat and cast one glance at the flowing
mass of metal far below retiring in few
seconds with very red features.
For twenty-five minutes this scene continued,
and then suddenly there was burst of flame
reaching almost to the roof The entire pit was
enveloped in flame. The spectators fell back,
but did not leave the building They thought it
was all proper part of the exhibiton but the
anxious looks of the workmen soon showed the
contrary. Lieutenant Borap after few mo-
ments, called out Stand back there! You had
better all go outside" Nearly everybody acted
upon the suggestion. stream of water was
pouring into the centre of the mould where the
core arbor occupied the bore of the cannon.
This was done to cool the metal off from the in
side rather than the outside The visitors were
quietly informed that if this water should fail to
flow by reason of any further accident then the
building and its contents would seek higher
sphere.
The cause Of all tho trouble was the eating
away by the molten iron of the sand around the
core arbor, leaving the rope beneath exposed.
This rope was burned off and then the white hot
iron rested against the metal surface of the core
arbor. The combustion of the gas generated
caused the heavy flame. If the fluid iron struck
through the core arbor an explosion must occur
but as long as the water was kept running
through the core arbor there was no danger
The iron had reached to within five feet of the
top when the burst of fire occurred.
AS soon as possible the flow of metal was shut
off, and then all waited for the flame to subside
AT last the blaze went down, and then the furn-
aces were once more opened. If the intermission
in the flow was not long enough to allow the
metal in the mould to partially cool it would not
injure the gun. No further accident happened,
and few minutes before 2 o'clock the casting
was finished. President Hunt to- night expressed
confidence that the casting successful.