Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-11-05
A GREAT GUN.
Casting a Monster Piece of Ordnance
at a Boston FOundry-A Terrific lex

Casting Monster Piece of Ordnance
at Boston FOundry-A Terrific lex
Boston, Oct. 28.-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 subiec~
| ton to intense heat it was started in
its flow to the pit at 1 o'clock. The
casting was performed Ia this wise:
A core>arbor of wrought iron, SUR
rounded bS core of rope and clay.
stood upright ia the center OF a pit 40
feet deep. The flask or wall of the
mould was of iron, lined with sand,
the diameter of the mold proper being
five feet ST the mouth, diminishing
gradually to the bottom, where it
measured two feet. The fluid iron
was poured into two conductors on the
outside of the flask, finding it's way
into the mould at the bottom. The
walls Of the flask was provided with
fue holes at convenient distances
from bottom to top for the escape Of
the gas and heated air, and inside the
core cold water was passed continual
~, 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
Eve feet Of the surface, when sudden
ly there was a loud report, followed
by a succession of scarcely less fear
full explosions. 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, It appears that
the clay around the core>arbor had
broken away, and the fluid iron had
set the rope on fire, and the flames
were mainly from the gas thus gems
Grated. The core~arbor, valued at
81, 500 was ruined, and there were
grave doubt as to saving the casting
itself. If the water, now risen to a
temperature of 202 degrees, could be
kept running IN the COZ e-arbor things
might be no worse, bat whether it
could or not was doubtful. The spec
tators were informed, by the way,
that if the fluid metal turned through
to the water everything-the great
building and all its contents, specta>
tors included-would be knocked into
flinders. The spectators reiterated
still farther, and many, finding the
exhibition to have suddenly lost all
interest, took the cars for the city
proper Meantime the furnaces had
been plugged up, but after careful ex
animation and serious consultation it
was decided to go on, The three
molten streams resumed their course,
and at 1 As the mold was full, and the
explosion which had been moment
ariiy feared, was indefinitely post
poned. It will take a week for the
casting to cool, and the case will have
to be bor>d out instead of being with
drawn BY derrick power, as would
have been the case had no accident
happened.
After the removal of the case