Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-12-05
ZAlINSki'S AIR GUN.
II Sends 100 Pounds Of a Very High Ex-
plo,ive Two Mile, Througi, the Air.

II Sends 100 Pounds Of a Very High Ex
pl"j'e Two Mile. Through the Air.
New York sun. Nov. -.
| The steamboat John +. Moore carried
Tewfk Pasha, Turkish minister, the Chi
nese minister, several foreign consuls and
many other persons down 10 Fort Lafayette
yesterday TO witness experiments with the
new pneumatic gun in throwing high
explosive through the air. The gun con-
sistS of wrought-iron tube lined with brass
II is 60 feet long and has an S-inch bore
Air at pressure of LOCO pounds to the
square inch is let into the tube behind the
projectile to force it from the tube. The
projectile consists of a brass tube ~ inches
long filled with the explosive nitro gelatine.
At one end is a cap shaped like rifle bullet,
and at the other a D. foot wooden tail that
serves to keep the projectile end on. Ike an
arrow. The whole weighed 209 pounds,
The charge is exploded by minute electric
battery in the front end. which becomes ac-
tive when the projectle plunges under the
water.
The spectators stood around the charged
projectiles while Lieut.. Zalinski explained
their structure and then went out on the
south side of the old fort where the gun Is.
1t was supported at an elevation of about
30 degrees by frame work. Under the
frame work were eight long iron cylinders
which contained compressed air. pro-
jectile loaded with sand was hoisted up
and showed into the breech of the
tube, which was then closed Then
everybody looked mtently at the muzzle
of the gun while the lieutenant
gave half turn Ia crank. With shrek
that could be heard two miles away the ar
row-like projectile climbed up toward the
clouds. and finally dropped with splash
into the water . "a miles down toward the
old buildings at the Quarantine Islands.
4 second sand shell was sent off.
and then the company Went Oh the boat and
We're carried over 10 place near where the
projectiles struck the water, In order that
they might the better see the work
of nitro-gelatine shell Two shells.
containing fifty pounds each. We're
first fired. followed by one containing 100
pounds. The spectators could plainly trace
the flight Of each. Tie first disappeared
without leaving any other trace than was
left by blank prOjectile. The second one
went down in like manner. and when every
body was thinking that this one also had
failed TO explode the surface of the water
became covered with foam. The shell. it
was explained. had exploded IN the mud
about eighty feet below. Then. after a
long wait, the puff of frozen vapor from
the mouth of the gun indicated that the
shell with one hundred pounds of the ex-
pl0siye was on its way. Ii came along in
a wabbing flight until ii plunged into the
water only few hundred yards astern of
the little steamboat. The water closed over
il. but in an instant column of spray
rushed $50 feet straight up into the air.
while the waves danced for fifty feet around !
A dense cloud of yellow smoke rose in the
midst of the spray. A report like that of |
a big cannon was heard. and then the water I
became quiet again. 1t had been demon !
,trated that 100 pounds of the most power
ful of explosives could safely be hurled two
miles through the air by the force of COM
pressed air and then fired under water at the
moment desired by the grinners. The shell |
hat failed to explode will be recovered.