Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-20

The board had private box about Is yards
away, into which they huddled like sardines
when the time came for the tremendous bang.
Tho danger lay in the fragments Of steel that
flew through tho air with terrific yelocities i'm
mediately after each shot, torn from the plate
or broken from the shell.
WHAT FLYING FRAGMENTS DID,
Some queer antics were cut by these odd
missiles during the day. Dozens OF them few
clear over the sheds and trees that stand at
least 200 yards from the gun into the waters Of
the creek, making splash like that produced
by volley OF musketry. One chunk of metal
as large as a mans fist whizzed thr ough the top
OF the roof of the main shed and then cut off
good-sized limb OF tree. Acorns fell from
the oaks as ii tornado were passing through
the grove, and twiss fell in quantities. The
fragments were very hot for some time after
their descent and the finders of these
soon discovered several unique but cool ways
OF carrying them. As many OF these fragments
as could be found were collected by tho board
after each shot and placed in q box for further
examination to discover, ii possible, the nature
OF the steel and the effects Of the tremendous
pressure and heat.
FIRING THE GUY.
The gun was handled, aimed and fred by
Ensign Dashiell, who pulled the lanyard from
behind small but stoutly protected shelter
about a rod from the plates. At times he was
severely bombarded. When I'll was ready and
everybody had found hiding places a hand
kerchief waved from the boards cave gave the
signal, and then, after one last look around to
see that all was well, the plucky Off
Ger set his teeth together and gave
the firing line smart pull. There was a bang
greater than the slamming of 10000 doors, II
conclusion as If half Of the air had punched
the other half back seven feet. then series of
echoes. growing fainter and fainter accentu-
ated by the rat-a-tat-tat of tho fragments of
steel as they cut the twigs and struck the
ground or the water. The shock. owing to the
closeness Of the gun to the plate, was epor.
nous, and the smoke, confined to such a mar
row space. was some moments in flowing of to
the north.
As soon as all Of the fragments had come to
rest and everything was safe again the musket,
Wnicn was held IN wise near the firing butt
was fired. and the people began to swarm i'm
from the west. each eager to see the effect of
the snot. At first the shots were fred Mt
Intervals OF half an hour, but as the test pro-
creased and the board became more accus-
toned to its duties this time was shortened
until the period elapsing between numbers
eleven and twelve was but fifteen minutes.
ExAMrSISa THE EFFECTS OF THE sHors.
There was good deal for the board to do
after each shot. First, the general effect Of
each shot was noted. Then the hole made in the
armor was measured and the surface of the
plate, which was in each instance badly discol-
orcd and soiIed from the powder residue from
the gun and the sand spiashed up from the
ground, was cleaned off.
This exposed the metal and showed the
cracks, II any existed. Officers mounted upon
the framework of tho backing and examined
the bolts TO wee IL any had started SO as to de-
tect the strains: mirror held at an angle
threw the sunlight into the hole in the pIate
showing the nature OF the wound, and then
csreiui measurements vero taken Of all the
phenomena, the size and shape of the s.burro
or rough edge Of metal forced outward by the
shot from tine face of the plate. the dimensions
ana direction OF cracks, the exact depth of the
projectile aud the extent Of the peculiar dis
coioration OF the steel around the place hit
caused oy the intense heat engondered by the
impact.
These and many other smaller details were
attended to ss quickly as care would permit.
and then-the gun having in the meantime
been resimed-the word was given to with
draw, but not before the Official photographers
had had several shots at the damaged plate.
LOADING THE GUN.
The loading OF the gun was accomplished in
few minutes. Tho projectile was frs. slie
into the breech and showed home. negro
workman then tenderly lifted from tho aoor
long copper cylinder, from which he drew a
bundle that looked like q few old clothes
wrapped In q Newspaper and tied around with
string at intervals. This was the charge, As
pounds OF brown powder wrapped in o cloth
case, which was cautiously inserted into the
nreech and poSsd down until IL encountered
ID, shot, and the gun was loaded. Before Il
vas nred, however, IL was necessary 70 close
the BACK gate. 20 that none Of the gas might
escape, and this was done by swinging the
orsech plug into place and scrowing Il around
lightly, Tho primer, . slender rod smaller
around than lead pencil. was inserted at the
vens the lanyard was fastened 70 IL and all was
AIMING ZEE oUH.
he gun was aimed At cross mark chalked
on the surface Of the plate, no allowance being
made for the effect Of gravita.ion, the distance
being 20 short, % that the shot hit the very
spot Indicated Calculating ct the rate Of
A0Io feet second - the velocity Of the shos,
- took The peojectile l441-l0000 OF . second to
travel nom the mussls 70 the plate, . period
Of oms cutie out ef the range Of unaidsd