The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-09
HURLING DYNAMITE SHELLS.
4 CANNON FIFTY FEET LONG TESTED
AT COLD SPRING.

AT COLD SPRING.
II Was Buiit for John BuII. nnd ne May
Couelude 90 Take IL Up to BehrinE Sea
cad Blow Oar ships Oct OF water.
Four great meteors dropped from yesterdays
clear. blazing sky into the Hudson of New
burgh, and some people who saw the strange
phenomena believed the terrific heat was &C.
counted for by the unwonted visitation. There
was nothing to indicate whence came the sud-
den missiles, which tore up the waters and
disappeared with a mighty splash. There was
no disturbance OF the atmosphere, save that
made by the quick rush OF the falling bodies,
and there was nc premontion of their appear
ance until. after moments flash OF dark
body the placid river suddenly leaped into the
air In white and angry resentment at the blow.
More than three miles below NswburGh,
upon the wharf OF the West Point Foundry
Company at Cold Spring. the official test was
being made OF q mighty engine OF war which
John Bull has had made for him. and which
will soon be sent 10 his great arsenal ut WOOL
wioh. great dynamite gun. which will drop
shell containing 200 pounds OF dynamite
more than two miles from the firing point. was
successfully tested In the presence OF Col. r. 4.
Ryan Of Halifax, who was sent by the British
Government to pass upon the capacity Of the
gun under contract Specifications. The weapon
Is indeed formidable piece OF ordnance II Is
90 feet LONG, has bore OF 10 inches, and ii de-
livers Its proIectiles. weighing moro than 500
pounds. by means OF comp essed air having q
pressure OF 1000 pounds to the square inch.
Tho gun has Just been finished by the Pneu-
matte Gun Company OF New York. which sup
Piled the armament OF the dynamite cruiser
Vesuvius
The test was made under very trying condi-
tions for all who attended. Tbs great gun was
on tho end OF a long pier. There was no hotter
spot even in Chicago. than was the vicinity Of
yesterdays test Cold Spring 10 q sad misno-
mer, as the army officers who blstered their
feet and invited Runstroke by walking to the
end OF the unshaded pier yesterday promptly
discovered. The pRnkB of tho wharf are old
and well seasoned, but under yesterdays aw-
ipl sun they bubbled with fresh pitch as
though Just sawed from the nsw-cut timber.
= erything metallic y was so hot that to touch
IL raised blister There was every other sort
"n Of % one enc The 0f reSordSG
ranging from 900 100, may be taken as a
ialr indication OF the temperature:
capt Lallnskt was In charge Of the test, and
among those who Witnessed 1t were Com
one Of the Beard OF Trustees of the army. J, B.
Randolph. Capt Wood. and Lieuts. Forsath.
Mott, jackson, and Corson OF West Point 1t
was Tue intentlon 10 make the test with genuine
dynamite shells, but fsh constable. who
the terrible stun would xiii most Of The fishes
an Injunction against its use. So II was neees-
sRry to substitute an equal weight OF sand in
the . s6xPl0sySo ood.r nrooo.
was first tired; A cigars haped log about eight
feet long and IS inches In diameter was sent
thirty degl ees. The log came out OF the mu5-
Zie OF tue great gun with whizz and roar
Snd wont Ut Ealing .. up into the air to mopntan
was followed by the eye with the greatest ease
dropped into the river with great splash op-
posite Crows Nest atopt mile away.
copper shell. seven feet long. Which when
loaded with 100 pounds of dynamite sand in
Capt. Zalinski explained. to make the shell as
light as possible and yet strong enough. in
sSss hS Of
the sub, calibre shells being fitted at each end
with guides OF wood TO MI out the bore OF tho
the shell leaves the gun. The first eRht-inch
shell was tired undera pressure OF | 900 pound!
by Engineer Bachelor there was a SHARP hiss.
ing as OF the escape OF 81 eam under high pres
sure Tor about quarter Of II SECOND. anu then
very much less In volume In fact an ordinary
barkine T., cannon Of less than an inch caibro
The plojectile made a far greater flight than
the log that went first But 1t did not follow |
the steady course Of an arrow. as it should. |
curve reachng to the clouds and ending near
y two miles away In mighty tumult OF angry |
yet 59 prosStH TG led over over
cupled about q seconds.
The next shot WAS beautiful one. ten |
inch shell was used. weighing 500 pounds, and |
capable OF CARRYING more than 200 rounds Of !
dynamite. An initial pressure OF loo pounds |
long, sailed into the air as straight as an ar
row, and keeping itself exactly parallel with
,s line Of fl!Gh, al! the way. Il dIqpped into he
% seconds aireT il fcft tho gun. ''' away JUDI
y an hour until tie Albany day line boat and a
range, before firing again. Then an
other ln.inch projeGiile was eent out under
AS beauti ully ~ the other until It's greatest
height had almost been reached. and then it
'egan to %rigGIe Before Il struck the water
Various explanations were given OF this. One
Was that the loading Of the shells with sand
he centre o. gravity IN Just, the right snoi.
This fault by the way does not affect the work
1H RS dy ny hS T sfi s W4Ho 1t strikes Hs
'a@e and With just as much S civ sle
out It docs affect the aim. Yesterdays expert
.ccuracy OF the gun. The poimts reTu it by
he c1ntract were that ~ zoo rounds Of dynamite
j dynamite should be thrown $500 yards.
The last shot with an, 6.inch pIojectile was
lsed and much better results were obtained:
The initial pressure for tho final shot was s76
l r and the final pressure 745 pounds.
,rhsrs and flew further. Il dronped into New.
,uERh Bay away beyond tho 5000 Yards buoy.
md then everybody declared tho test OF the
,Ig gun great success.