New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-09
PRICE THREE CENTS.
FLYING DYNAMITE SHELLS,
EXPERIMENTS ON THE HUDSON.
NEW GUN FOR THE BRITISH GovERNMEA.
TESTED EVERYTHING SAID TO
RE SATISFACTORY.
BE SATISFACTORY.

About 100 persons went TO Cold Spring yesterday
afternoon TO witness the trial Of ifteen-inch
dynamite cOastdefence gun made by the Pneumauc
Dynamite Gun Company Of this city, for the British
Army. The gun, weighing with its carriage about
eighty tons and about forty tons alone, fifty feet In
length with inside diameter Of fifteen inches, was
placed in position at the end of the long wharf owned
by the West Point Foundry Company which cast
the piece The contract with the British Governments
called for a gun which could throw charge Of 100
pounds Of dynamite in eightinch she'll distance %
1900 yards with compressed air the motive force.
Owing 10 the service of Injunction upon the conf
pany, 1t was prevented from throwing shells loaded
with dynamite and had substitute composition o1
sand and ashes mixed Ia weigh the same As dyna-
mite and 10 fill a shell ordinarily used Tor thit ex-
pIosve After two or three preliminary trials four
shots were made at distance OF 1920 yards up ths
rived 10 a point between Crows Nest and stony Point.
The first shot made with an eishtinch sub
caliber shell, weighing 330 pounds which was of steel
and coated with copper 10 avoid corroslon Tie ihuai
pressure the cylinder at the time the shot WAS nrcd'
900 pounds 10 the square inch the pressure on
the cylinder after the shot being 900 pounds. The
elevation Of the gun 30 degrees and 20 minutes.
The prOecte rcyoved considerably after arriving at
its greatest height. Its length about eighty four
inches.
The second shot was made with 1O-inch she'll.
| 90 1 inches long and weighing $40 pounds his
shell was intended contain 200 pounds Of dynamite
Thi, proIectile made beautiful flight Of about two
| miles It's course was straight and there was not
single revolution of the shell during its course As
it arrived the highest point Of its curve 1t turned
! and fell perpendlcularly into the river IN Il Ia
seconds. The initial and final pressures we're 1000
! and 500 pounds respectively The elevation was
| SO degrees and 81 minutes.
| The third shot was made with projectile OF the
! same Size and weight a. the last Owing TO some
mistake in filling this shell it broke when nearly AZ
the end OF its flight
! The last shot was made with an s-inch shell Tho
prolcctile sailed gracefully upward at an angle OF 80
| degree, and i3 minutes. When at point about
two and Onehaf miles from the muzzlc 1t turned and
fell as straight arrow into the river This
shot was much applauded. The initial pressure on
the cylinder Of the gun was found 10 be only 81"
pounds and the final pressure 14j pounds.
The firing was witnessed By Colonel Il. L. Ryan, OF
Halifax y. :, Of the Royal Engineers, who acted In
behalf Of his Government. He said at thc close OF
the t,t, that he satisfied that the work OF tho
run covered the specifications in tile contract. The
e,,n VA. fired by b. C. Batchellcr. Among those
present were Captain Wood and Leutenants Pettt,
| larson, Mott FOrsythe and Jackson. of the United
| state, Military Academy Captain LaInskl colonel
Geore H. ReynGqs ~ tb rnited states II Roarf
| of Inspectors: General Nhipple, Major kahdoipn:
l. r. Sale Mr.. etillman. Mr. Scwcll, Mr. Leland ana
tant..ln KapieY the ,gner of the gun. Three levers
Trd me r1in raised and lowered the breech. and
moved the carriage. motor supplied the power ana an
air COMPRESSOR stored aIr III series OF lolnch uoh
rin,s he air be ng al a pressure Of 1000 pounds To
Sc sGare inch The air Is passed from this reservoir
IN a second ore and then allowed 10 pass Ia the Orerh
| ~ ,hc c,n behind the shell by complicated system
many that the eun would be sold for about S5o,ooo.
The cost of the test, he said, would amount 10 o'oe
II was also said that five more guns Of this KIND
are in process VI construction for the lnsn sDaeos
TUc,nd and he sxpaimented upon 1t Will be finally
taken TO Victoria Australia