The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-12
FIRING A MONSTER GUN.
a SS0-POUyD CHARGE OF A VIEW KIND
OF PODDER USED.

IL - Found TO he SLOW and y 0a,eksr Pow.
der VIII be Supplied ~ the MsNufsetur.
ers-l.7ss Feet Initiai Velocity Attained.
Tho great 12.inch ail Q Gel built.up rlned gun
which Uncle Sam has been at work on for the
last three years was fred of Yesterday for the
second time. at the Unitod States Proving
Grounds at Sandy Hook.
Tho special object Of the trial WINS to test tho
new Dupont de Nemou's powder which was
manufactured especially for II. 1t resulted Ia
showing that the powder WAS too slow. and
that rev powder will have to be made.
incidentally 1000 pounds Of ri oiec,ile were
hurled miles out to sea. and the two biggest
charges OF Gunpowder ever put In cannon on
this side OF tho Atlantic were 1red off.
The first II no the BIG gun was fired was
about three wecks ngo. Then German now.
der which had boon brought from abroad
especially for the purpose whs used. The lare.
est Jingle charge fred WINS as bounds. which
broke the record IN TO tina, time for this conti-
mont. Nh heavier charges were then attempted.
for II was prove with the first disoha 20 that
the powder wa far too anick in its action for
Il gun ri such length. The object OF Iona
KUN 10 that tho projsc Ito may be subjected to
Tho expansive forcc OF tho explosive for a.
long . time as possibs.
The German rowder burnt out and lost Its
force be:ore The 70 octile renchod the muzzls
OF tho gun. 1t was necessary TO get n slower
acting powder. ind the Dupont dc Nemours
COMPANY of Wilmington wns directed to make
sIowder for the purpose.
That used yesterday was submitted for ex-
pertinent. Tho company will try again and
agnin. II recessa y. til eSperinpnta ahow that
s tt i,Gm nr'In,r.ions o, ingrodients Lave b, en-
A. this IL much no iArHest eum ever iirri Ia
ms country. the question OF powder 10 noees-
.1rily ons ol ex poi imsnt At frs..
rlos!on and 70 hold on! assinst tnis enormous
this s,rsds,h IL" gun was made 10 series HIu 81
.opcsntr.e layers or !rksts Of steel.
MAJ; :I!s! xs.sS:' .! N% M: ndd' !Sru az
q iS rounds W SAW ysiss 3.s ss
% an Initial =. ,s Msis IsSssiy
I'M. s, ssai. however c.nno. be expected ex;
u Ss :: me xsf to nc Issa'e
s:e S"' Sr'h,sa d:.n : ses 1 asStts
Of tho tear 1t was aimed low: The meas.
81 ss1ss Tsss ., s.ss BY
A. rro ee,tis. Tvs. il irort. q tho mpszis:
tLe proiec,ile would pass through MIST one aud
IN .xnss Inference o, tim. between tn.
r;er.ing "t tho screens is ,rexistered By An
\ known distance between the screei 8 the We |
!ority OF the proiectile may DO calculated With
The pressure ie tested by inserting mstal
y. d's:hsrss. .nd ii. d,iisrsnes = I. diner.
siions,throuIh eome delicate calculations gives |
the sXHct pressure OF the poWdor.
pounds The sa"ars isch and i .iset.d eSe
s ~A So S'' SSn1d Il powder 1 H..
sn y:o:,.y OF t:ssI iss, va: now P ss.s1s
VAS decided to test the Run up to The maxi.
:, To.ss n1n s.. pounds e. powd.e vere mex.
:hecf ~ Ill Sish + voice. f. e9oncsrs sSn
Es%ss sss' Of 'n s g;
'"Hnds 10 the square irch
The las sh,srse wSs up to the limit Of the
aSIsd tie iu5S pounds cast ron from the
,nd, Sh L i tsst.d tho strength q tIe sun ~
Capt. Frank Heath. In commana OF the prov.
,Sea xnH u
,ssrs !oS ;eeo"d p IL IN vsfSsi.r r Isi
} .und. to the square inch;
plenty Of iessar thsy can 1--WE &C. ns t.. 's i'd.
mum - pressure. 50 much the better Tor ,hs
:Mp, Ihey VII ir} eeain and we'll have new
The big gun cnn carry about fifteen miles
light tO ten miles ~'1