Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-05-13
HOLMES LUBRICANT.
Successful Tests Made With
Shells for RIl.d Guns.
1o1moulh Psopls Alarmed 0IeF DiSap-
pearalcs Of N. Dannell.
Maine Horse Bsssdsss' Assc ciaticI
Elected Officers Ysstefdsy.

Especial 70 the kRaNEBEc JoURsAL- =
GARDINER, May 12-The third and faal
tast Of the Holmes graphite ring for pro-
jsctiiss, 10 be made in this city. occurred
this forenoon and afternoon about fve
miles ives. Of the city, on what 10 known as
the Hinckley farm, which borders the Cob
besssecontse slfeam. This test vas made
under the inspection Of Commander ". M.
Dyer, Inspector Of ordnance st the Ports
mouth navy yard, and was made at the
ias'igsiion of he U. 8. var department for
the purpose Of proving, for their own sa..s-
fsc,i ion, the claims Of Philip II. Holmes
that bis new lubricant graphite ring, a.
applied to pfcjecl.ies, would impaft to the
shell the much necessary ros .ry motion,
AMI worid follow the bore Of the gun, It,
,ing It perfectly st all lines and thus keep.
ing behind the shell he explosive and pr
pelling gases. BY jnvi'a on Of Mr.. Holmes
pa,.y Of between fifty and sixty septle-
men interested in the success Of the device,
were given ne privilege of Witnessing the
tess. The following distinsr shed guests
we're among the number present: Gov.
Eiwin C. Bu-laigh, Adjs. Gen. II.
M. Sprsgue Of Auburn. Lieut.. Col.
W. 8. Choate Of Augusta. Gen.
Luther Stephenson, Jr, governor of
tae Naiiopal Ssldiers' Home, Rev. Ammi
Prince OF Bangor, F. A. Small Of Augusts,
N. Jordan Of Auburn, c. B. Burieieh Of
the JouRsAL, Anguish, DR.. Hilton Chase,
New Braintfee. Mass. Gardiner was rep
resented by the following gentlemen:
Phillip Fl. Holmes, the inventor Of the
graphite ring; Geo. II. Holmes, Geo. NJ
e o. Ies, James Andrews, S. n Maxcy, G.
II. Mari, Walter Rsynes, F. A. Peacock
aud party Of seven of the employees Of he
Holiness Company, w. j. Landers Of the
Kennebec Reporter, A. w. McCausland,
Gastavus Moore, J. II. Cunningham, A. L.
s, pheDson, s. G. MeKenney. Geo. w.
Hezslton, Eiq, Z. II. Ingraham,
IL. 8. Lincoln, Geo. McKenney
and the JOURNAL representative. The
party left the Evans House in
carriages at ten o'clock, drove to the New
M lis bridge where DIVERS stesm launch
" The Glide with a barge in tow, carried
the gentlemen on delightful sail Of fve
miles up the Cobtessee stream to the ex
pertinent sror ds, which were reachs d
about eleven o'clock. The apparatus used
in the test consisted Of 'iree and q half
inch Mo. fats field gun, breach loading, ard
lwesiy-hy sixteen pound shells provided
with the lubricant ring 10 be tested. The
rieee stood on quite lille elevation and
two ranges were established, one directed
across TIE stfeam toward target placed on
the Opposite shire sb'ut quarter OF .
mile distant, and the other at right
angles {, he first s1d looking away in a
straight line 10 t'e ponds, some three miles
slant. The frirg was under the charge
Of d. r. Chase and Mr.. James Andrews,
assisted BY men from tie company 8 works
Seventeen shells were fred in all, one
pound and q quarter Of powder being used
for each shell. Eight Of these we're d.
rected at the target across the stream and
'he remaining rine were sent up The lopg
range. Ia every Gaze the results were
highly satisfactory. II firir g the rss shot
across the bank the shell ilc 1chetted and
sued q course several degrees TO the left
and pssssed out Of Sigh. over ridge of
land. This gun was neal trained up 'he
s.resm toward the por d. and the she'll in its
flight beautifully Illus.fated The claim that
rotary motion would be impaired to it by
the ring as it sped onward and onward, M
IL a. last it dropped, mile and quarter
dis'snt. into 'he waters of the stream,
hrov Jog huge column of wafer nearly 50
feet info tle sit. Search was immedisteiy
made for the pieces of the ring, which
vpra seen ID leave the shell at distance of
Ebout75 PAGES from the gun. The graphite
riDgs being formed n two pa,.s. left he
shell 81 about 'bis distance. and in go doing
e1sbied Mr.. Holmes 10 prove an important
p i1cip,l, w, that the ring be-
ing elastic, pressed itself into the rifled
parts Of the bore in perfect manner.
Large pieces Of the ring we're found after
each a,iDg, and impres.ions of the rihiDg
were perfectly pressed into the material and
showing TO evidence that any part Of the
graphite material had been cut out during
the progress of the she'll through the length
cf lhe barrel. Alternating shots were fred
at the bank and up the stream. each sue
csssivs shot proving more and more con
clusively the success Of the material.
Rings consining different proportions Of
grsphite az wood fibre were used, but all
ups4 ed the same desree Of rotation so far
SIS could be sscertsi1ed. and all received
perfectly the impressions of the bore
Of the Gun. The piece was admirably
trained 9: both ranges. DR.. Chase
sud bis assistant. Mr.. Andrews, being
able 70 place the shells wherever
wanted with an accuracy which was
remarkable. The dsy WAS besu ful for q
trial. being slightly overcast, snd macy of
tie more sasrL sighted of the spectators
we're eble to trace the fight Of the shell.
After esch firing the bore Of The gun was
inspect. d by Commander Dyer and the
other military men present and no trace OF
a deposit of any nature other than that due
to the powder could be detected. On the
contrary he bore of the gun was finely
polished ty the graphite rings the pits made
By the rust and the minute pores
in the iron being evenly filed ard
polished. As the seventeenth shell was
fired Commander Dyer declared himself rs
fully satisfied with the experiment, and
stated that SO far as he could see the results
were perfectly satisfactory and fully sus-
tanned ali claims made by the company in
the direction mentioned. Mr.. Holmes, DR..
Chase and .hs members Of the Holmes
Company were highly pleased at the results
Of the experiment. The next ties. TO be
made viii be 'he firing, under conditions
| similar 10 those which would maintain in
| the regular service, Of 200 six-inch shells.
| This test will be made at Washing
ton. d. c., under he immediate supervision
| Of the heads Of the war and navy depart
| merits snd is cslculstsd TO settle permsu-
entity tn, question Of The utility Of the sew
device. The navy department is especially
interested in the matter Sc they sre auxiou,
to secure a material which wiz not be az
fec.ed by dampness ani which will do sway
with the old copper rings now in use and
which destroy the life Of gun in 80 short
tiue. L. would certainly seem shas the
Holmes graphite ring is capable offuiailns
al these requirements to wonderful