The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-13

onciniIy Tested Mt tho Hook-Ten Shots
Fired. hut NO Schooner Sunk.

Fired. hut no Schooner sunk.
Tho first official test Of the ten inch dlsap-
pearing pneumatic gun carriage was made at
tho United States ordnance proving grounds
Mt Sandy Hook yesterday. The steamboat
General Wool took tho experts and others in
terested in the test down to tho Ho ok. Some
of them were: Col. H. l.. Abbott Of the
Engineer Corps. Col H. W. Classon Of the
Fourth Artillery. Gen. Byron NJ. Cutcheon.
Capt G. C. Morrison. C. f. Creecy of Wash
ington. President OF the Pneumatic Gun
Carriage Power Company: William P. Hunt.
President Of the South Boston Iron Works
where the carriage was made: Engineer Hen
~ A. Spiller the inventor OF the carriage. and
Major Clifton Comfy. On the way to tho prov
ing grounds the General Wool stopped at Bay
Ridge and took aboard Major-Gen. Schofleld
and his aide. Lieut. Duncan.
The tests were made under the supervision
OF the Board OF Ordnance and Notifications.
They were directed by Capt. Frank Heath. in
charge Of the proving grounds. assisted by
Lieut. Wheeler Of the Ordnance Department.
At exactly half past II the first shot was fired.
The gun is breech-loader OF high power. is
20 feet in length. weighs 30 tons. and fires
proicct.lc weighing 575 pounds.
The gun is connected with the carriage by
two powerful arms. and when raised to o firing
position is at height Of eight feet above the
carriage. TO load and make ready for firing
requires only five minutes. 1t Is all done by
The projectie was placed on a loading tray.
was raised to the brecch Of the gun. and the
proIectio was rammed home 10y n telescope
ramm""r Two sacks Of powder followed the
prOIectle into the brcech.
bring the gym down to the BUFFERS %t was one
minute and fifteen seconds. The second shot
! fired Mt three Minutes to II o clock Mt a
elevation OF 70 degrees The Drolectiie con-
tanned 25O pounds OF powder. service charge
such as Is used in time OF war
At nm elevation OF 70 degrees the projectile
sp!ashed in the sea nine miles away. When
the buffers. and. in less than 10 seconds had
sunk gently on the buffers into loading posi-
carriage is supposed to work perfectly. ''"' >''
This was til. highest elevation fired from
carISo with he hm, gun in
elevate on, q 3 degrees. and the ,projectile
contai ned 100 pounds Of powder. The recoil
buffers. and tho time required to get it in
loading position was I'm nutes and - seconds
dcgrr"s. and the rccoil was seven inches above
the buffer Time required to bring the gun
"59 brr os1n' s Gns wn1f lied nj elevation
u degrees. The charge was 30 pounds. md
the gun rocoilch within 2 inches OF the buffers
70 get tn. gun into loading position; minute
l., seconds. The seventh sho, was fred 1T IN
eifNu'toh VI ocklteS' WIN SIV poulluS OI
powder
Eighth shot. 900 pounds Of powder. at an
elevation .! 10 degrees: ninth. $50 pounds OF
powder at % degrees tenth. POO pounds of
powder. nj an elevation of 20 degrees. The
time for tho elevation of tho gun from zero to
70 degrees was'' seconds thine for depression
from 20 degrees 10 zero ~ seconds: time oc-
cun;eh to traverse 10 degrees. - seconds.
When the gun Is In a firing position it Is
about 10 feet from the .rOund.
Much delay was accustomed by passing YES
soils. and ms Capt Heath didn't want to sink
any more schooners.hrinG WAS done only when
the coast was clear.
The projectiles used were about 81 feet
long and wcre"f cast iron. There will he two
more official tests Of the carriage. Yestar-
days test WAS. in the language OF tho con
tract. with such charges AZ may he suited to
test tho working and adjustment OF the sew
eral parts Of tn. carriage.
Tho nuNt tcst. which will be on Tuesday,
will lie with ten rounds. full service charges. ut
such elevations ns may 10 determined by the
board This test will be under the direction
q MuiorGomly. rs the Representatives Of the
Tho third test will l." ten rounds with full
service charges. MS rayidy MS the gun ran
be served. The cost OF the carriage. II accepted.
Will 10 $4,000.