New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-10
WRECKED BY A RIFLE SHELL
A SCHOONER'S STERN TORN OFF NEAR SANDY
HOOK.
WORK OF A TENINCH GUN AT THE ARMY ORD
NANCE PROVING GRoUND-THE VEsSEL's
SAVED.

CREW SAVED.
most singular accident happened of Sandy
Hook yesterday afternoon. A schooner peacefully
working her way down the coast in the light
southerly wind was wrecked by ten-inch pro-
jcctilc fired from gun on the old fort at the
Hook The ordnance officers at Sandy Hook have
been cxperimenting for some time with a new
all-stee brecch-loadng rifed gun mounted on
a disappearing gun-carrage. This carriage is the
invention Of H. A. Splitter, of the South Boston
Iron Works A bed had been made for it behind
the parapcts of the old fort, and exhaustive cN-
pcrmcnts highly satisfactory in their results,
have been made. 4 pneumatic arrangement props
the gun up above the parapet, and when 1t Is
fired the rccoil causes it to disappear behind the
masonry work.
Yesterday the gun was being ireo for the
purnos, Of testing the velocity of the prolectlle
The proiectile weighs 575 pounds, and is hred
with a full service charge of 2oo pounds o'
powder Two wire screens were erectei IN front
Of the gun $50 feet apart The passage oi Il
proicctile through the screens breaks an clec'ric
circuit and delicate machine records the time oil
passage from one screen 10 "no'i',
1br,e shots were fired through the
screens The direction OF the fre WIS sou''-
east and toward the ocean.
miles from the shore and about threequarters
Of a mile south Of the line of fire. The second
shot from the big gun, for some unknown rea-
son WINS detected to the southwark toward thc
schooner II struck the water and ricochettcd'
striking the schooncrs stern and tearing IL OIL
The officer, working the gun did not notice whae
the proicctie had done, and soon hred ano'hor
shot The men on the schooner were much sur
prised and badly frightened.
The schooner settled down in the water ana
tie captain and crew took TO the vessels ya"i'
Sheppard Knapp was out fishing IN his steam
launch in the vicinity of the schooner. lie
steamed down 10 her and took the yawl III
tow. bringing her around the point 0t the HUN
to the Government pier. The olic'S VINO were
cNpermenting with the gun were greatly shocke'
when they learned what had happened Inc
Govcrnmcnt steamer General Wool towcd tho
yawl and the crew Of the Titon up to jersey
C,ty The Gcnctal Wool also brought up the
officers who had been making the experiment.
When they landed they were reticcnt to
degree which would have excited the envy oI
a clam Captain Frank Heath, Of the Ordnance
Corps. who was III charge Of the experiments
! talked freely about the accident. however lie
said: have not any idea what caused 'ne
shot to be detected. IL might have struck
sand dune some OtIlcr oDS'ru'AI"h VII VIZ
beach The schooner was in plain sight, ana
we'll 10 the south OF our line Of tire. oI
course. greatly regret the accident. but do not
feel myself 20 blame at AL in the matter WIN
al our Experimenting at Sandy Hook tins Is the
first accident Of the kind that has happened.
We will continue our experiments. OF course
shall Immediately make report of the matter
10 Washington.
tn, names Of the crew on the schooner were
Captain F. s. Harris; mate, Charles Goss Stew
ard Walter CENTS, and seamcn, Richard Shi'h-
oil william Dwycr Lewis GcrrlSh ana Jan JONAH.
MS TiIa Henry r. Tilton was bound from this port
fn Philadcl phia in ballast. She WAS thrrc-a''
,choouer OF i6s tons register, and wac owned hS
samuel + Eir,lsall ~ Plainfcld. y. j., who has
q shin chandery place in SOuthst Shc was puil,,
in wilmington. Del. in 1875. The schooner ana
no, sink when the Shot took her stern or, put,
after settling down in the water unill her d'cNS
were awash. remained hoatlng ABOUT !us
which was cruising about near the scene oi ui'
accident got a line To- the dcrect and towed her
up To- Staten Island. c,. ~
Pc.plc who have been yachting or iihhlng on
SANDY Hook when the ordnance orhcers are III
,"nrl' ~, Tho nroVlnc grounds will read IN" story
~ tLc dcs,rrction Of the schooner Hilton WIN
krcn interest Shots fired from Sandy HOOK ire
nurntly rcochet several times and come IN uhpr S-
antly clo,c proximity 10 passing vessels lh'l
Lo We Iccu known 10 strike the water anu 'hen hiP
over a vessel with shrek whch scarf" ne
ccnnonts of the boat ont Of years growth.
ThouQh ~ Captain Heath says, ms Is th' Hi>l
accident or the kind il il an accident which people
,.Lne.. business or pleasure takes them frequently
off the shores Of Sandy Hook have Nrh ior 'oihe
81,