The record-union., 1893-09-09
TESTING BIG GUNS.
Interesting Contest Between Proiec-
tiles and ArmOr.

interesting Contest Between PrOlec-
tiles and Armor.
Guns having been made, a test of their
efficiency is next in order. These tests,
as well as the tests OF armor plating, pro-
JeclIeS, gunpOwders, ETC., take place at
the 'proving-grounds' at Annapolis,
Md, and al Indian Head, on the Poto-
mac, some thirty miles or so below
Washington, and to the latter point, one
wet drizZly morning. it was my privilege
to accompany the Chief OF Ordnance.
The rain was pouring down in sheets as
our boat slowed up and made fast TO the
wooden pier at the prOving-grounds and
our little party stepped ashore. a bomb
proof TO our right in our front, high
blum, tree-crOWned, down the SCARED
sides Of which the yellow soil, lqueiied
by the pouring rain, is sluggishly creep
ing to the Level space below, where stand
the monster guns. Mud, mud, mud,
OOzing up between the ties of the rail-
way track, where the great crano is
moved from place to place, splashing up
on us at every step and covering every
thing within it's reach with a sticky Gust
ard-like plaster. y NegrO labor6rS in mud
despatched clOthes-clothes of all con-
ceivable patterns and cut-and a few
salIOr-meu, seamen (gunners, probably,
stand about in groups, while two or three
young officers, their clothing as muddy
and sOiled as any in the little crowd, ad-
vance to meet US. No time is lost in
preparation for the test. To one side,
opposite the guns, a large nIckel-steeI
plate, fourteen inches thick, backed and
secured by heavy pieces of timber, be-
hind which the earth Is thrown up in a
strong emDankment, is to be the target
for the huge teninch rifle that pushes its
long tube and trowning muzzle out over
the cast-iron platforms next to its greater
mate, the twelye-inch gun.
A hasty inspection is made of the plate
and moving back to the battery we watch
the loading OF the great piece Of ord
nance, and note the ease with which the
hydraulic rammer pushes the heavy steel
projectile into the bore OF the gun. Two
sturdy negroes turn the crank of the
breech mechanism, shutting the breech
firmly; hastily we cram little Dunches OF
tow into our ears, for the concussion OF
the air caused by the discharge of these
tremendous cannon does not cause q
pleasant sensation to the delicate organs
OF hearing. The young officer in charge
makes his last inspection, glancing over
the sights, turning wheel here, adjusting
& screw there, and we watch the proceed
lngs with eVer-grOWing interest. We are
making history" in q small way this
morning, Tor in the coming contest be-
tween urolecIlle arm0r we are TO witness
the testing OF the first plate OF the armOr
strucLed IN the United States. Seek
shelter ]" is the cry, and all hands scatter
to the cover Of the bomb-proOfs. only the
ensign III charge Of the firing remaining
outside, crouchiug down, lanyard in
hand. under the mount OF the 8-inch rifle.
The chief beckons me TO his side, and to-
eether we stand IN the doorway OF the
bOmb-prOOf, where I have a full view of
the proceedings. An easy pull on the
lanyard, d lightning-like flash, deafen-
ing roar, a cloud OF dun powder smoke,
and the gun recoils gently back, sliding
as easily and smoothly on the hydraulic
mount as a child's boat on the waters of a
pond, Great splashes of mud fall down
on the platform in a shower as if from
the sky. There is a moments pause, and
then all hasten TO examine the target
The proiectiie has struck it full in the
center, leaving a perfect impression Of
its sharpened point in the hard steel sew
eral inches deep, and glowing hot as a
furnace from the terrific force Of the I'M
pact, but not penetrating through it, or
cracking it in the slightest degree. The
shell lies in the mud several feet away,
where it has reDounded.- Harper's )
Weekly.