The record-union., 1893-07-12
Satisfactory Results of Expert
mentS on New Inventions.
THEY WE'LL WITHSTOOD THE STRAIN
OF LARGE PROJECTILES
Largely Attended Mass Meeting of
Denver, Col.-But One Sentiment in
the Gathering, That of the Free
Coinage of Silver or Nothing-Speedy
Settlement of the All-Absorbing
Question Demanded.
Special to the REooRD-UNIoN.
Question Demanded.

WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE third of a
series of armor plate tests of worldwide
interest and importance took place to-
day at the naval proving grounds on the
Potomac River. The tests were for &C
ceptance and for premium. 1t was stip-
ulated that if the plates resisted penetra-
ton under certain prescribed velocity
the makers should receive premium of
$50 per ton in addition to the contract
price of S575 per ton.
The first test was of nine-inch plate, a
sample of the side armor of the monitor
Monadnock. 1t was nickel steel, and
weighed ten tons. and was made by the
Carnegie Prick Company. Three Holt
zer's projectiles weighing $50 pounds
each were fired against It from an eight
inch rifle, the muzzle being fifty-eight
feet from the face of the target.
The first projectile had velocity of
1,400 feet to the second, and penetrated
the plate and oak backing to depth of
III inches. The second projectile, with
striking velocity of 1858 feet, went
through the plate, three feet of the oak
backing, and lost itself in the earth
WAACA ILO DuLt WAS Dullls LIE
third proiectile had velocity of 1886
feet, and penetrated the plate and back
ing to depth of l43 inches.
The plate well withstood the strain of
the attack, no cracks being perceptible,
and it fully met every requirement for
acceptance. The result of the second
shot deprived the makers of any chance
for premium, depending on test of
about $50 tons of plate, involving nearly
$4,000.
The second plate was sample of curved
plates for barbette on the Indiana, made
by the Bethlehem Company, and, like
the first. Of nickel-steel, it was II inches
thick, weighing 3l3 tons. 1t was SUBJ
jected to an attack from a twelve-inch
rifle, which threw a monster Carpenter
shell weighing $50 pounds. Its muzzle
was 3l9 feet from the face Of the plate.
The striking velocity OF the first shot was
l,322 feet to the second, and it penetrated
to depth Of 1876 inches. The second
shot was fired with velocity of 1876
feet per second, and went three inches
into the oak backing. The third and last
shot, to determine whether or not a
premium was to be paid. the velocity was
raised to 1,S5S feet per second. When the
smoke and dust following the discharge
lifted it was found that the shell had gone
clear through the plate and thirty-six
inches of the oak backing, and then de-
Elected into the air and plunged into the
river some hundreds of yards away, or
was lost in the woods or hillside.
The plate secured for the makers
the acceptance of the whole contract,
amounting to from 500 to 700 tons, but
earned no premiums. Like the Monad-
mock plate, it showed no cracks under the
terrific strain to which it was subjected.
Even more satisfactory than the show
ing made by the plates was that of the
projectiles, the eighJ-inch shells of the
Hotter conical pattern and the twelve
inch of the Carpenter conical pattern.
All the shells recovered appeared wholly
unchanged to the Impractical eye, and
the gauge showed that they were dis
turbed to such small degree that they
might again be fired with the attachment
of new strip for rifing.
After these tests were concluded, all the
officials and experts expressed un-
bounded qualification at the results.