New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-21
BY GREAT SHELLS
HARvEYIzING PROCESS COMES OUT TRI-
UMPHANT.
pROJECTrLEs FROM THE TwELvE-rNCH GUN FAIL
TO PIERCE A MONSTER PLATE-THE BETH


TO PIERCE A MONSTER PLATE-THE BETH
LEHEM CoMPANY's ARMoR ACCEPTED.
Washington, July 2O-'rhe slde-armor OF the bat
tle-ship Indiana has demonstrated that IL cannot
be pierced at close range by one OF the most de-
strIctve guns In the world. and American steel
makers using the Harvey process invented by an
American and adopted by the United States Govern
ment have proved their product unsurpassed by
that OF any other nation. Carpenter shells weigh
Ing 80 pounds each fired pont-bank from the Il
inch rifle have failed penetrate the Sinch Beth
lchcrn plate. and coo tons OF armor. worth s+ooO
have been accepted by the Navy Department.
These the results OF to-days ballistic tests at
the Indian Head proving ground. The Harvey
izlng process has been indicated and its use firmly
established in ordnance work Of all kinds. The first
OF the heavy rmGed battle-ships. which has been
80 long delayed waiting for it's protective belt, will
now DE rapidly completed and the experimental
stage OF armor testing IL passed
The successful plate to-day was selected at ram
dom from the entire lot Of SIS tons manufactured
FOR the Indiana II was sixteen feet and half inch
long and stood seven feet high when resting on
edge. From It's top edge for about half It's height.
or forty-three inches its uniform thickness was
eighteen inches throughout It's length. For the re-
naming fortyone inches It tapered Off In thickness
10 eight inches at its lower edge. 1Wenty-siX 3
inch armor bolts fastened II to a solid backing OF
thirty seven and a half inches OF solid oak. which
was supported by the buf which bounds the PROV
ing grounds The plate weighed $500 pounds ana
ITS centre was exactly 3S feet from the muzzle Of
the test gun A chalked on the face or
the plate hlrty-four inches from its right edge and
thirty inches from the top and at this the gun was
aimed Carpenter shell weighing so pounds,
from the same lot which scarcely week ago 50
easily pierced the Carnegie l'-inch plate was IN
serted in the gun The charge consisted OF 2is'.
pounds OF brown hexagonal powder. The breech
OF the gun closed, and moment after. with
a conclusion which shook the earth the shell. hav-
ing striking velocity OF .465 feet second hit the
plate exactly as aimed with energy OF L. SO foot
tons
The she'll was broken up on the face OF the plate.
inches by the Intense heat generated its head was
welded into the plate. while It's body was scat
tered In every direction. one piece weighing twenty
six pounds striking the ten-inch rifle which stands
1peI the plate was not in tho least distorted. and
the ordnance officers In charge declared that no
Ten minutes later the crucial shot was fired
OF powder. with a striking velocity OF l.S6 feet
second and striking energy OF A.sS foot-tons'
The shot struck thrty-two Inches from the top edge
and hfty inches from the other shot praetcaiy IN
an inch deeper than the lrsi rs point being slary
welded in The plate AMI It's BODY fahs shs al Al I
struck. however. and the huge block OF metal was a
split vertically across its fac Inc exent o., h h
,a,e connot he discovered until he wooden backing
l. removed But the announcement was made that
the plate had passed the ordeal ana the arihof was
accepted. - D..A,.ha,, co,,
VIce-President Davenport OF the Bethiehem coil-
pany who attended today's trial said that he was
rratlfed with the result. because he deemed me
fest excessively In his opinion there c9mI
he no question az to the value OF HarVeyHnS' lne
With Of the plate tested today was only son
times the diameter OF the protectile when accourd
tnr me crack developing under such enormous IN
eprv ne hat with which the she'll struck Although
for one-half OF It's width the plate was 3evrirn
from about It's centre line 20 eight inches thickhess
a., i's edge It's test was severe as II It mad Deen
eighteen inches thick throughout In me ha."sn INN,
rocess this difference OF thickness at various par
Of the plate must deve.op unequal strains; NO al
inu,,nce having been made for these matters. II
"s ~ yr"o, relief 10 learn that the ordeal was
nm ssed BY the test to-day the beth .eo co"-
pany Is entitled 70 payment oi "oo"' S"V"V'