, 1894-09-12

hundred pounds of dynamite, or nitro
gelstine were fired from a fifteen inch
pneumatic gun, and exploded within a
few yards of the place aimed at. The
handling and fling of this immense
quantity of explosive was accomplished
without accident. The guns far exceeded
the requirements stipulated in the contract
which the Pneumatic Torpedo and con.
struction Company has with the Government
andsthe test OF the l5inoh guns has practically
been finished. The s inch gun is expected
to be ready for trial ina few days. Today's
test was witnessed by a large assem-
bI@ge of Army and Navy officers.
Preparatory tests were made with dunn.
mics to hnd the range desired. and three inch
plugs were first fir 4 from the l5inoh gun, and
then the shells were brought out. The
first shell was followed by four others.
They struck on the same line within a length
ofthirty yards. thus far exceeding the con-
tract requirements. The distance was
1000 yards. TIE shells can be thrown
further, but only a 1000 yard range WAS con.
Iraoted for.
Foor two second fuses were used and
one fuse was to explode OH striking. Tho
high wind that prevailed at the time Of the
firing seemed to interfere with the flight Of
the projeotlles, causing two of them to fall
fiat on the water, when they exploded imme.
diately instead of delaying two seconds. This.
howevsr +, might be expected. The principal
require Inent, that explosives Uan be handled
and hurled q great distance with safety
to those W no use them. but with great dan
ger to tho Sc against whom they are directed.
has been proved. The thundcr-like clap of
the explosion was heard "a long distance. and
the sheet OF flame after each Of the shells
exploding on impact was a magnificent sight.
Black smoke fingered over the spot for a no
ment. Small water sp0uts were thrown to
n great height. and the concussi0n must have
been felt for miles.
One eight inch calibre shell, loaded with
200 pounds of nitro g~elatins, was fired at
5000 yards range and acted perfectly. Five
plugs, weighing 1853 pounds each, were fir.
ed from the centre gun. This was to test
the rapidiry with which the gun could be-
fired. TIL time occupied was Z minutes and
81 seconds, while the contract allows 20 min.
One eight inch calibre she'll, Which was TO
lave been fired TO day. has been reserved for
further experiments.
The first interesting test of the o.called
c:omo steel plate, officially known rs the
Can't" plate, took place at the prov
ing grounds to-day. The test was III compe.
tltion with the Harveyized plates, the inven-
tors believing they could .iynl those plates.
The dimensions of the plate tested today
were s by 6 feet its thickness wSns ten and
one half inches. 1t had been bolted in u YER
teal position against a thi,ty-six inch oakonn'
backing, which was braced by twelve.inoh
oak timber. Behind this was a large sand
butt, and on the side and top, in front of the
plate, strong timbers had been placed for
protection from flying fragments. Two eight
inch Midvale Hotter shells were fred point
blank from the breech-loading rife against the
plate. The weight of each she'll was 500
pounds. Both the plate and the she'll were
made by the Midvale Steel Company. at
Nicetown, Philadelphia.
The first shot fired went through the plate,
and was solidly imbedded in the oaken back.
ing The plate was cracked and broken in
three pieces. The second shell vas fred at.
the upper part of the plate. which was one Of
the three pieces left. 1t went through it,,
breaking it in several pieces, splintered some
of the backing and was buried in the sand
butt. Small fragments of the plate few in
every direction.!Ibid.