The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-13

Good Results Obiaired mt Sandy
IODE

Hook.
NEW YORK. April 12.-Every army Of
ficer IN the neighbOrhOOd Of this city
who could secure leave Of absence TO-
day went down to the proving GROUNDS
at Sandy Hook to witness the testing OF
the big mortar battery, and also TO watch
the working Of the big tWelVc-inch rifle
on the gun-lift battery. In addition
TO this, an exhibition was promised OF
the ten-inch gun on the Gordon disap-
pearng gun carriage.
The great mortars are so mounted
that each can be used separately. The
movements Of the men operating the
guns are directed from ABOVE ground.
To-day communication with the officers
IN charge of each was made by means
OF a telephone fastened 10 a pole OF
field telegraph outfit which had been
erected for this purpose, and also for the
purpose of communicating with the squad
of soldiers stationed down the beach at
the three-thOusand and siX-thOusand-
yard marks TO note the descent OF the
prOiectiles.
When the guests were all assembled
on the top OF the battery, between the
two westerly pits, Captain Heath gave
the order TO fire, and at 40 L. NJ the
sixteen mortars were fired four at a
time In quick succession, making but
four tremendous reports. When the
smoke cleared away the sixteen shots
could be seen clearly In the air each
four grouped together as closely as when
looked more like a flock Of blackblrds
going heaYenWarG than so many mes
sengers of destruction and death. THOR
course in the air could be easily traced
on their upward flight, but when they
began TO drop their speed was too great
TO admit Of noting their descent from
the battery.
The charge used in the first fire was
sixty pounds OF brown prismatie powder,
with a projectile weighing 800 pounds.
The mOrtars were elevated TO sixty de-
grees, and We're ranged TO carry SIX
thousand yards.
mOrtars were discharged a second time;
they were charged TO carry an Sp)-pOnhd
projectile 5000 yards. Twenty-nine
pounds Of black sphere heXagOnal powder
was used, the elevation Of the guns being
the same at first The firing was
as successful as the first, with the eN-
ception that one OF the mOrtars failed TO
discharge. and only hfteen shots went
The sixteen prolectles had landed In
space very little If any. larger than
the size Of the battery. They were i'm
bedded about eight feet In the Ground,
and the corporal in charge Of the squad
at that point declared that nearly ell
of them dropped vertically into the sand.
When the shells are dug up and tEeir
numbers aSccrtained their positions VIII
be compared with the position OF The
guns from which they We're frol. The
officers present were unanimous IN The
opinion that snip would nave NeiN
poor chance of getting aW ~ from u Is
battery once she would cCme within
range
An exhibition was given Of the ten
inch rife. which is mounted on the Cor
don disappearing carriage. After the
second shot was discharged a break III
the machinery of the carriage occurred,
and the tests had TO be discontinued.
The guests were then taken 10 the
top of the gun-lift battery. where TWO
fNyglNg-inCD mounted.
one on the new lift, the other being as
yet on q temporary structure. After the
gun on tho lift was run up to the level
of the upper platform of the battery 1t
was given a range Of five miles and ele-
waited ten degrees The 1,0OO-pOund pro-
iectile was backed by 47O pounds OF
prsmatic powder. This piece was only
discharged once. the shot landing Tar
out to sea. directly in a line bur much
beyond a white buoy which had been
placed there for a mark,