The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-12
GREAT GUNS FIRED
SUCCESSFUL TEST OF THE BIG NOR
TAR BATTERY AT SANDY HOOK.
Sixteen Mammoth -Projectiles Sent
Screaming Heavenwnrd at One
Time-Looked Like BIackbirds.

NEW YORK, April u.-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 work.
ing of the twelve-inch rifle on the gun lift
battery. In addition to this an exhibition
was promised of the ten-inch gun on the
Gordon disappearing 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
was had with the officers in charge of
each by means of a telephone fastened to
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 thou
sand-yard marks, to note the descent of the
projecticles.
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 1:45 p. M the sixteen
mortars were fired, foursat 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 gr ouped together as closely
as when they left the mortars. The pro-
jectiles looked more like flock of black
birds going heavenward than SO many
messengers of destruction and death. Their
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.
pounds of prismatic powder with a pro-
jectile weighing eight hundred pounds. The
mortarS were elevated to sixty degrees
and were ranged to carry six thousand
yards.
Almost an hour elapsed before the mortars
were discharged second time. They were
charged to carry eight UNDERGROUND
projectile three thousand yards. Twenty
nine. pounds of black sphero-hexagonal
being the same as at first. The second fir
ing was as successful as the first, with
failed to discharge, and only fifteen shots
went screaming heavenward. The six
little il larger than the size of the bat
terry. They were imbedded six feet in the
ground, and the corporal in charge of the
squad at that point declared that nearly
all of them dropped vertically into the
sand. When the shells are dug up and
their numbers ascertained. their positions
will be compared with the position of the
guns from which they were fired. The of
hcers present were unanimous in the opin-
ion that a ship would have very poor
chance of getting away from this battery,
once she would come within range.
re When is sv on the Goron a
appearing carriage After the second shot
was discharged a break in the machinery
of the carriage occurred and tests had to
be discontinued
The guests were inen taken to the top
of the gun lift battery, where two mon
strous twelve-inch guns are mounted one
on the new lift, the other being as yet on
temporary structure. After the. gun on
the lift up to the level of the
upper platform of the battery it was given
range of five miles and elevated ten de-
grees. The one thousand-pound projectile
was backed by 470 pounds of prismatic
powder This piece was only discharged
once, the shot landing far out to sea, d.
rectly in line. but much beyond a white
buoy which had been placed there for a
mark.