Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-11-21
4 SUCCESSIVE TEST
One Of the Steering Disappear
ing Gums Tried.
NOT ONE ONE FAULT Was FOUND.


WI VNh FAULT WAS FOUND,
If Was One Of the ren-luch Guns and
II Threw Double Pointed Pro-
ieetiie sYeighing Figs Hundred and
seventy 1--WE Pounds The TEST sat,..
factory In Essry Respect.
NEW YoRK. Nov ig.-one Of the 10.
inch steering Disappearing guns has
been successfully tested at Wilietts
Point. The trial was under the direo.
tioa Of Captain w A. Grozier. who is
ono Of the inventors Of the Buaineton-
Grozier carriage upon which the two
guns here are mounted. The other eun
and carriage had been tested at Sandy
Hook before they were brought here
Since the two big guns were placed here
they have been the pride of the post.
The work Of mounting them was com.
pIeted few days ago The projeetiles
which these guns throw are of steel
with pointed ends, and weigh 575 pounds
each. The ones used IN tho test at VIII.
lett's Point were Of the Same style and
weight, but were made of castiron. The
guns arc loaded at the breeoh. When
the projectile was raised by means Of
a small derrick attached to the end and
pushed home q charge of 40 pounds of
powder was thrown into the breeeh.
IN short time everything was ready
for the first shot Communication was
made with Tho signal stations which
had been arranged at Davidson island
and Sands Point, to be sure that the
range was clear before tho shot was
fired. The gun was aimed at about due
east. Sailing vessels were lacking back
and forth aeross che range, and il was
some time before the range was report
ed to be clear Finally Lieutenant
Wheeler shouted THAT all was ready.
The spectators mutiled their ears and
brnced themselves for the shock The
officers gave the command to fire, and
Artillery Sergeant Salvage yanlxod the
lanyard.
There was deafeniug report. fol-
lowed by loud, whistling noise. made
by the projeetlle as it shot through tho
air over the heads OF the boatmen, who
were between the fort and the point at
which the officers had figured the ball
would strike the water. The smoke soon
eieafed away and those on THO fort saw
the great splash made by the proiectile
when it struck With this small charge
Of powder. Lieutenant Wheeler said.
the velocity Of the proiectiie waa i47o
feet a second With the first shot, as
with all the others, the working of the
carriage was perfect.
The gun is 30 feet long and weighs 8a
tons. After being charged and aimed it
is easily raised by means Of hydraudio
power to the crest Of the parapet. The
second shot fired was with s05 pounds
of powder With this the projectile was
sent at the rate of 1908 feet a second.
The shot was fired in 4 dead line at Ex-
eenhon lighthouse, but it struck when
in mile Of 1t.
The next three shots were made with
24s pounds OF powder each. They were
directed little to the south of Execu-
ton lighthouse. where they dropped.
The projeetiles were carried about six
miles at a velocity Of 20i4 feet a second.
The officers expressed great satisfao-
ton at the result Of the test Captain
Crozier said the ordnance department
has now under construction so guncar
riages Of this typo for 10 and Pinch
guns, the latter being already finished.
The work on the carriages is being
rapidly pushed, and when they are
completed the guns viii be mounted at
various places, including Portland Me.
Boston, NaTagausett bay, New Lon
don, Now York, Philadelphia Fortress
Monroe, Washington, Charleston, PEN
sacola, Mobile and San francisco.