The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-11-19
A SUCCESSFUL TEST.
One Of the Steering Disappear
ing Guns Tried.
NOT ONE FAULT WAS FOUND,

n Was one Of the Tsn-Ineh Guns and
n Threw = Double Pointed Pro-
yeetIis Weighing Five Hundred and
seveaty-Fivs Pousds-Ths Test satls.
factory In Every Respect
NEw yoRK, Nov. is.-One Of the 10.
inch steering disappearing guns has
been successfully tested at willett's
Point The trial was under the direc-
ton Of Captain w. A. Crozier. who Ia
one Of the inventors Of the Burlington
Crozier carriage upon which the two
guns here are mounted. The other gun
and carriage had been tested at Sandy
Hook before they were brought here.
Since thet two big guns were placed here
they have been the pride Of the post.
The work Of mounting them was com.
pleted few days ago. The proiectiles
which these guns throw are Of steel
with pointed ends. and weigh $40 pounds
each. Tho ones used in the test at VIII
let's Point were Of the same style and
weight. but were made Of cAstiron. The
guns are loaded At the breech. When
the projectile was raised by means Of
a small derrick attached 10 the end and
pushed home q charge Of i4O pounds Of
powder was thrown into the breech.
In short time everything was ready
for the first shot. Communication was
made with the signal stations which
had been arranged at Davidson island
and Sands Point, 10 be sure that the
range was clear before the shot was
fired. The gun was aimed at about due
east. Sailing vessels were taoking back
and forth across the 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 muffied their ears and
braced themselves for the shock. The
officers gave the command TO FIRE, and
Artillery Sergeant Salvage ysnked the
lanyard.
There was a deafening report. fol.
lowed by loud, whistling noise, made
by the proiectlle A. 1t shot through tho
air over the heads Of the boatmen, who
were between the fort and the point az
which the officers had figured the ball
would strike the water. The smoke soon
cleared away and those on the fort saw
the great splash made by the projeculo
when Il struck. With this small charge
Of powder. Lieutenant Wheeler said.
the velocity Of the projectiIe was 1870
feet second. With the first shot, a.
with all the Others, the working Of the
carriage was perfect.
The gun IL 80 feet long and weighs %
tons. After being charged and aimed il
Is easily raised by means Of hydraulic
power TO the crest Of the parapet The
second shot fired was with SO5 pounds
Of powder. With this the projectile was
sent at the rate OF 1905 feet second.
The shot was fred in dead line at Ex.
ecution lighthouse. but IL struck when
in a mile Of IL.
The next three shots were made with
2lS pounds Of powder each. They were
directed little 10 the south Of Execu.
ton lighthouse. where they dropped.
The projectiles were carried about six
miles at a velocity Of 2ol4 feet ascend.
The officers expressed great satisfac.
ton at the result Of the test. Captain
Crozier said the ordnance department
has now under construction 80 guncar.
riages Of this typs for 10 and i2.inch
guns, the latter being already finished.
The work on the carriages Is being
rapidly pushed, and when they are
completed the guns will be mounted Al
various places, including Portland. Ne.
Boston, NArrAgansott bay. New Lon
don. New York. Philadelphia. Fortress
Monroe, Washington, Charleston, Pen
saoolA, Mobile and San Francisco.