The Portland daily press., 1898-08-31
PORTLAND HEAD.
The Big Cans We're Tested Yes
teEday Afternoon.
THE EIGHT INCH RIFLES THUN-
DER FORTH.

Five Hundred Pound Solid Shot Sent
Against a Target 1900 Yards Distant
The Light House still Standing-The
Limo shets Were Good-Test of the Ten
Inch Rifles Today.
The announcement that the big guns at
Portland Head would be tested yesterday
was enough to cause a large and in
terested crowd to board the Cape electrics
and hurry TO the scene. By ten o'clock
the Cape shore in front of the casino was
dotted with groups of observers who took
advantage of every prominent rock,
while the old Goddard mansion was
enough to climb to the top of the wind
mill which is used for pumping water.
In short every available vantage ground
was taken possession OF.
The forenoon was not good one for the
test, for bank of fog hung pretty close
to the shore but along about u O'Clock
the conditions were more favorable.
though at the test during the afternoon
there was a haze which interfered some
what with the sighting.
The test was invested with moro than
ordinary interest, Tor it will be remem-
bered that some time ago 1t was stated
that some of the guns were mounted
dangerously near the lighthouse and some
rash correspondent had even suggested
that houses in the immediate vicinity
might not stand up up against the terrible
concussion which would follow the firing
of the "big. .ones'' with their charges OF
hundreds of pounds of powder and that
the recoil might unsettle the very
foundations of the Notifications them
selves.
The lighthouse officers and the engi'
neer department. had taken measurements
of the distance Of the lighthouse from the
nearest gun and made scientific calcula-
tions as to the potentiality of these gun
discharges and the energy which might be
stored up in the conclusions.
The test was begun about IL. 30 O'Clock
and an eight inch gun on the Burlington
Crozier barbette disappearing carriage was
lowered for loading and sighting by a de-
tachment from Battery E, End U. S. Ar
tillery. made up of about twenty men and
under the immediate charge of Lieut.
IIandon.
The gunners of each detachment made
the necess ary adjustments, etc., which
were corrected if necessary by the officer
| in charge and soon after the gun was
raised above the parapet tor firing. By
| this time the crowd along the shore had
] thinned out somewhat, but inside the
Head was gathering OF prominent army
officers, including besides the officers OF
the garrison, Major John p. Story, In
spector General OF the Department OF the
East, Major Crozier and Lieut.. Hudson
of the ordnance corps, who were joined
by Gen. John Marshall Brown and others
of the city. And in this connection 1t is
worthy of notice that Major CroZier is
one of the inventors of this disappearing
carriage which is probably the best IN the
world. 1t is the standard types for sea-
coast defence and it is predicted by COM
petent military authorities, that, it will
be used in all future batteries that are
constructed. The carriage is capable OF
great rapidity of fire. Ten shots from an
! twelve minutes and twenty one seconds.
In the loading position the gun is COM
pletely covered from a shot arriving at an
angle of degrees. The field of fire is 1877
degrees and the pointing of the gun can
be varied from IL degrees elevation to 5
degrees depression.
just off Green island at distance of
say about 1900 yards, target eight feet
square had been placed which made the
range for the days firing, but before any
solid shot was directed in good earnest
against it, as sort of feeler as to how
the lighthouse might be affected charge
Of about 140 pounds of brown powder was
fred, after which mammoth and pris-
matte powder were used. The lighthouse
showing no signs of weakening at last
the detachment got right down to work
and solid shot of 500 pounds was sent
home with good old charge of $50
pounds of powder behind it.
The button is pressed, cloud of smoke
rises, the huge monster thunders forth,
and in about fifteen seconds afterwards,
in the direction of Green island could be
seen the water rising in column as if
shaken up by submarine mine. Three
shots were fired from two of the eight
inch guns. They were excellent line shots
and attested the proficiency of the men of
the end Artillery behind the parapets.
The carriages worked smoothly and they
were carefully tested as to emplacement
and other features.
Before the inspecting party return to
headquarters. it is the intention to fire
every gun at the Head and today If the
atmospheric conditions prove favorable
the 10 inch guns will yomit forth their
tire and Numbering along the ocean will
fly even huger projectiles than those SO
eagerly and interesttnglylnoticed today.
PORTLAND & ROCHESTER, r. r.
Superintendent Peters announces that
commencing sunday, September 4th,
1873, Passenger trains Nos. 25 and 70,