New-York tribune., 1901-10-29
WIRE TUBE RIFLE BURSTS.
PART OF TwENTY-SIX TON GUN DIS
MANTLEs MORTAR BATTERY
AT SANDY HOOK.

The Brown segmental wire tube 1o-inch
hreechloading rife, which IS over thirty-seven
feet in length and weighs twenty-six and a
quarter tons. built for the United States Gov
ernment al cost OF s33 0o0. while being tested
with smokeless powder charges yesterday burst
ed. The breechblock and about eight inches
OF the cast steel trunnion Jacket. weighing
about ton and a half. were blown back about
J50 feet. where they struck a raised concrete
foundation fifty feet thick which had been
mounted a battery OF six 12-inch modern
breechioading rifed mortars weighing twenty
tons each.
The shattered piece OF the big gun swept the
concrete foundation away, and the mortars,
which were about 20 be tested after the Brown
gun were rolled about in all directions. Luck
sly. all the persons interested in the tests were
safely hidden in the bomb proofs at the Sandy
Hook Proving Grounds. The Brown gun is not
seriously injured. and when a forged steel
trunnion Jacket replaces the cast jacket which
gave way yesterday, IL will be 1T for the con-
tinuation OF the trials 10 which it is to be sub
.ected before adoption in the service Of the
United States
The bursting OF the piece was caused, IL was
explained by experts on their arrival in this
city last night by the accidental closing
of the breech gas vents by the mushroom gas
place after the weapon had been loaded. This
was the ninth time the rifle had been fired with
increased charges OF nitrocotton smokeless
powder. II was however the second shot fired
yesterday, and as the projectile went on its way
all right, while the breechbock. securely set
in the broken part OF the cast steel trunnion
Jacket was travelling with terrific force in
an opposite direction, the record TO ruzzle
velocity and pressure obtained after the
accident, which happened at p. m.
A full service projectile, Weighing 575 pounds.
was sent its way by the explosion OF a
charge OF lis pounds OF the nitrocotton smoke
less powder. The muzzle velocity Of this shot
was 2.3G4 feet a second, and the pressure 5000
pounds to the square inch. The powder tests
in the gun were in charge Of Captain Babbtt.
L. s. A. who Is in charge OF the proving sta
tion at Sandy Hook, and the gun crew was di-
rected by Lieutenant Hope. The powder tests
were witnessed by II. NJ. Munseil, one Of the
trustees of the Brown Segmental Wire Tube
Gun Company; A p. Porter, the general man.
ager: J. Edward Sheriff. expert on explosives
and w p. Porter, the New-England agent OF
the concern.
The following report was sent TO Washington
from Sandy Hook
In testing powder in the Brown segmental wire wire
tube 10-inch gun to-day the second shot. a as
charged with 175 pounds OF nitrocotton powoeeE
pressure 20 square inch. The oVerhang OF steer
casting trunnion jacket blew on nush with Inc &the
. seemental wire tube carrying breeeh action: The
bursting caused bv insufficient gas vent In me
breechblock No other part OF gun injured sys-
tern not affected. No hurt Apply Tor per-
mission 10 gun 10 realter breech action ana
continue firing.
The gun was built some time ago, and while
n has been awaiting official tests at the SANDY
Hook Proving Grounds other and more I'M
proved weapons have been built by the same
concern which are said TO have much greater
ranges than the piece which burst on Its ninth
trial yesterday. One OF the new guns. although
only q 4lk-inch bore. is said 10 carry further
than the 1O-inch gun. which is credited with
greater range than any other piece of ordinance
in existence.
The Brown gun. instead OF being one great
casting like other big cannon, is put together
somewhat as an apple barrel is. There are long
thin segments corresponding 10 slaves, ana the
cylinder thus constituted derives its strength
from windings OF stout steel wire which encircle
H. Hitherto guns of smaller calbre have been
built and tested, and up 10 the present time the
results have been highly gratifying The burst
ing Of the 1o-inch gun, from which much was
expected, may possibly be explained by some
defect in the construction OF that particular
piece and does not necessarily signify that the
system is radically wrong