The Washington times., 1902-05-18
DISAPPEARING GUN TEST
At FORT WASHINGTON
Demonstration Witnessed by
Secretary Root.
Invited Guests Include Congressman
Several Shots Fired-Work of Car
riages illustrated.

test of the Crozier- Burlington disap-
pearing gun carriage was witnessed yes
terday afternoon at Fort Washington BY
Secretary Root and number of invited
| guests, including several Senators and
| members of the House of Representatives
The party left Washington from the
Washington Navy Yard at o'clock on the
Sylph and reached Fort Washington about
an hour later. A salute of seventeen guns
greeted the arrival of the Secretary of
War.
The old fort, which commands the ap-
proach to Washington by way of the Po-
tomac River, has been completely trans
formed within the past few years. and
where stone masonry once formed the
only protection TO the city, there Is now
an array of ten-inch guns. which though
hidden from view behind green embauk-
ments, is none the less formidable.
Mounted on Disappearing Carriages.
These guns are all mounted on disap-
pearing gun carriages Some of them are
near to the landing. others are several
hundred yards distant behind ravines and
in inaccessible places. They all, however.
cover the Potomac River at its narrowest
point below the Nations Capital.
After a trip of about a mile in car
riages the Secretary's party reached the
southern emplacement
Capt. Charles B. Wheeler, OF the Ord
nance Department, explained In detail the
working OF the disappearing carriage and
described its difference from the barbette
The disappearing carriage was depressed
during this description, and was invisible
from in front of the emplacement
Captain Wheeler told how the gun on
nondisappearing carriage remained in full
view OF the enemy at all times, and was
therefore exposed to the fire Of an ap-
preaching force. To illustrate this. the
carriage was elevated. and within a min
ute rose to a height of five feet above the
emplacement.
Captain Wheeler then explained how the
recoil Of fire from the gun would cause IL
to fall back in its original position At
the word OF command the gun was de-
pressed, and brought to a level
This is accomplished by a system Of
the shock being taken up
by cylinders placed on each side of the
gun and filled with oil.
II took but one minute to elevate the
gun, and about the same time TO depress
it. 1t is noteworthy that the men who
handled the gun yesterday had not before |
been trained in its operation. and were but |
new recruits in the service.
Directed by General Randolph.
Gen. Wallace p. Randolph, Chief Of |
Artillery. directed the test. He was as
sisted by Captain Wheeler and Capt. |
William ". Gibson. At the word of COM
mand the big gun was depressed. the am
carriage was wheeled to the |
nuzzle. a solid 10-inch shell thrust with
in the breech and then rammcd home |
The breech was closed and the gun was |
ready to fire.
From the sighting tower back in the
woods the word came to point the gun
iown the river. This was done In mo-
ncnt. and the command to fire followed.
There was a deafening explosion, fol-
owed by sound like that of a railroad |
rain as the solid projectile was hurled
through the air.
Four miles down the Potomac the shell
truck the surface and sent a stream of
water high into the air that was plainly
'isible from Fort Washington. Withia
lalf minute after the shot was fred
he gun fell back to its position behind
he emplacement and was ready for re-
oading. Four more shots were fired.
The following is a list of those who wit
cssed the test:
The Secretary of War, Senator Platt of
Senator Foster of Washing
on. General Gillespie. Mr.. Hilliker, Sena-
or Bard's clerk; Mr.. Chance. General
,orbin, Colonel Carter, General Randolph.
Committee on Military Affairs, U. S.
enate Senators Warren. Burrows.
luarles, Harris, Cockrell and r. w.
thompson. clerk of the committee.
Committee on Appropriations. u. S.
Perkins. Tillman, Dan
Il, Gallinger. Teller, Mr.. Cleaves, clerk
( the committee, and Mr.. Dawson, as
istant clerk.
Committee on Military Affairs, House OF
epresentatives-Repre Hull,
lay. Capron. Esch. Mondell. Snodgrass,
roussard, Rodey, Stevens, Jett. and Mr..
cave. clerk of the committee.
Committee on Appropriations, House Of
tives-Representatives Cannon,
Iemenway, Littauer. Gardner, Bell. Nc
ae. Watson, Overstreet. Emerson. Vree-
and, and Mr.. Courts, clerk of the com
littee.
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