New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-01-25


more than indicated,
Major Smith signalled the engineer OF thr
train who sounded two short blasts Of the
whistle. Everybody scrambled aboard and in
a few moments climbed out a hundred feet from
the gun. Majors Smith Birnie and Farley and
Captain Dunn. closely followed b. General Chat
fee and the other guests. examined the bed on
which the gun rested. The recOiI had been
more than expected, and there was an exchange
of pleased looks. \ gunner was ordered to IN
screw the breechbIOck, and everybody held his
breath. tug at the lever turned II as easily
as before the firing. and there were more smiles.
1t had not been damned by the awful pressure
The little piece Of compressed lead in the press
ure meter next claimed attention Victory
again, 1t showed Just $4,000 pounds to the
square inch There was no sign OF crack or
strain in the gun itself victory once more.
But now the shot is to be duplicated with the
gun elevated four degrees instead OF one and a
half.
A big hawser made fast TO the gun carriage
and passed through the puLeJ blocks attached
to strong steel stakes driven deep into the SAND
is hooked to the locomotive of the train and at
a signal the engineer sOun IS three short blasts
and begins 70 back the engine Inc h4"ser
creaks under the tremendous strain lhe gun
starts forward with jerk. and stops as some
tive has broken Another is brought. and the
gun slides forward on it's bed to its position
before the recoiI The jacks are manned. and
the nuzzIe slowly rises All is ready Ior re-
loading.
A hand car, in a cradle on which the shot mas
been placed with big derrick, IS run slf@lsHt
forward to the breech of the gun Inc eoi--c4A
point of the shot is within the bore as Il Stops
Thirty men seize big hammer, place II against
the end of the projectiIe and, at the WORD OK
command surge forward almost ten leeJ Ihere
is a dull hollow thump that brings them 10 d
sudden stand. and the ramner IS "lLACI-"h'
A man with a big bag of what seem 20 NC
sticks a foot long and three-quarters OF an jnch
in diameter, with the aid of another, udEs-
fers his burden to the breech of the gun The
mo, AGAIN surge forward with the rammer,
AMI bag and contents are driven hard against
the shot Five more pounded IN upon II
Each contains 100 % pounds OF srnokeless pow
der in sticks as thick broOmhandles and
third as long. The breech is closed after tne
pressure meter is. set, locked hrIniy INTO us
place, and the primer is inserted Ihefe are
three toots of the locomotive whistle and a
great scramble and the train again backs
away The elevation is too great for the ror1her
velocity frame, and wOrkmen lower IL 10 tne
ground. That nearer the gun is also Iald low
Three remain at the rear OF the gun n
sergeant is at the friction box for firing the
charge behind a large gun at least 100 IeeI
away The man nearest the breech OF the
loaded monster attaches two wires to the prlIn-
err and he and his two companions wave theIr
arms and run for cover. They find 1t BEHIND
the gun where the sergeant is stationed Win
his firing device y shri1 whistle from the VI
cinity of the train is followed by the command
Ready The sergeant pulls up the piston
Fire The piston is shot back into the box
There is a flash and a boom as before, and
two columns of water spring out Of the sea-
one some ten seconds after the other All take
their fingers from their ears, and there IS q
rush for the gun. 1t has behaved exactly as
before, and the proving is over 1t Is triumph
for the gun. it's designers and its makers
new standard of destructiveness in warfare has
been established and conSra tulatIOns are IN
order The chief of ordnance of the army -
present and talks briefly and cOnservatively TO
the newspaper reporters, but his cOuntensLhce
is wreathed in smiles which are more eloquent
words