IMPORTANT ARTILLERY EXPERIMENT.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1909, 7 April 1880, Page 4

IMPORTANT ARTILLERY EXPERIMENT.

After a series of experiments the 38-ton gun, which wis the twin weapon to that which exploded in the turret of H.M.S. Thunderer, has been destroyed at Norwich by the process of double loading. In the final stage first was rammed home the Palliser cartridge of 1101 b. of pebblo powder, next the Palliser shell of llOib., and the papier mache wad. The seco'd charge followed, namely, 851 b. of powder, a common shell, and another wad, and the double loading was complete. A.s marked on the outside of the gun, the 831 b. of powder l»y just in the position where the gun swells in thickness to strengthen the powder chamber, and many who had been sceptical were convinced by this illustration th»t the ignition of a charge in such a weak and impropsr position would be at least rißky. Doubts, however, were expressed whether the gas check upon the base of the Palliser shell would allow the fhtsh from the rear charge to ignite the one in front, cased as it was in a flannel bug, and the explanation that the flaine would ride over the gas check with inconceivable force before the former could Bet up was scarcely leceived with confidence. At lust everybody who wished to had visited the gun and had had the opporturity of forming an opinion, and then the bell wns sounded as a warning to retire. The epiinter-proof houses, which had been reserved as covers fur the rincipal visitors, were very little in demand, for every one wished to see whatever there was to be seen, and accordingly the spectators retired aome 300 yards to the left front, where the high hank dividing the river from the marsh afforded a capital position for a bird's eye view of the scene. Somo coubts were expressed as to the safety of the position, but the suspense was of short duration. Captain Morley was seen to retire to the instrument room, and a Bergeant, after seeing that the ground was char, dived for a few moments into the bursting coll for the purpose of adjusting the electric fuze to the vent. A second bell was then rung. An instant after Captain Morley had touched the fatal pin, and the pyramid of earth seemed to be lifted by a dense mass of smoke and wreckage which flew into the air to the accompaniment of a loud report. For some time the smoke poured out, and before any one could enter it was ne cessury to make use of the fire-hose ; but anxiety to know the result overcame all idea of danger, and several of the oommittee groped into the cell ai_d came out again with the tidings that the gun had "gone." The Engiueors under Colonel Noble were not long in making everything secure, and presently the little dark cell was filled with persons stumbling over the broken fragments of the gun, the breech end only of which remained on the carriage, resembling with marvellous fidelity its unfortunate companion now exhibited in the Royal Gun Factories. Hearty congratulations were exchanged, and it was admitted that the cause of the Thunderer explosion had now been conclusively established and the reputation of British guns for refusing to buret, except under conditions which never ought to ari3o, triumphantly maintained.