Author Topic: Don't try this at home (Read 873 times)

John N · « **on:** October 12, 2005, 01:11:06 AM »

I ran across an interesting cannon in Athens Georgia while surfing the web. The address is http://ngeorgia.com/feature/adbc.html.

Here are a couple of excerpts I thought others may enjoy:

"The Cannon is a double six-pounder, cast in one piece, with a three degree divergence from the parallel between the barrels. Each barrel has its own touch hole so it can be fired independent of the other and a common touch hole in the center is designed to fire both barrels simultaneously.

The idea was to connect two cannon balls with a chain and mow the enemy down like a scythe cuts wheat. The gun is four feet eight and one-half inches long, the bore is three and thirteen-hundredths inches and the gun weighs about thirteen hundred pounds

The Cannon was taken out on the Newton Bridge Road in April 1862, for test firing. The test was, to say the least, spectacular if unsuccessful.

According to reports one ball left the muzzle before the other and the two balls pursued an erratic circular course plowing up an acre of ground, destroying a corn field and mowing down some saplings before the chain broke.

The balls then adopted separate courses, one killing a cow and the other demolishing the chimney on a log cabin. The observers scattered in fear of their lives."

Today the gun is in front of city hall.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #1 on:** October 12, 2005, 01:18:45 AM »

This is one that surfaces here every once in a while.

For me it's one of those "it seemed like a good idea at the time".

Blaster · « **Reply #2 on:** October 12, 2005, 06:11:29 AM »

John N, you have chosen one fine avatar.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #3 on:** October 12, 2005, 12:29:02 PM »

Quote from: blaster

John N, you have chosen one fine avatar.

I was wondering when you'd pitch in, Blaster.

The avatar is INSTANTLY recognizable!

Powder keg · « **Reply #4 on:** October 12, 2005, 12:59:14 PM »

I've been thinking of casting a model of that cannon. probably won't get past that stage though.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #5 on:** October 12, 2005, 03:52:01 PM »

Quote from: Powder keg

I've been thinking of casting a model of that cannon. probably won't get past that stage though.

Let me know if you get serious about it, Wes. I'm driving to Atlanta for Turkey Day & Athens is but 25 miles off the path. Taking detailed pix would be no problem.

Powder keg · « **Reply #6 on:** October 12, 2005, 03:54:10 PM »

Do it!