144 
RAISING 38-TON GUN FROM MUD. 
Fig-. 6. 
Plan of Muzzle (P\) and Breech (P 2 ) Platforms. 
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The 10' planks and 7' sleepers for P 3 were laid 2-deep, to bring them 
level with the 19' piles, which were 9" square. Across these platforms 
were laid 4 sleepers on each, the two centre ones touching. Above 
these were laid two 6' x 12" x 12" skids, 18" apart, perpendicular to 
axis of gun, and on these, parallel to them, 2 fir sleepers, to raise the 
columns of skids sufficiently high to allow of long skids, 12" x 12", to 
be easily placed under the cascable button and chase, as soon as the 
gun should come up, resting on P\P X and P 2 P 3 across their centres. 
Pig. 7. 
Section across AB (omitting PP, which are shown in Pigs. 4 and 6). 
Tuesday , 29 th May. (Qt/i day). 
Two sabicu beams demanded from Woolwich not having arrived, it 
was determined to test the platforms. The sea wall was increased to 
2' above high water mark, and 8' thick at high water mark, and 
rammed and faced with stones. The two temporary fir beams em¬ 
ployed on PiP x and P 3 P 3 were lashed to cascable button and under 
half-weight mark similarly to Fig. 5, and the gun slightly raised. 
44" white rope was used in lashing, passed 8 times under the gun at 
each end, and the breech beam strengthened by placing a 10' x 12" x 3" 
oak plank on top of it. The platforms subsided badly, especially 
the breech, P 2 P 2 , so they were relaid in the afternoon and levelled. 
Wednesday , 30 th May. (1th day). 
The sabicu beams arrived at 9.30 a.m., each 12' 2" x 12" x 12", and 
were lashed over the cascable button and half-weight mark, and the 
weight taken by all three sabicu beams with six 20-ton hydraulic jacks 
(Tangye's). The beams, at the commencement of the afternoon, were 4' 
above the platforms and 4' 6" above the mud foundation, (Vide Fig. 5.) 
