Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-07-18
THE EVENING STAR.
THE MIANTONOMAH
The Miantonemah At Spithead-Experi.
mental Firing for the benefit of English
Kisitors.

The Miantensmah At Spithead-Experi-
mental Firing for the benefit of English
Visitors.
Prom the London Times July21
This formidable war vessel, which. as the
FIRST American turret-ship that has visited the
shores Of Europe, created such an extraordi-
nary degree OF interest during her recent visits
10 the snchorages al q ueenstown and Spithead
sailed from the latter roadstead early on Sat
urday morning for Cherbourg, where she will
remain a short time open, as she has been to us,
70 the admiration and criticism Of our good
friends and allies across the channel. From
Cherbourg existing understood arrangements
send the Miantonomah 10 the Midway or the
Thames. and thence TO the Baltic. She Is ex-
pected 10 call again at Spithead on her return
down channel from the Baltic. During the
stay OF the ship at both q queenstown and Spit
head she was, during each day, open to the ad-
mission of all visitors. Thousands Of people
awaited themselves of the opportunity, and
must have left her impressed with the kind
ness with which they were received by the
officers and the untiring pans taken to ex plain
all the numerous details Of the plan and fit
tings OF the ships hull, turrets. armor, and
guns. We have learnt much from the visit of
the MiantOnonah, and her officers will not 90
from our shores without having added to their
previous knowledge of the manner in which
guns may De fought in revolving iron towers
on board ship.
In their visit TO the Miantonomah at Spithead
on Friday last, the Lord of the Admiralty were
sistant Secretary of the United States Navy:
Captain Cowp-r Phipps Coles. K. N; Captain
ByIbesea- X. N N. e. Naval Atrache TO the
British Embassy at Washington; Lord John
Nay. NJ. T. the Earl of Wilton. Commodore of
the Royal Yacht Squadran; Mr.. Wesley Rich
ards. &c, in addition 20 a number of naval off,
GERS and others mentioned in the Times of
Saturday.
The duke of Somerset, with the Comptroller
and other members of the Board OF Admiralty,
having been conducted over the ship by Capt
ain Beaumont and minutely inspected her on
deck and below, took mp a position on the
raised hurricane deck, in company with Hon.
Mr.. Fox, 10 witness the firing of two shots from
the enormous Is inch smooth bore guns, which
form her tuTred armament. The officers and
crew of the ship took up their ,respecL posi-
tlOns al general quarters, all matches were Sc
curely battened down. the supply of air below
was provided for by setting the ventilating fans
IN m tIOn, and the ship In every respect pre-
pared for action at sea. These preparations
having been made, a visit 10 the deck below
dem Onsiraied clearly enough that although in
certain portions of the tween decks the atmos-
phere felt slightly oppressive after just leaving
the open air of upper deck, the air was really
cool - proved by the thermometer ranges, and
the ship might be fought through q long sum-
mer days action under the same conditions
with out distress to any on board from heat be-
yond what would necessarily be found in any
ordinary steam hip of war
The first gun hred was charged with a %
pound power cartridge and a SCCOt live shell
at extreme elevation. The effect was very
grand as the vast globe OF metal. prOppIlef
frCm the mouth Of the gun with a deep hoarse
roar. vent hurting on irs course nu:iI IL fell a.
an esi mated distance of about 3,5OO yards from
the slip
Thr SECOND gun was charged with b pounds
OF FOUNDER, solid IRON shot of 6hpounds, and
hred point blank. If the last shot was grand
az exhibiting the flight of a 10 inch shell, this
was more inter estIng as eXhlbitlng-what we
have as yet made no perfection for IN rifiing
our heavy navy arullery-the perfection of
rlCochet firing The immense ball spun along
lts course over the surface of the water as tru-
ly as the cricketer's ball passes over the green
sward toward the wicket. The noise of the
explosion. the conclusion felt, and the smoke
which entered the turrets on the firing of the
guns Were no more nor less than would be ma
tnrally expected in firing 81 pound powder
charges.
The working of the guns on board the Man.
fonomah on Friday was somewhat slow, but
this was accounted for by the fact that il WAS
the first time the same crews had worked the
guns in actual service.