The New York herald., 1872-12-21
AvsnAEias moH-cLADs.
The Colonial Naval Iron-Clad Cerberus
Trying Her Great Guns-victOrian
Omcers Directing the Practice.
[From the Melbourne Leader, Oct. 81

Omcers directing the Practice
From the Melbourne Leader, Oct. 81
The iron-clad Cerberus got steam up on Satur-
day for the ilrst time since the volunteer review
on Easter Monday, and proceeded short distance
down the Bay In order to give the crew some shot
practice with her heavy guns. 1t had been an
nounced that 1t was intended to take the ship
down as far as Queenscir for the purpose, but Tor
some reasons, best known to the war authorities,
that order was countermanded at late hour on
the 25th OF September, and consequently instead
OF seven A. M. it was one p. NJ. before steam was
got up ana preparations made to nnmoor
AS the Cerbcrus has only skeleton crew OF
twenty-five men and boys, 1t became necessary to
draft detachments from the other vessels OF the
were sent from the Nelson and six from the Vic
toria. The whole OF these men are OF course sworn
this was the afst time they had worked
unacquainted with the complicated me
chanism OF the turrets and their ponder
course OF the afternoon must be set down as first
class Captain Painter, the senior naval onlcer, was
IN command. and in order that he might have
every asSis tance possible In his arduouS duties the
whole OF
THE OFFICERS OF THE VICTORIAN NAVY
were on board-namely, Lieutenant Turner, OF the
Nelson; Lieutenant Tandy, or the Victoria, and
Sub-Leutenant Bland, OF the Nelson. Mr. Pounds,
confined con to his bed through Sickness hi and his
duties were therefore performed by the second
gunner, Mr.. Tubbs.
TARGET PRACTICE.
About halfpast one +. NJ, everything being In
readiness, the mOoringS were slipped, and the
vesael proceeded down the bay, about two and
half miles below the ghtship, where tie target
was laid out. This was the same canvas cone
which was used on previous occasions when the
Naval Reserve was practis5d with the guns
The Ccrberus then steamed back 1000 yards and
the f0returret was manned. There being such q
small crew on board only one turret was used
during the afternoon.
THE MEN WERE STATIONED AS FoLLOws:-
fourteen in the turres, with Lieutenant Tandy and
Sub-Leutenant Bland twenty more were stationed
at various positions outside the turret including
the magazine; four men at the wheel, and two men
at the leads.
were loaded with the 4O0-pound common shell, and
o full charge of forty pounds OF powder.
At the 1000 yards range five shots were fred all
OF them bursting In close vicinity to the target
Two more shots were fired at each OF the in
creased ranges OF 800 yards, 800 yards and 500
yards. II anything tho shooting was better at the
longer ranges than at the shorter one, the eleva-
ton being rather much for the latter. Owing to
the shorness OF the crew the guns were not served
time eleven shots were disposed OF the daylight
was disappearing. The vessel was therefore
steamed out to the target, which was taken on
board, and she then returned to her moorngs,
| which she reached shortly after six O'Clock.
THE ENGINES
throughout the afternoon worked very smoothly
| and evenly, proving that, although they are not
often in use they kept In first rate order under
the supervision OF Mr.. Leslie, the Chief Engineer.