The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-10-28
Smelling the Niagara.

Yesterday morliig at about 10 o'clock, the
crew of the U. S. 5. Alaska were called to quar-
tiers, and, under the orders of Lieutenant Com
mander Nelson, acting Captain i'll the absence of
Captain Belknap, were exercised at firing Mt a
target painted on the STAFFORD quarter OF the
Niagara, wrecked on the reef at the entrance to
the harbor. The armamant of the Alaska con-
sists of 10 Dahlgren, S-inch converted NJ. L.,
smooth bore guns in battery-5 on a ide-and
two riied pieces, one S-inch pivo.ed, on main
deck forward, and one 6-incL, on the forcecastfe.
besides a Gattling gun, and a 3-inch riaed breech
loading steel gun on the quarter deck. The
Alaska was warped into position SO as to bring
the STAFFORD battery of five guns, and the rifed
pivots to bear, and the order was given to COM
mence firing with shells, e~levating the pieces
for a distance of ZOO yards, and cutting thu
fuses for seven seconds. The first few shots
showed the elevation to be too great, the shells
passing over the Niagara, and the guns were
depressed for a distance of 1,600, and finally
l 800 yards. After the gunners had made a Jew
trials, the range was obtained very exactly, and
from that time to the close of the exercise the
shot burst in, under, and all around the wreck.
One shell from the Sin rifle, scored a SEMI
circular piece out of the main mast, about half
way up from the deck, but the mast bong ut
iron it stood, though bent considerably. Com
mander Nelson took charg> of one o. the
smooth boreS, TO snuw the sunlIsrs how to
aim, you know, ali pumped a shei! into the
ship at tn water line, where II burst ami a
c,oll .. smoke poured out oi tiv matches. Tnc
. 49, 1-'N t%4
neatly az d-"k Hr.r tne lurcUia7t, 1ni tne tAud
81 its explosion indicated the ,iaAlIsc done.
'No. :, gun "I the battery planted u sneli under
the quarter OF tlc wreck, and 1t too, exploded
inside. Svv,fi other shCts hit the mark, and
in the judi ut of those best qua lied to decide,
thirteeL "a the shots fired took effect. Each
gnu fired six rounds, the last one III each case
being Il solid shot. After the mai deck firing,
three shots were fired from the 3-inch steel
breech loader on the quarter deck. Oh these, the
first burst short of the mark, the second fired
by Commander Nelson, struck fair, and the
third by DR.. MeGrew, was a good line shot.
The following IS a summary OF the practices:
Shots Nos. l, >, 3, 4 and ., from the S-inch
smooth bOres, firing spherical shells went over
or burst before reaching the mark. Nos. 6, Z, s,
., 10 and IL, burst over OF fell short. No. II burst
close on board, Is was short. No. II, from the
S-inch rifle, poked a hole in the STAFFORD bow
near water line and then exploded. Nos. ID, Is,
and IL, surst short or skippedoyer tire wreck. No
s burst III the vessel rs did 10. No. 20 went
aStray; and No. p burst over the vessel, cutting
the mast half through. Nos. - and % fell short,
and M. "A struck at waters edge, Nos. "a, 90,
% and 2S fell short or burst too soon. No. %.
6O-poUnd shot from S-inch rifle struck the
counter and exploded. Nos 80, 81, 80,
33, 81. 30, 3G and 81 failed to produce
any appreciable effect. No. IS firing solid shot
struck the water short OF the wreck, and rising
again, plowtd into the vessel. Nos. 80, 40, Al,
all solid shot missed the mark, and No. ~, to
wind up the busin s. struck under the counter.
After the firing Lieutenant Commander Nelson
invited the members of the Press to visit the
niagara with him and ascertain the effect of the
Smelling, Upon arriving at the wreck it waai
found that seven shots had pierced the hull in
the STAFFORD quarter; ranging from under the
stern to below the mizzen rigging. Another
had penetrated the ships side nearly amidships
on "a level with the upper deck. On going on
board IL shell was found that had not exploded
and the fragments of many more Were picked
up. \ conical S-inch percussion shell had cut
the larnyHrds of the starbourd fore rig
giug, aud then penetrated the heavy
beam supporting the edge Of the t'gallant fore