Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-18
THE DYNAMITE CRUISER.
The Vesuvius to be Tried Again-The
New Torpedo Boat.

The dynamite cruiser yesuvius, built BY
the Cramps Of Philadelphia for the govern
ment, will soon be tried the second time in
order to test the question Of her acceptance or
rejection. This vessel has been the cause of
almost much trouble in the Navy depart
ment as the Dolphin was in her day, and there
have been conferences without number between
the Secretary and bureau officers on the one
hand and the ship builders on the other. It
may be remembered that she was tried quite
while ago, and it was then determined that she
possessed the requisite speed. but there was no
test Of her firing apparatus and no record was
taken of her horsepower. Tests have at vari-
Gus times since then been made OF her guns
after q fashion-that is, with dummy shells and
like substitutes-but not to the satisfaction OF
the department.. 1t q not generally believed
there that the vessel is much OF success az 1t
was at first expected she would be. and there are
men who do not hesitate to predict for her
short life. on the assumption that she cannot
stand the extremely dangerous work for which
she is designed. Ii Is not generally known, but
Ii is nevertheless true. that Of the trials,
when they were using some kind OF explosive,
q hole was blown out of the bottom OF the YES
sci and she was kept from going to the bottom
only by the presence of mind Of a man who
stood near and showed his coat and other parts
of his apparel into the aperture.
IN THE COMING TRIAL
an attempt will be made by the representatives
of the government to make the conditions as
nearly like those under which the vessel will
tght as possible and to this end the shells that
are to be fired will be loaded with gun cotton
The specifications call for shells loaded with
dynamite, which is to be the material with
which the fighting shells are to be charged.
But the contractors begged of from keeping
up to this part Of the requirements. claiming
that they were unable to obtain sufficient
quantity Of dynamite in time for the test AS
gun cotton is far easier to handle and is less
likely to explode prematurely, and has the gen.
eral reputation of being not quite powerful
an explosive as dynamite, the general opinion
Is that the test will not even now be a perfect
one as far as the development Of the vessels
exact qualities go. A facetious officer. speak
ing on this subject yesterday, remarked that it
was just as well that they were going to have
the two trials together, for there would prob
ably be a great saving in human life thereby.
He bewailed the fact, however. that there were
not more old officers on board, for then there
would be an increased chance for the younger
men OF the service to rise by promotion. He
predicted in his pleasant vein a marked change
on the naval list before the vessel was accepted.
THE NEW TORPEDO VESSEL CUSHING.
1t will be extremely interesting to note in
connection with this trial the results achieved
by the new torpedo vessel Cushing, built by
Herreschof and soon to be tested in the
vicinity of Newport. She is the pioneer of this
class Of vessels in our navy and her perform
ance will be watched with more than ordinary
care. She Is to make a speed of % knots for a
period of four consecutive hours and above
that she will earn for her builders a premium
Of S1,5O0 for each quarter knot, with a similar
penalty for under speed She is so small that
II will be difficult to stow away in her bunkers
enough coal to carry her this length of time at
this extremely high rate Of speed, but her con-
structors say that they are not afraid.