Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-09-25

Gunnery Practice.
A seaman gunner is seaman of the
United States navy who has successfully
passed the examination required by the
Navy Department and has received a
years course of instruction, embracing
six months at the Torpedo Station, New
port, r. l., and six months at the Navy
Yard, Washington.
The gunnery class, as it is called, is
principally for the instruction of ex-ap-
prentices of the navy, but seamen under
32 years of age who have honorable dis
charges, and who can pass satisfactory
examination in arithmetic, composition,
photography, seamanship and gunnery,
are also eligible.
The course at the Torpedo Station con-
sists of the study of electricity as applied /
to incandescent lighting, batteries, etc. /;
the manufacture and handling of explo-
sives, such as gun cotton, dynamite, nitro
glycerine, illuminate of mercury, etc. /;
torpedoes, their manufacture, use and
handling, and submarine diving.
The torpedo station is long, irregular
shaped island, situated in Newport Har
Dor and used by the government for the
manufacture and testing of torpedoes and
explosives. 1t is on this island that the
seamen are Stationed having a cottage
furnished them with accommodations for
about twenty-five men. There are about
two hundred and fifty incandescent lights
on the island The dynamo room, which
is supplied with the leading dynamos of
different electricians Gramme,
! Weston, etc.-furnshes the entire place
with light every night
The seamen are thoroughly instructed
in the installation and care of the plant
and the different VIKINGS for various cur
rents. each man standing four hours
watch two or three times week, during
which time he has entire charge OF the
plant. The running of the engine and
DYNAMO and the switching on and of of
the different currents are all left entirely
to his control. An expert electricl n,
stationed on the island by the govern
ment, exercises general supervision OF all
electrical apparatus connected with the
station, and instructs the men in their
use, especial care being taken with bat
teries, ETC., that are used on shipboard.
During their leisure hours the men
study the construction of the different
classes of dynamos and the wiring OF
plants. and with occasional lectures from
the instructor and the use of the books at
the station pertaining to the subject they
acquire a quantity of useful knowledge.
II Is a common sight Of an evening to
see the men sitting around their mess
tables wondering the mysteries of science
/. 81 xfolnrnnc nf ENGLISH.
French and American electricians. All
take interest in the study. indeed, II
becomes imperative, as an examination al
the end of the six months on the station
shows their proficiency in this as well as
in other subjects.
One building on the island is com
pletely furnished with the different
utensils for the manufacture OF gun
cotton. Here LEI me say, for the beneh
of the uninitiated, that gun-cotton
although four times more powerful Il
effect than gunpowder, is much less dan
oerous. as. except in rare cases, 1t canno
he exploded except by detonation. 70
instance, YOU could throw block OF gtil
cotton on blazing fire and 1t woul'
merely burn up with q quick, prlsii
heat: but the same block exploded y
, detonation would completely wreck IN
building around it. The lnstrucuon
concerning this explosive relate to II
. chemical formula and the dlileren
nrocesses it goes through during manu-
factIre. and its care and use IN I'd
service.
The submarine diving instructions al
o;yen daily Six men are in class
One time. and the course usually las
about three weeks. During that tih
each man goes down at least once a ga.
Shaving under water from fifteen minut
70 AN hour. The first dive is taken
from one to two fathoms of water, an
when the diver is used to the pressul
tbe denth is increased, the men tinishlr
at from twelve to fifteen iatnoms, OF siA
to ninety feet, which is generally ue'
enorgh to satisfy all ambitions; Neai
ali make divers-good, bad and lndlile
emit. depending greatly on the physlc
Qualifications Of the man himself. FRO
ablv one man out Of ten will refuse ait
gether to don the suit, generally iro
timidity. The course is very thoroug
r the men working in pairs. Two IN
y dress each other while two others revol
the pump, and vice versa
4 The diving is very useful, as occasl1
IS often arise on shlpboard which reno
or ;mperative the services of an experlen:c
n diver. At sea, when on general SERVE
=. the Government allows the diver 81
:" hour for all work done under water.
= The torpedo instructions are very
N teresting, although somewhat comp
II Gated. and embrace the wiring from
n electrical machines to the torpedo,
4 formation of the different appliances
h testing. firing, etc., the management
the different switches used in the clrcu
4 and the rigging of ships and boats
III readiness for an attack.
III The above description gives corr
outline of the seaman's course OF lhs.r
n t;on at the torpedo station, and his u u
N is very proftably employed. he Is :, u y
Id examined in all the different branches
III has studied, and if he gets an average Z
Al rs per cent. out of a possible lVo NJ ~
for1rarded tn Washington Tor tne Z.