New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-29
THE RESERVES AT THE GUNS.
TARGET PRACTICE AT FISHERS ISLAND
SOME EXCELLENT SHOTS MADE-GovERNoR HILL
TO VISIT THE FLEET TO-DAY WHEN
FIRING WILL BE DONE WITH THE
SHIPS IN NOTION
lBr TELEGnArH TO the TkIBUNE.l

tDi 'hLhuhArH TO THE TRlBUNE.l
New-London, Conh.., July 2s.-It has been
day of firing all along the line on the white
feet, for the Naval Reserve has been popping
away at on imaginafy enemy with big guns and
little guns. The echoes of Fishers Island have
not been awakened, for the sub-calbre apparatus
has been used in the guns and the result has
been continuous popping. This sub-cabre ap-
paratus is simple and yet ingenious contrivance.
In the siX-inch guns a long rifle tube is in
serted, resting on steel discs, and having a
firing apparatus at the breech 1t fires q regula-
ton rifle ball In the Hotchkss sx-pounders a
rited tube, surrounded by wooden jacket,
which makes it about the size of an ordinary
slx-pound projectile, is inserted as if it were
the proiectile itself. A rifle cartridge is in the
base of the arrangement which is fired when
the trigger is pulled For the benefit of those
who have not had the advantages Of a sea-
faring education and do not belong to the Naval
Reserve, IL may be stated that IIotchkiss six
pound rapid-6ring gun is fired with a trigger
as if IT were great over-grown pistol mounted
on stills. The Gatlngs to-day were fired, of
course, without any sub-calibre arrangement and
growled viciOusly as is their wont.
The ships bdgler reused the Reserves on the
Stonington at the usual hour to-day with his in
spring notes. He is q real bugler and not a
Reserve Amateur "sailorizingr may do on board
the StOnington, but Commander Miller draws the
lire at amateur music, and the band and buglcr
are professionals Years ago, when the bugler
was o hoy eleven years old he rode by the side of
Sheridan sounding his bugle in the rush Of
war; and afterward with other dashing generals
1t did not seem TO the Reserve as if an hour had
passed. so busy were they from the time the bUgle
summoned them from their sleep, before they were
on their way TO the big white ships to begin the
days bombardment Of the targets. When all were
on board the flagship signaed the ships to beat
to general quarters and they did so. 1t is one Of
the happy characteristics of the Navy that a signal
from the flagship is invariably obeyed
The Reserves took part in the general quarters,
each member of the militia being coached by q
member of the regular crew. Quarters were over
by :15 and then the popping began with the
guns. The targets were placed 800 yards beyond
the Slips, and for an hour they were pelted with
showers of lead which would have annihilated
an army if there had been any to annihilate.
rs there was not. the targets themselves were
annihlated and had to be frequently replaced
In spite of the fact that it had been published
everywhere that there was TO be target practice
to-day; in spite of the fact that bright red flags
were waving over the target and bullets whistling
sightseers would persist every now and then in
sailing ont in front of the fleet, causing ces-
'sation Of fire all along the lire. This was in the
morning. In tie afternoon they kept out of the
way Why they got in tho way at all is a mys-
terry, unless it may be explained by that over
whelming desire which some people possess to see
as close as possible everything that is going on,
and which rarmpts Others to poke pictures with
umbrellas 10 see if what they portray is real.
In the afternoon, rain and threaIenings of rain
kept the nuisances away
Some excellent shots were made by members of
the Reserve to-day c. w. Stranahan, of the 4th
battery, fired liotchlyiss 6pounGer six times and
hit the target every time. This was on the At
lanta. On the Chicago, Grifiiths of the 1st Bat
terry firing the G-pound Hotchkiss, made score Of
"a out of possible 3j. He made six straight
buseycs and had two extra shots Froelicx, of
the same battery, made a score of % out of 20.
Lieutenants Dana and Greene and Quartermaster
Dimmoch each made score of % out of 25, and
Able Seaman Woodward made 90. These scores
were not official, but were estimated by officers Of
the ship. To-day at the target practice in Gardi-
ner's Bay official scores will be kept.
On board the Yorktown Ensign Henderson and
Lieutenant Irving made excellent shots both with
the 6-nch and the 6-pOund guns Two members
of the Rhode Island Naval Reserve reported to-day
They were Lieutenant IIodglnson and Ensign
Williams. They were sent with Ensigns Weeks
and NLeeker on board the Concord for instruction.
1t was picture to see Ensign Weeks fire one of the
big guns. When he fired at the target and did not
hit it was easy to see by his face that he felt
hurt, deeply hurt: but when lie did "plunk" it
the scraphic smile which bcamed upon
his face Lit up the lowering day. En-
it dot inn1r nc
if he had been waiting several years for Il chance
70 demolsh this very target and was going to do
it or know the reason why. AS for the young
Rhode Islanders, they handled the guns with
wNLbred hauteur, and their faces expressed no
emotion, whether they hi; or missed
Did the reader ever sight 6-inch gum Prob
ably not. 1t is done something like this; First
you approach the gun and look wise, giving
sort of a squint along 1t to where, out through the
openng, you see the target bobbng on the waves.
This is necessary and il omitted the gun prob
ably would not 60 off, but then it never has
been known to be omitted. On either side OF the
gun are men bending the big steel cranls. On
the port side of the gun, at the brcech is man
rraspng a wheel. Wheels and cranks are OF
course attached to the gun carriage. Then you
Ia Ike the end of the firing lanyard In one hand
and step back few PAGES, looking through the
rearsgt. If the rearsight, the front sight ana the
target are all in a line you pull the string and
the gun does the rest But they never are in
range, and you have to say right lett,
" raise" lower and the men at the cranks
and the wheel grind away until the fortunate
moment arrives that the two sights and the tar
Get are caught on range, and tie gun is fired
OF course they never are in range when you
think they arc, but that is the way TO iro the
oun. The writer fired one of the Concords
S-nch guns several times to-day and hit Long
Island Sound every time, which was considered
rather good for a beginner.
At o'clock the drills for the day were over,
and the Naval Militia returned to the Stonington
and to a well-earned supper. Lieutenant Duncan
has his yacht Huron anchored near the Stoning-
ION. and yesterday, after the drills. he took the
members of his battery out for a sail
The men are standing the hard work and the
rigid discipline spendidly. OF course everything
does not go as smoothly as 1t does on
hoard mari-o'war, and every now
md then there is a little friction
However the friction is not serious |
M facilities for communication between Fisher ) |