Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-05
THE 1O.1NcH DOES GOOD WORD

The gun was laid slightly depressed, so
as to cut the electric wires of a chirono.
graph screen, and the shot therefore struck
only few hundred yards away in the
shallow water OF the beach. There was a
considerable quantity OF smoke following
the discharge, but It was of light brown
color and was dissipated so quickly as to
obscure the view hardly at ALL
The shot, having been interfered with
so soon after leaving the muzzle. wabbled
In the remainder OF Its flight, and for a
mile or more before it struck
again it made nose just like train of
| cars.
The velocity secured by this powder was
found to be 1850 feet a second, while the
pressure in the chamber was only $4,000
pounds. Thus higher velocity and lower
pressure were obtained with eighty
pounds Of the German smokeless than
with 265 pounds Of the ordinary powder
SMASHING THE THREE-INCH PLATE.
Tie mortar was now trained on the three
inch steel plate to the right of the four
and and half inch plate. The upper left
hand corner was the spot selected for the
hit, and The same kind of shot and amount
of powder as before were used. After the
mortar was fired there was Q shaped hole
seen IN the upper right hand half of the
plate, and great break extended to
the bottom, leaving the plate in two
pieces
The shot went bounding down into the
| woods, being DETECTED over the sand hills
just behind the plate. When it was re-.
covered it was found that its aristocratic.
| line pointed, conlcal nose had been snub.
bed clear over en- one side, so that there
was a slight bulge outside the former lines
| of the cone.
It was now one o'clock and after lunch
con at the officers mess hall the secretary
and his party visited the works being built
by the engineer corps for placing two II
inca guns and sixteen 12-jnch mortars
| For stragetic reasons 1t is not desirable to
give any facts concerning the location OF
these batteries.
THE ENGINEER CORPS WORK.
Lieutenant Taylor, who is in charge of
| these works, brought a small locomotive
and three fat cars to point on the rail
| way track near the mess hall, and the
party was given ride on a railway that
| never issued bond or poured a drop of
water into its stock. 1t was rough in its
construction and very primitive in its
equipment, but 1t carried the passengers
with all the safety that could be asked and
as much speed as was good for them.
The work on the emplacement for two
12-lnch guns is IN forward condition, Il
is composed of concrete, mixed with large
bOuldeIs or rather fragments of limestone
blasted out OF the Harlem channel. Pro-
gress is made at the rate Of 100 cubic
yards of concrete day, aud about 8 900
cubic yards have been laid this summer
Although the work for the two guns is
about 250 feet long by $50 deep. it will
present very small elevation from the
sea and if underbrush can be induced to
grow it will be wholly hidden.
EXPENSIVE PROTECTION.
The cost will be IL the neIghborhCOd Of
S250,O for each gun, including the lift
by which the gun will be lowered out of
sight while loading, bat not including the
cost OF the gun itself and its carriage.
There will be another empiacement SINH
lar TO this one for two other 12-iuch guns
lie Continental iron works, which have
contracted to manu- acture the lifts, have
notified the department that they are ready
t. send ten men to begin work
The site Of The mortar batteries was also
the scene OF rapid and effective work. Six
teen Of these guns are placed in close prox-
unity to each other, and they can all be
aimed and fired at once by one person
The wonderful accuracy OF mortars makes
a group OF sixteen dis effective against
ship as a shotgun at prairie chicken
On leaving the railway Secretary Proctor
thanked Lieutenant Taylor for his iiway
trip, and limited that though the road
hadn parIOr cars and vestibuled sieepars.
still it would serve.
THE DOG AGAIN SHOWS HIS WISDOM
A return was then made to the expert
mental battery, as it was intended to FIRE
another shot from the mortar at the three
inch plate. When the gun was ready it
was discovered that the dog had not retired
to cover. As this was sure sign that all
was not in readiness another look around
was taken. and it was found that a schoon
er was standing IL. such a direction that
the projectile, if DETECTED somewhat to one
side, night hit her. Tt is not certain that
the dog saw the schooner first, but his &C.
lions were such as to give him credit for
it. The men don't exactly say they believe
the dog has devil but one old corporal
intimated that the beast knew much more
than was right that an honest dog should
know.
As the schooner held her course Captain
Heath, who has charge of the proving
grounds, would not risk a shot that might
lmperil life or property. Secretary
Proctor ana General Flagler were OF the
same mind, and the charge was therefore
withdrawn
On the run back to New York the Gen.
eral Wool was just clear of Castle William,
On Governors Island, when the sunset gun
was fred and the colors lowered. As the
ma ional flag started down from the flag
staff truck Secretary Proctor alone, of all
on board, paid the colors the reverence of
uncovering. which he did puntiliousIy,
like gentleman of the Old school.
The secretary during his visit to the
proving grounds paid careful attention to
all the details Of the firing and investi
gated everything of interest coming be-
fore him-not with the curiosity of an in
experienced civilian. but with the knowl
edge of one who had set squadrons In the
field and faced and fired guns in deadly
earnest.-N. 7. Herald.
SECOR BADLY INJURED.