New-York tribune., 1891-05-21
DYNAMITE GUNSIN THE NAVY
THE ARMAMENT OF THE vEsUvIUs TESTED.
szors AT FIXED AND MOVING TARGErs-THE
GUNS DO NOT EXHIBIT AN AccU-
rpy TELEGRAPH TO rHR TRIBUNE

Norfolk. Va, May 2o.-A Board OF Naval officers.
of which Commander r. d. Evans president tested
The guns Of the pseudo-dynamits cruiser yesuvus
to-day In lower Chesapeake Bay. When the Vesuvius
was accepted by Secretary Tracy the contract stpua-
lions that high explosive be fired from the three
rheumatic guns constituting the armament OF the
vessel had been complied with; that is to say, a
projece containing gun cotton had been discharged
nom each OF the guns There was no attempt II one
may Judge from the results OF that early trial, at
hitting the target, and il was left for another trai
10 demonstrate Just what effectiveness existed In these
tmmovabe tubes. Even If high explosives could be
fred win from the vesuvius that form Of destruc-
tveness would, without a surety Of control, be
useless expenditure Of force The trustworthiness OF
the guns in this respect theoretical ana based on
the performance Of dynamite gun mounted on lano.
The results from similar gun on so unstable plat
form a ship properly questioned and, when the
ship became a part Of the weapon, whose training
meant the movement Of the vessel, the efficiency Of
ae combination could only be demonstrated by actual
experiment
II was 10 this end that the present trisls were
ordered II was desired to ascertain with "hA'
accuracy of aim these guns might be fired A course
Of one mile had been marked OF in quarters and
thtthsr early this morning the Veeuvlus proceeoee
from Fortress Monroe She was accompanied by the
cushing and the Naval tug Triton, the latter detailed
BIZ Secretary Tracy and placed in charge OF Private
Secretary Raymond for the convenience Of the press
soue delay was caused by the dsarrangeaent OF the
stering year Of the Vesuvius, and firing did not
begin until o'clock. In this test dummy shells made
OF cast iron and steel used. They were OF the
same weight as the dynamite shells and, as the trial
was one Of accuracy, they answered every purpose.
Two of the guns out Of order so the firing was
done with gun prolonging the test materially Inc
first three shots were fired at fixed bucys at one
mile three-quarters Of mile and half mile respec-
tvely. the vesuvius being in motion the While.
The first protectile Of one-me range went directly
over the buoy which served a target and dropped
into the water few yards beyond, within the space
estimated 70 be destructive to an enemy. The hsht
OF the projsctile was plainly visible, as they all
were from the moment OF discharge until it touched
the water the time OF transit being nine and half
seconds Po the second shot the Vesuv1s was obliged
10 turn back o the beginning of the course and in
this prooeediDz exhibited it's weakness Of msnoeuvring
Quality. for IA construction does not give her a
ready turning capacity.
The second shot at the fixed buoy quarter mile
range. was wilder than the first. the shell going a
quarter Of a mile beyond the target. The third shot,
halfmile range, was equally wide Of it's mark, the
sheu falling into the water 200 yards beyond the buoy
The following three shots were fired at a moving
target from the Vesuvius. that vessel approaching at
a mast was used the target and in tow Of the
Gushing The shots were fired at one mile, three
mile range, went two yards beyond the cutter and
apparently not in range Of the target. The second
shot, threequarter mile range, went hafmlle beyond
the cutter The third shell, half mile range. struck
the quarter Of mile short of the target and
considerably out Of range The cutter was sub
Cushing and Triton returned to Fortress Monroe later
in the day. The first vessel Will 60 TO Norfolk Navy
hard tomorrow.
pf the Naval experts II was not anticipated that the
guls would exhibit an accuracy of fire.