New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-10
FIRING FROM WARSHIPS.
VOLUNTEERS GET TARGET PRACTICE ON
THE WHITE SQUADRON OFF BOSTON:
TRAINING THE MASSACHUSETTS NAVAL BATTAL-
IoN-oNLY ONE LARGE SHOT HITS THE MARK
PICTURESQUE SCENE IN THE HARBoR.
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@ANACAsr~-QOb SN6NE IN ItL ma
tBY TELEGRAPH To THE IRIBUsE1
Boston, July 0.-The White Squadron, which
came to anchor in Boston Harbor last Saturday
morning, came here this time for business It's
mission was to give instructions to the Naval
battalion, Massachusetts, Militia On Monday the
battaliOn's first round of duty on shipboard was
begun, the men being distributed on the differ
ent vessels of the squadron. To-day was the
most important and interesting of the week, as
the novices were sent to sea-Or, to speak more
accurately, to n point about five miles east of
Point Allerton-to put to q practical test the
limited knowledge they had acquired while the
warSh1ps were at anchor In the harbor The Oc-
casion excited general interest. Upon the ends
OF the wharves the decks of steamers at their
docks, and the roofs Of the Ames and other lofty
buildings. were gathered crowds of persons watch
ing for the first movement. In the upper harbor
steam launches, row-boats tugs and other small
craft were fitting about, and thousands Of per-
SOUS availed themselves of the opportunity to
get view Of the unusual spectacle Governor
Russell and staff, several militia officers and
representatives of Boston and New-York news
papers were the guests of Admiral Walker on the
flagship Newark.
At 1910 the Newark began TO steam slowly
down toward Ort independence. leading the fleet
The Atlanta followed her, and in five minutes
ofterward the vessels were strung out in the
following order: The flagship Newark, the At
lanta, the Boston, the Yorktown and the Vesuvius
The place selected for the target practice was
point between four and five miles east Of Point
Allert0n. The target was float anchored at
point from which Boston light bore almost due
west and Minots Ledge light almost due south,
each distant 800 yards. The location for the
IN traI1 I,lo. H. 4.
TO take position beyond the islands, and to
throw their shot out toward the open sea, where
nothing this side Of the British Isles was much
in danger of being hit, unless it was the target ;
and 1t managed admirably one other
important matter. the light, for the gunners
had the target in front Of them and
the light behind. The target practice was en-
tirely for the instruction Of the naval battalion
end the officers and men were allowed to make
oil preparations and do the work themselves.
At noon the powder divisions were called for.
ward and aft. The ladders were quickly cleared
away and slowed, the powder and shell matches
opened, and everything made ready to send up the
ammunition Gs soon as the word was passed. The
vessels then formed in line along the base Of the
triangle at the apex of which the target was
placed. The course Of the cruisers was laid due
northwest, which brought the target on the star
board side The vessels passed along in single
file, first the flagship, ther the Boston the At
lanta and the Yorktown Abreast of the flagship
on the port beam was stationed the dynamite
cruiser Vesuvius to act as n sort of police boat
and warn yachts and other vessels TO keep ont of
the way. Her great speed made her valuable Tor
this purpose. The starboard gurners took their
places at the regular battery as soon as
the ships began 10 move along the lire.
As tie regulations forbade the gunuers from fir
ing until after the first plotting boat was passed,
there was plenty Of time TO get up ammunition
and to load and prime after the ships began to
move.
The order for the ammunition was passed to
the waiting powder division fore and aft and al
most simultaneously from the magazines came up
the great 6-inch and s-inch shells. Both the Bos-
ton and the Atlanta carry two S-nch and six 6inch
guns, while the Newark has only the 6-inch guns,
but carries twice as many of them The shells
for the 8-inch guns weigh 2j0 pounds each and
are propelled by 125 pounds of powder. The
G-inch shells weigh 100 pounds, and have from
thirty-fve to forty-fve pounds of powder behind
them.
The first shot came from the bow gun Of the
Newark, soon after the first boat was passed. The
crew were allowed to waste no time in watching
lOI tilt cItCG VI JltlI SLOl. luC Cdpldlu VI tLc
gun kept them the jump, and the first shell was
hardly out of the muzze before the crew were
sponging
The second shot got away little over three
minutes after the first, and then the cannonading
began in e0rness. AS the ships moved along the
line, gun after gun sent its 90 or 2jO pounds Of
steel through the air in a graceful parabola,
whose remote end. disappeared in the water close
ho oo1, oil TO
fire two shots. Then the vessels turned to star
board, the movement bringing the port guns into
play AS the ships turned they went in 500 yards
nearer the target, leaving the range 1000 yards
This range was for the trial of the secondary
Six-pOund, thre-pound, one-pOund
and Gatling guns. Each crew manning these
guns of the secondary battery was allowed to
fire five shots at the target while the ships were
between the two plotting-boats. The guns seemed
small and light, after using the regular battery:
but the velocity and accuracy of the projec-
tiles were not at all inferior
The target practice as n whole was fails, many
shots striking exceedingly close to the target
The best firing was done from the Newark. Only
one large shot struck the target, and that was
fired from the Newark. The gun was in charge
Of Ensign Bcrnarden. Of the Navy and the gunner
The practice with the secondary guns was bet
ter, all the shots striking close TO the target.
The best shot was from the Newark, Boatswans
Mate Underwood hitting the target fairly. The
marksmen were applauded by the spec
tators. The return trip was made to the anchor
lge at little after o'clock
The experience of the landsmen was novel and
interesting and those who enjoyed the hospitality
lf Admiral Walker will long remember the occasion
With pleasure One amusing Incident of the day
was when City Solicitor Bailey, Mr.. Allen, eX
President of the Common Council, and few
II Rcrs climbed into the croSs-trees To get better
view of the firing. 1t is an unwritten law in the
Navy that when landsmen climb into the cross
trees they may he held prisoners there until
they pay ransom. The sailors were
not slow in improving this opportunity,
md after being detained on their lofty perch
for about two hours. the men were released on |
paying the customary fine. There was a brilliant
scene in the h0rEor tonight. The Naval bat
talon represented an enemy endeavoTing to de
,troy the fleet by the use of torpcdoes. The |
squadron was kept in Ignorance as 10 which
vessel was to be attacked and all were on the
,lprt with ID DrPVpnt "A SuTDrlSp