The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-12
THE DEADLY VESUVIUS.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE VISIT THE
DYNAMITE CRUISER.

-,a Tarror of Modern Naval Warfare
ntoored Along Side of the Cruiser
vearsarqe Below the City-The
0neration of the Dynamite Guns and
Their Work.
Tba terror of modern naval warfare is
h.ra The dynamite cruiser Vesuvius ar
lived at Tybee yesterday morning at G
a,olocx and shortly afterward steamed I'D
tbo river and anchored in midstream off
the Kearsarge.
Ats O'clock in the afternoon size moored
at the wharf just as:ern of the Kearsarge.
Thousands of people who were
visit,ng the historic old cruiser
and watching the trim cigar-shaped dyna-
mite vessel out in the stream, Immediately
suarmed her decks and proceeded to take
IN the sights Of the novel and deadly craft
The officers of the Vesuvius were compelled
70 station several Of the crew at the gang
r,Janlx to hold the sight-Seers in check. They
here compelled TO adopt the same course as
hat IN vogue at the Kearsarge of letting
tSe visitors on and off IN squads. Other
wise enough people would have crowded on
AT one time to sink the cruiser.
The Vesuvius is commanded by Lieut.
SClIO6Q6Es
GERS and men, is sixty-five. The staff con-
sists of Lieut.. Hanus, executive officer
Lieut.. Dombaugh, Ensign Maxwell,
Assistant Surgeon BREASTED, and Passed
Assistant Engineer Moore.
She is PSI feet 9 inches long, 90 feet 5
inches in breadth, and draws only feet of
water Her engines are vertical twin
screws Of 4, 900 horsepower, and she has a
speed of q knots an hour.
~.
are three pneumatic tubes, each SIS feet in
length. Each can throw 200 pounds
nj dynamite one and one-fourth miles
and each projectlle falling within fifty feet
of an object will completely destroy 1t.
The dynamite is fired by means OF COM
messed air pumped into the cham hers by
powerful air pumps. The tubes are
capable of firing fifteen shots in seven
teen minutes The work of firing
the dynamite is done from the commanders
coming tower in the rear OF the
tubes. The range and pressure Of air is
regulated and the tubes discharged by
means of levers Immediately at the hand Of
the commander. The coming tower is a
curiosity in it's construction. 1t is so
appointed that the commander can steer the
cruiser, aim and fire the guns aud communi-
cate with the engineers and gunners with
out leaving his place. The great advantage
Of toe dynamite buDeS l5 tnaU the use or COM
pressed air as propelling power instead of
powder causes them to grow colder after
each discharge.
The Vesuvius was built at Cramps ship
yard in 1888. She will remain at the
wharf where she is now moored and can be
inspected by visitors from 10 o'clock i'll the
morning until l and from 2 till shutdown.
The Kearsarge was visited by greater
crowds yesterday than any day since she
has been here. All day long people
swarmed in and out of her and many went
away rather than stand in line and crush
their way along the gang plank to get
aboard the cruiser. Between 5000 and
10000 were on her during the day.
The negroes were out in large numbers to
see de yankee boat" and many brought
their children along. They were extremely
cautious about the guns aud we're afraid to
touch them for fear they were loaded The
old women chung to the mems coats in
moving about the docks. and many of the
remarks made by them were highly
amusing. Everything about the warships
was a novelty to the negroes, and they
were afraid to touch anything for fear It
would go off. They seemed to be under the
impression that every piece of machinery
on the vessel Is an exDlOsiye