Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-19
A FIGHTING MONITOR.
The Mlsntouomoh Tries Her Guns and They
Work Well.

Inc Mlootou0mOh Tries Her Guns and They
Work Well.
writer in the New York World writes as
follows regarding the trip OF the monitor
Miantonomoh, now the most powerful vessel in
the navy and lighting ironciad, to Gardi-
ner s bay and the successful trial of her guns:
The most important event in naval matters
| that has occurred for some time was the sue
| cessful test Of the guns and their fittings on
board the double-turreted monitor Miautono-
mob.
As matter showing the progress that this
country has made in war material during the
past ten years the Miantonomoh will serve as
An excellent mark. Her turret aud smoke stack
armor and three Of her large guns were made
in England, at least the forglngs Of the guns
were made there, but they were assembled at
the Washington foundry. The armor is com
pound and Of the quality that was forced to
take a back seat during armor-plate trials at
Annapolis and elsewhere, in the presence OF
nickel steel and the Harvey process Of harden
ing. Her side armor, Of seven inches in thick
ness, il made on the Illuminated plan; that is,
| a number of thin plates are bolted together.
This method was the only one We we're equal to
built The fourth Of her large guns is, how
ever, entirely Of American material and make,
and is the pioneer of its class.
Time was not afforded to do any satisfactory
drilling at the battery before going from the
navy yard. but advantage was taken of every
opportunity on the way down to Gardeners
bay, near which the practice was to take place,
to perfect the men and get them accustomed
to their duties in handling the ammunition and
serving the guns. Consequently. there was
frequent sounding to general quarters" which
is always considered as preparatory to taking
fighting stations aboard a man-of-war.
After anchoring over night inside tho light
at the entrance to Gardeners bay the monitor
was got under way and we steamed slowly out
until we could get a good, clear range to sea-
ward.
The first of the 1O-inch guns fired was from
the after turret, in which Lieut. McCracken
was stationed. As this officer had been on duty
in the ordnance bureau at the time when Capt.
Sicard, the commanding officer of the MiantO-
nomoh, its chief, he had had considerable
experience with designing and constructing
the gun nlountings, and the honor OF firing the
first gun was accorded him. The shot weighed
800 pounds and the charge of 1855 pounds was
of brown cocoa powder" 1t was decided to
use IL reduced charge at the start in order to
bring the valves and other fittings gradually
up to the point of full test.
SURPRISED AT THE LITTLE NOISE.
Lieut.. McCracken pressed the electric firing
button, the powder in the gun did the rest. A
feeling somewhat similar to that a boy ex-
periences when one of his Fourth of July
crackers turns out to be n ''mudder" came over
all who were about the decks, and who had
made up their minds that all sorts of things
were going to happen as soon as the gun was
fired. us that all the noise it makes?" said an
old-time, griZziy-haired veteran. why, our
old S-inch muzzle loader could give that one
points. l always did hear that cocoa was sooth-
ing, and perhaps the cocoa in the powder
tempers the blast"
ings that followed this discharge showed that
the recoil gauge worked nicely and only needed
slight adjustment to be perfect. Everything
about the loading trolley, the hydraulic RAM
mer and the other fittings was completely sue
cessful. As result it was decided to fire the
other gun i'll the same turret and then return
to the anchorage for the night, daylight being
almost gone. Accordingly this plan was car
ried out, and the prOjectile. like its predecessor.
was sent skipping over the white caps until
reaching point some two miles away it skur-
ried along for a bit aud then sank out of sight.
The following day was intensely cold and dis
agreeable, and no comfort was to be had on
deck, 30 it was decided not to go out until
the weather moderated. The seas swashed
aboard, and the only thing to do to keep
below and make ourselves comfortable as
possible. The captain and the ordnance ex-
perts busted themselves in the turrets over
hauling everything and setting the recoil
valves for heavier charges, while the crew and
| servants set to work cleaning up the ship as
well as it was possible to do under the circum-
stances
The other days Of the trial were devoted to
firing the remaining guns with reduced charges
and then gradually increasing the charge until
the full service charge reached. Critical
examinations of all parts likely to be affected
were made after each discharge and an ac-
curate record kept.
Up to the close the guns were fred off the
beam, that the full extent of the effect Of
their blast on the deck could not be properly
observed. The last two shots from the after
tur-et we're fired at the same time, the guns
being pointed to fire of the quarter with full
charges OF powder This was really the cru
cial test, as most doleful accounts have from
time 20 time been received from abroad show
ing where vessels had been hoisted with their
own petards. or, in more modern language
had succeeded in breaking down their deck
with their own guns. In our nothing was
done beyond a little smashing OF crockery and
glass below and the starting OF a few
plank butts and the captains hatch canopy on
deck, which, considering the amount OF powder
fired, was thought quite remarkable.
Another feature that underwent successful
| trial was the rapid-ire system of the briggs
Schroeder guns
The orders to join Admiral Gherardis squad
ron in the West Indies and to proceed there
with the Newark as q convoy are by no means
to be considered a reflection upon the sea-
going qualities of this vessel Having q vessel
in company is the outcome of sending the
smaller and less seaworthy monitors to sea dur
ing the civil war, when it was a very wise and
highly necessary precaution. Frequently. how
ever, the monitors weathered gales and arrived
in port ahead of their conveys. Notably was
this the case with the old Dictator, which was
stanch and strong, and IN addition had consid-
cradle speed.