The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-02
THE PNEUMATIC GUNS.
EXPERIMENTAL PRACTICING WITH
THE vEsUVIUs CONTINUED.
Omcers Outspoken in Their Championship
of the Wonderful Guns-Horse
Power of tho Monterey.

PORT ROYAL, 8. c., Feb. 1.-The ex-
detrimental practicing with the pneumatic
guns OF the Vesuvius was resumed this
morning ard continued throughout the
day. Fourteen projectiles were dis
charged. With the exception OF two final
shots ranged for 1000 yards, shorter range
lines were aimed at: six shots at l,VOo
Yards. and the other six at 800 yards
The practically complete accuracy when
characterized yesterdays firing was main
tanned to-day during the 1000 yard tests
but the results in the 500 yard expert
ments were not so satisfactory. The ex-
planaticn given by the officers OF the
eccsntricities developed in the flight OF
500 yard shells Is that the guns have not
been practiced enough at short distances
TO establish curve lines well. Two OF
the 1000 yard shots ricochetted, one
slightly and one in peculiar manner
This shell emerged from the water almost
Immediately after suomersion. IL rose
I'm an almost perpendicular line ana
drifted decidedly to the left. The causes
producing such an exceptional perform
ance are, of course, not known with an
soute certainty, but the impression Is
that the exceptional course of this pro-
jectile was the result Of displacement
OF the bar of iron, which takes the place
in the dummies" Of 200 pounds Of gun
cotton I'm live shells. This solution Is
entirely logical. The first shell ranged
for 500 yards and fired from the port
gun fell over 300 yards short of the mark,
and later the same gun failed upon two
successive attempts to discharge It's pro-
iectile This has occurred once before IN
the history Of the guns. None OF these
failures are considered at all serious by
the naval officers They are all attributed
to lack Of practical tests.
At the request OF the board, shot was
fired at the minimum range; the huge
projectile Just diving over the bow OF the
boat, missing the railing by less than
ward. Lieutenant Ackermann has sew
cral materials for photographs OF all the
shots. No greater proof could be given
Of the absolute confidence which has been
created I'm the accuracy of the pneumatic
guns than the fact that while the last
two shots were being fired Lieutenant
Ackermann stationed his boat scarcely
more than fifty yards beyond the 1000
ward line at which they were aimed. ana
took photographs Of each projectile. To-
DAVIS work ends the practice In the upper
harbor. The Vesuvius Will tomorrow
move down below Bay Point and an
Choir near the Philadelphia. It IS scarcely
expected the buoys will be in place IN
time to cradle the tests to recomnence
before Friday morning. Tho next ex-
periments to be made are with the
Dummy" shells fired at a stationary
target while the Vesuvius IS moving at
a ten-knot speed. Under these circum-
stances 1t is scarcely probable that the
firing Of the loaded projectiies viii begin
before next week. The tug "Wahnetta'
dispatched from Norfolk with the fuses
for the prejectiles, has not arrived but
is expected at Port Royal tomorrow
With the exception OF the officers or the
board. who. for obvious reasons, keep
their opinions TO themselves, there Is
not an officer in upper or lower Port
ROYAL III rbor who is not outspoken IN ms
championship of the wonderful pneumatic
guns. one Of the gentlemen, VINO mas
witnessed every test so far made ue-
clared this afternoon that he did not be
lleve there was vessels aaoat that would
have scarcely a fighting chance IN an
engagement with the Vcsuyius.