The morning call., 1893-06-02

would stock smalLsized store. The firing
was with shells weighing 800 pounds. b.
| hind this was bag containing 100 pounds
! of Mammoth powder. The shells were
! loaded with sand to bring them to the
proper weight. The bay contains so many
craft of all sorts that it would be toe
! dangerous to have the shells explode
/ When the targets are outside the heads.
tile explosive shells are used.
/ At half past 10 o'clock the S-inch ri fled
cannOns of Batteries X and at the 7 re-
sidio began to answer the shots from
! AlratraZ.
They used only thirty-fve pounds Of
powder, but their prnjectileS weighed Isl
pounds. The Preside soldiers were firing
at a target.
The target was a raft consisting Of two
big logs, on which was stretched big piece
OF white canvas. The canvas was not used
as target. but merely to indicate the posi-
tion of the logs.
The guns used Yesterday at the Pres ldir
were originally 10-iuch smooth bore. They
have been rebored and are now S-.ncl
rlfled cannons. The pieces had not been
| fired for long time. In consequence the
men were little rusty in their drill. This
resulted in rather serious accident.
The guns are fired by an electric spark
instead OF by the old-time friction primer
When the loading was finished Corporal
Pierson of K Battery. Fifth Artillery,
sighted the gun. He as still on the car
rlage, with one foot on the great gun, hen
word was given to the electrician TO fire.
at that Instant there came a thunderOus
report, and the ten tons of metal leaped
back like thing Of life. PieTson was
dashed violently distance of several feel,
striking portion of the carriage as b.
fell. There were no bones broken. but it
Is feared he has received an injury to the
spine.
The first gun was aimed a trife low
The she'll first struck the water eighty
yards short and it then rcochetted across
the bay. Each time 1t struck mass If
spray arose. Before it sa nix the projectile
had travelled several miles.
Immediately after the discharge the six
men composing the gun crew were all
activity. The cannon was brought back
on its carriage. Gunners 1 and 2 leaped
upon the parapet and began preparing the
gun for Its new load with the swabs and
hammers handed them by gunner 3. Gun
ner carried the bag containing the
powder from the magazine and gunners 5
and brought out the 157-pound shell.
The powder was rammed home and then
the she'll was tamped into place. By raising
lever the cannon was moved automati-
cally into position.
Then the canoneers sprang from the
parapet into position at the side of their
gun and the sergeant aimed II for the next
smut i lie COIpOIDl uSualiy dCLS as gunner,
but all the men are trained in the art OF
properly sighting the gun.
Inc gun was properly adjusted with
great care. Then came the command,
Fire, and the shell went singing through
the air. An instant later and the raft.
drenched in spray. was rocking violently
The shot was good one and fell within
seven yards of the target.
Before noon the target got adrift. It
f1oated IN till it was just beyond Rarbor
View. Then the firing had to cease. A
tugboat returned the raft to its place. ana
in the afternoon the firing was continued
till 2:45 o'clock.
this month. To-day there will be firing
from the 8-inch guns. Saturday and Sun
| day arc holidays on the reservation.
There will be no practice on those days,
but 1t Will recommence Monday morning q.
The 15.inch guns will not be used for te n
days There are eleven of these mounted
on the latest model carriages that absorb
great deal of the recoil. There are four
batteries of the S.inch guns, with two
guns In each battery. The general orders
are that there shall be used twenty-four
rounds with each gun eight inches in diam
eter and over. At the Preside twenty
rounds are used in the gun and -four
rounds are reserved for practice with the
mortars.
In firing with the heavy guns the target
is the center of an Imaginary square.
measuring 100 yards on each side. The
bay is plated off into such squares on a
map. Two parties of officers are situated
on the hills armed with proper instruments.
From their lofty positions they get the
proper angles Of the line of the projectile
and some well-known objects. These an.
! giles are telephoned to officers at the guns,
who are thus enabled to mark on the man
the exact spot on which the shot fell.
A record is then made that shows the
elevation and angle OF The gun. the force
and direction of the wind and the spot on
which the shot fell. In this way data was
obtained. so that by fewlmoments' study
the gunners would know the exact angle
at which the gun should be put to drop a
5OO-pound shell on certain spot. This
! knowledge would enable battery Ia
make it extremely warm for hostile war.
! ship entering the harbor.
1t will not be long before the bat.
terry OF sixteen twelve-nch mortars will
be III position for service. Men are
now at work preparing the embark.
ments for their reception on Preside Hill
Most of the guns are at Benicia now. Tht
mortars carry q projectiie weighing 81.
pounds, and will be great addition 10 on,
harbor defenses.