The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-13
The YESUYIUS TESTS.
Four Shots with Gun Cotton Fuses
Fail to Explode
AFTER REACHING THE WATER.
But Great Success is Attained with
the Fifth Projectile, which was Used
with Powder Detonator-Great
Accuracy of Line-The Graceful
Flight of the Terrible Proiectiles
Photographed.

photographed.
PoRT Royal, S. C., Feb. l2.-The
Wahneta went down to the lower sound
amid rain and fog yesterday, ltseem-
ed very unlikely that the Vesuvius
could do any firing. The wind began
shifting to the westward, however and
the fog was rapidly blown out to sea.
The official trial board, Captains ST.
card and Barker and Lieutenant Nazro,
left the Philadelphia in steam launch
and boarded the Vesuyius. The latter
Immediately got under way and ran at
slow speed to the southwark until near
ly on line with the range buoys and
the target She was accompanied by
the Wahneta and q steam launch.
AT TIE TARGET.
Tho Philadelphia's new steam cutter,
with Lieutenant Alderman on board,
ran up to the buoy fifteen hundred
yards from the target, and replaced it in
its proper position, whence 1t had been
dragged, probably by some passing oys-
ter boat. Captain Barker then ordered
the Wahneta to take position just of
the line OF fire, opposite the target, to
note the fall and explosion OF the pro-
jectiles.
Az each shell contained only eight
ounces OF guncotton and ten pounds OF
gunpowder there was no danger OF frag-
ments OF the shell flying very far, espe-
cially ii, as expected, the explosions
took place under water. BY the time
the Wahneta was at her post tho Vesu-
vius had turned and headed toward the
target, about two miles from 1t. The
line Of the buoys was southeast to
northwest and the wind was fresh from
the west.
TO PHOTOGRAPH THE FALLS.
Lieutenant Alderman, in the steam
cutter, was closer to the target than
was positively safe, perhaps, ready to
photograph the fall of the shells. To
leeward OF the target was the Wahneta,
with the newspaper men aboard, En-
sign Dodd In command, with orders to
note how far the shells tell beyond or
short OF the target.
Two signal flags were run up at o
quarter past eleven a. IN. on the port
halliards OF the Vesuvius' signal yard
and curving crest OF foam appeared
under her bow. She was running at
moderate speed for the 2,000-yard buoy
and the signal gave US notice that she
was ready to fire. Approaching the
buoy her speed was slackened. The
flags went down on the run, and as the
muzzles OF three tubes came opposite
the blue crossed buoy Flag Lieutenant
Schroeder, in the coming tower, pulled
the firing valve at twenty-eight minutes
past eleven o'clock.
THE FIRST SHOT.
Every eye on the three vessels was
fixed on the great tubes, and as q jet Of
condensed vapor at the muzzle Of the
starboard tube told that the shell had
started on its way there was general
sigh OF relief. There had been no pre-
mature action OF the new fuse in the
gun, and thus far no accident
With its usual beautiful sweep
through the air the long steel sped up
ward and then curved downward toward
I the target, where it struck. A great
splash OF water was made about fifty
yards short, but exactly in line. Then
the shell reappeared on the surface
about fifty yards beyond the target and
ploughed along q few yards before sink-
ing. It was fine shot for accuracy
would have struck ship OF almost any
size, but the fuse evidently failed to ex-
plode the bursting charge.
The result was slgnalled to the Vesu-
vius from the Wahnetta, and the
former dropped back with the tide to be
ready for another shot
THREE MORE FAIL TO EXPLODE.
Tho same routine was followed in
making shot with the middle tube at
twelve minutes to IL o'clock, The shell
fell short only few yards-not exceed
ing fve-directly in line. The splash
hid the target from the observers on
board the Vesuvius, so close did 1t
strike. It did not come to the surface
again, and there was not q sign OF an
explosion.
lue tulEu bllOL was uT6u Nv uNo lulu'
utes past IL from the port tube with q
result exactly similar to that Of the first
shot, except that the shell did not come
again to the top after striking the water.
The fourth shot fred from the star
board tube at ten minutes past one fell
in the same spot as the first and third,
in direct line for the target, but about
fifty yards short. II did not come up
after striking, and while some observers
thought it exploded others failed to SEQ
or hear any evidence OF an explosion.
CHANGING THE DEToNAToR,
Thcn followed long delay, due to
changing tho defamation substance in
the fifth shell. Captain Rapiff and Sow
nrnl Of tho ofIicara held tho belief TINT