The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-04
ANOTHER TEST
OF the Vesuvins' Dynamite Guns-Prepar-
ing for Target Practice.

WI AAR " - AZ ANNAA
ing for Target Practice.
PoRT ROYAL, s. O., Feb, S,-But twelve
of the t~wenty.four shots that were
owed to the government yesterday by
the three guns OF the Vesuvlus had
been paid to-day when the signal was
made to cease firing The debt was
to be paid before alghtiall, and, there
fore, at 1880 q. IN. Capt, Schroeder was
requested to place q shot at q distance
OF one thousand yarda Aa no was pre-
pairing the starboard gun for its crucial
test, Commodore Sicard and Capt Bar
ker jumped into q launch and steamed
down the extreme limit OF the range,
about fifty yards from the spot where
Capt Schroeder said the shell should
fall.
The boat was anchored and the sig-
nal made to commence firing. A line
passing through the axis OF the bore OF
the gun about to launch q 500.pound
aerial torpedo would have bisected the
steam launch. AS these projectiles
have been hurled each time with no
"peTceptible lateral deviation, the posi-
tion Of Commodore siCard's boat showed
that he had the courage OF his convic-
lions, and incidentally it was q delicate
compliment OF a gunnery expert to the
Judgment OF one oil the Rblest young
officers in the navy. When Captain
Schroeder saw that the commodore did
not intend to bulge an inch, a smile OF
satisfaction passed over his face.
Are you ready with your pres
suresP" said he to Lieut.. Dombaugh, as
the latter entered the armored coming
tower and seized the lever OF the star
board gun.
IAN ready, sir, and the valves set"
was the response from the gun-room.
Again the little Vesuvius shivered from
stem to stern. Again flew q 600-pound
shot straight as an arrow.
Excellent line, q trile short"
shouted an observer, as the great mass
OF steel plunged into the river almost
on the l,00O.yard line. A second shot
at the same range fell within seven
yards OF the first. Then the signal came
10 fire ut 500 yards. Another sharp,
cracking report and q shot speeds
through the air, but not with the same
velocity. To the surprise OF officers and
spectators it falls about 100 yards ahead
OF the Vesuvius. Then the old reliable
port gun is tried, but no shot shows
even its head beyond the muzale.
The two failures seemed to have little
effect upon the members OF the board,
Tor they doubtless recall the fact that
the mission OF a vessel OF the Vesuvius
typewould beto keep the enemy atarm's
length. The superior speed would even
allow her to select thetighting distance,
and 1t is more than probable that she
would always fight ab her maximum
range OF efficiency, viz, 2,100 yards.
A dynamite boat as small as the
the VesuVius would scarcely live more
than a few minutes within five hundred
yards Of the fusilade that would be
poured down upon her from tho rapid
fire guns Of a battle.ship's secondary
battery. For this reason tho wisdom Of
attempting to develop the pneumatic
gun for ranges that would never be
used in actual warfare is questioned,
since it has already proved its marvel
lous accuracy at the ordinary fighting
distance. 1t may be assumed as an
axiom that a dynamite boat will always
seek to throw the explosive material as
far away from her own decks as she can.
At 4 o'clock two extra shots were
ired-one at two thousand and the 9th
or at fifteen hundred yards. They were
for the purpose,ot giving Ensign A. A.
Alderman q snap shot at the projectiles
during fight. This officer had also fear
lessly moved his boat into the line Of
fire and only a few yards from the
range limit. One popularity OF the
shells noticed to-day was the changing
Of the center Of gravity during flight in
such q way that the ~projectiles after
impact wiggled around in the water and
then skipped along the surface for some
distance-a most valuable result when
the torpedo effect is desired.
Tomorrow the Vesuvius will anchor
down in the lower hRrbor and prepare
for the target practice, steaming at a
speed OF fifteen knots, II will probably
take place in the afternoon. The shells
loaded with high explosive will not be
fred until next week.