The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-02
BOMBS OF THE VESUVIUS.
PECULIAR ECCEN TRICITIES DE-
VELOPED BY PROJECTILES.

One of the Bombs Emerges From the
Water Almost Immediately After
submersion, Rises in an Almost Per-
pendicular Line and Drifts Decidedly
to the Left-The Other Shot Rico
chetted Only Slightly.
PoRT ROYAL, S. C.. Feb THE expert
mental practioing with the pneumatic guns
Of the Vosuvius was resumed this morning
and continued throughout the day. Four
teen projectiles we're discharged. With the
exception of the two final shots, ranged for
1900 yards. shorter range lines were aimed
at; six shots at 1000 yards and
the other six at 500 yards.
Tho practically complete accuracy which
| characterized yesterdays firing was main
tanned to-day during the l,000-yard tests.
but the results in the 500-yard experiments
we're not so satisfactory. The explanation
given by the officers OF tho eooeutricities
developed in the flight of the 500-yard shells
Is that the guns bave not been practlced
enough at short distances TO establish the
curve lines well. Two OF the I,000-yard
| shots ricoohetted, one slightly and one in q
peculiar manner. This shell emerged from
the water almost Immediately after sub
perpendicular line and drifted de-
cidedly to the left. The causes
producing such an exceptional performances
are, of course, not known with absolute
| certainty, but the impression is that the ex3
| ceptional course OF this projectile was the
result of the displacement OF the bar Of iron
which takes the place in the dummies" OF
| 200 pounds Of guncotton in live shells. This
solution is entirely logical.
TIRE SHORT RANGE
The first shell, ranged for 500 yards and
| fired from the port gun, fell over 800 yards
\ shore of the mark, and later the same gun
failed upon two successive attempts TO dis
charge its projectiles. This has occurred
once before in the history Of guns. None
| of these seeming failures are considered at
| oil serious by naval officers. They are all
attributed to lack Of practical tests
At the request of the board a shot was
| fired at the minimum range the huge pro-
/ lectile just diving over the bow OF ths
boat, missing the railing by less than q
yard
Lieut. Alderman has secured materials
for photographs Of all the shots.
LIEUTENANT's CONFIDENCE.
No greater proof could be given Of the
absolute confidence which has been created
in the accuracy OF the pneumatic guns than
/ the fact that while the last two shots were
| being fired, Lieut.. Ackermann stationed
| his boat scarcely more than fifty yards
| beyond the 2, 2,0O0-yards line at which they
were aimed aud took photographs OF each
projeotile. To-day's work ends the practice
in the upper harbor.
| The Vesuvius will tomorrow move down
below Bay Point and anchor near the Phil~
adelphia.
1t is scarcely TO be expected that the
buoys will be in place in time to enable the
tests TO reoommence before Friday morn~
ing next. The experiments TO be made are
with dummy" shells fired at stationary
targets while the VesuVius is moving at a
| l0-knot speed. Under these circumstances
| 1t is scarcely probable that the firing OF
loaded projectiles will begin before nex5
| week.
The tug Wahnetta, dispatched from Nor
folk with fuses for the projectiles, has non
yet arrived, but is expected at Port Royal
| tomorrow.
With the exception of the officers of tho
board, who for obvious reasons keep theiS
opinions to themselves, there is not an officer
In the upper or lower Port Royal harbor
who is not outspoken in his championship
! OF the wonderful pneumatic guns. One Of
| the gentlemen who has witnessed every
test so far made, declared this afternoon
that he did not believe there was a vessel
ahoat that would have scarcely a fighting
chance in an engagement With the Vesuvius-