The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-02

set 2700 yards away. During the whole day,
at intervals. citizens had a chance to spec
ulate on the explosions which were heard
throughout the city. Many people thought
it was blasting, but those who have heard
it before easily recognized the sound oil
the big guns. Hundreds of people were
attracted to the Preside and watched the
firing all day long. The practice was un-
der the supervision OF Major Darling, and
batteries L. Z and H took part. 1t was
concluded about o'clock. Captain
Roberts commanded battery L. Captain
Reilly battery K, and Lieutenant Coffin
battery II.
The general average of the firing was ex-
cellent and showed a decided advance
over last year. The guns were served ex-
peditious ~, and the only delay that occur
red was when some steamer or wind-jam-
mer got within range, and the gunners had
to wait until they passed to safety.
1t was an inspiring and ear-splitting
sight when the great rifles belched forth
their vo lumes OF fame and smoke and
sent a piece of iron of several hundred
weight hurting and whizEing through the
air, to fall in most instances within few
feet OF the mark. After striking the water
and sending up an immense squirt of white
spray the unsubdued shot would ricochet
mile further ana then jump again, to
settle at last out of sight amid its last
surge of foam. On such occasions the
warriors followed the course of the shot
through their field glasses, while the
civilians were content to watch the black
speck sailing through the air from over
shaded eyes. When a shot struck, the
disciplined soldiers did not say "Ohp' but
the civilians did. and it was a prolonged,
emphatic "OhV that came from the
breast or the boots. and was repeated with
an infinity of variations at every rlcochet
of the iron messenger.
When the big steamer passed out to sea,
or the black-sailed bay schooner made a
leg across the line of sight, it seemed a
pity that 1t was impossible to take hot
at such mark. In fact. If some sheer
hulk could be moored off the Preside and
shot pumped at her from the S-inch bat
terry the result would be very effective and
add to the enthusiasm of the occasion. In
lieu Of that, however, the artillerymen
will continue to pot at an imaginary hull
stretching hundred feet either way from
the triangular piece of canvas, or twenty
feet above II.
1t is quite job firing one of these heavy
guns-that is, to a civilian. 1t is. how
ever, quite easy to understand. A disni-
fed-looking gentleman yesterday wanted
to understand it quite bad. and suggested
10 corporal standing by, That's quite a
Job. isn't it?"
The warrior surveyed him in silence for
a moment. We'll, it seems so to you,"
said he, cheerfully. "but it's nothing to
us; the simplest thing in the world"
us that so? How is it done?" inquired
the man who with all bis getting wanted
to get understanding.
why. yer see. we've got wind-gauge
on that parapet that's a thermometer. what
tells you how the wind blows. You have
a transit and take your azimuths, the cleo
trio thing is touched and off she goes.
Why. it's quite easy"
There's no doubt OF it," remarked the
seeker after knowledge, admiringly. Then
he added: why doesn't the gunner
stand on the platform when the gun goes
off ?"
WELL" replied the corporal. there's a
general order forbidding 1t. One man did
stand there last years practice when one
of them things went off,
Indeed, what was the result?"
"Oh, nothing much. He was picked up
thirty yards away, just in that clump of
evergreens. We had to carry him ou,, and
he was in the hospital for weeks. When
he got able to speak he SAID that
Bangl Crashl Whizzl What the I'M