Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-21
EXPERTS EXCITED
The Big Thirteen-Inch Gun to Be
Tested Today.
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS GO DOWN
Indian Head a Central Point 70,
All Ordnance Experts.
n OF A B ES ON HAND
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS GO DOWN
N OF A B L ES ON HAND

scented with saltpeter and sulphur and
crashing with the thunderbolts OF man.
IL Is to be an event Of vital moment 70
the navy. Of general import to the nation,
ana OF incidental interest to the world IL
Is to be the test at Indian Head of assured-
iy the biggest and presumably the greatest
gun ever built In the new world It's CAM
Der approaches, and IL is believed. its en-
cheney eclipses that Of the heaviest rff,ss
of Europe
In II are crystslized and nodded the
'nousht-gems OF the gunnery genius Of two
worlds and of all the ages
1t represents years of study I'm ORIGINAL
loea ana adopted example. and its conduct
today will either requite the love and labor
or blight the hopes OF those who have
brought 1t into being
The triumph of this gun viii be the trt-
ulnph OF American pluck. power and pa
hand and hustle
About twelve rounds will be fired. ana thu
Nai9e OF the ammunition for each round
will be about $500. Five hundred ana fS,y
pounds OF powder viii be burned ana I Ies,
pounds OF metal hurled at each DISCHARGE
Inc velocity, the trajectory the recotl
ana an those things about which Nimrods
measured. WIN
The shock is to be a shaker
ne voice of the gun will roll and rumble
explosion will almost split the tymnsnnm
OF oid Jove and plug hole clean through
eternity. The projectiles perhaps NAV
pioueh meteoric paths and cometic fur
rows through the realms of space and
wreck the battlements of the sun. Experts
ompute that the range OF the weapon win
be thirteen miles.
Everybody Excited.
Today has been looked forward TO by
the sages and Solons Of ordnance for more
moons than shine on Saturn. They have
thought OF IL as a day which Mars and
Clio would register in vermiilion letters
or the diary of time
Even the sun came across the yernal
equinox yesterday, the better TO get n
lcok at the event but he missed connec-
ton and failed to show.
III the great gun is to be a minister NJ
peace the day should have como with a
sunny smile, but If IL is 20 be an engine OF
war the day is appropriately dark ana
gloomy.
The day came this morning with a
frown, more like those days told OF In
weather maps than in Colonization tracts
The morning was raw. wet ami misty and
the sun failed to kiss away these ctjec-
tions and flood creation with 2 sparkle OF
golden rays.
Preparing for Departur~.
By eight bells the navy yard was bo.s-
ferrous with sounds of preparation for de-
parture. The dispatch boat Dolphin the
ordnance tug Triton and the torpedo boat
Gushing. which were the craft chosen to
convey navy officials and guests 20 the
proving grounds at Indian Head had been
holy-stoned. skwejeened ard otherwise
made ready for their duty
The guests began to muster soon After
the call for colors.
The marine guard began TO don its white
gloves and helmets and the tars were pol
ished up to a pitch OF intense lustcr The
Marine Bandsmen came early and their
scarlet coats looked like patches OF red
bloom in a foliage of blue.
A good deal of light was lent to the oc-
casion by the glitter Of gold lace and the
clangor of clanking swords chimed I'm well
with the music Of the band and bugiers.
II was gay scene. Carriage loads Of
guests ratified through the arched entrance
of the yard. down Dahlgren avenue and
across the graveled plaza 20 the dock. with
grating roll Mr.. William Howell pri-
vate secretary TO Assistant Secretary Nc
Adoo stood at the land side Of the gang
way of the Dolphin and welcomed the ar.
rivals
Notables Arrive.
At 7:3o telephone message was received
from Vice President Stevenson stating that
he would be down. rain or shine. The ma
rine guard was aligned at the main en-
trance and presented arms as the notables
passed.
At s:45 O'Clock the Secretary ard party
reached the dock amid the boom OF salu;-
ing cannon. The excitement around the
gangway was lively, and the officers had
their hands full in handling the crowds.
AT o'clock the lines were cast on. ana
the Dolphin swung out into the stream.
Some Guests.
Among the guests were Representative
F. c. Tate. F. J. Randolph. Representa-
tive George F. Richardson. Representative
W. NJ. Bowers Senator II. c. Maade-son.
Senator George L. Shoup. Representative
A. B. Hart, Representative w-u. Baker.
Representative A. c. Latimer. Arthur Bu-
chanan, NJ. Il. Wright. Representative c.
w. Gillette. Representative G. r Dollivef.
Mr. James Baker. Mr.. E. j. Gibson, G. A
Swanson, Mr.. H. c. Boen, Represcntarvs
w X. Denison. Mr. Dent Rsprrsenta-
lings Representative John Doris. senator
c. II. Morgan, Representative J. E. Rey-
burn. Representative A c. Hopkins. Rep
resentative s. r. Thayer. Mr.. b. Micou.
Mr.. James sEnglish. Mr. =. j. Hardesty.
Gen. Breckinridge, Representative J. y.
Epes Mr.. VIM. Garry Sawyer. Representa-
Marvin. Representative Joseph Antonio.
Representative J. L. Rawlfns, Commander
r. w. Reed, Representative ]. IL Hunter.
Senator George ID. Perkins. DIR. J. r. I.
Hardesty, Representative A L Hager. y.
c. Rowland. Representative c. n Randall.
Representative NJ MCGUIRE L. ". Bennett
Representative T. J. Henderson, Reprcsen.
tative J. A. ID. Richards Mr. L. A. Shower
Representative J. III. Hopkins. senator G.
II. Gibson, Representatives A. H. Dens-
more II. ID. Morey L. Pence. J. A Pickler.
A. u. De Almond, A. A. Adee. r. Nell.
w. A. Stone. Z. T. Chamberlain, T.. T.
Griff1n,G. ID. Michlejohn. II. r. Thomas.
b. F. Richie. Mr.. f. J. DunneIl. Represen-
tatives Thomas ID. English A Mcdowell
James II. Eckles o. NJ. Hail. A North
way, Thomas w. Philips II. s. Post. W.
L. Curtis. Mr.. s. J. Pickett, Mr.. J: VI.
Carson, Representatives N. T. Baldwin.
T J. Hodson. Mr. OBrien Wood. Repre-
sentatives John s williams ID. +. Flynn,
c Broderick Representative A. c. Dur
borrow. Representative f. c. Wall. Senator
VIM. F. Villas. Capt +. l. Berry, senator
Eugene Hale. Messrs. George Howe. ].
p Pigott. Baum, c. B. Morton, J. c.
Kyle Representative J. Fred Talbot. Capt
r. " Constance, Representative s. q.
Schrrmer Mr.. Monroe Hopkins. Represen-
tatives James Capehart, ID. y. Donovan,
Claud NJ. johnson, Mr.. George +. Hawkins,
REPRESENTATIVES +. j. Runphy, Cadmu4
G. A Robins Silas Adams and John w.
Maddox.
THE TESTS COMMENCED.