The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-05
BIC HARBOR DEFENDERS,
Rapid Handling Test of Three
Pneumatic Dynamite
Guns.
Projectiles to Be Fired To.Day-Annual
Inspection in Progress at the
Preside.

The three long-barreled dynamite-throw
ing sentinels of the Golden Gate were off,
ciaIly tested yesterday as to rapidity of
movement and adjustment by means of
compressed air, which is also the power
used for the dangerous projectiles to be
sent far out into the ocean from the muz-
Zles of these 15-lnch pneumatic torpedo
guns.
At distance the new guns, with their
unusually long barrels directed upward at
an angle of over 80 degrees, look like the
old-fashioned fowling pieces on exhibition
in museums, but on closer inspection the
great cannon, balanced and nicely ad justed
in big circular pits formed of solid con-
crete, present every appearance OF belong
ing to a modern age OF mammoth destruc-
tive machines for long-range warfare.
They look grim and imposing on their
commanding site high above the water
and a half mile back from Fort Point;
and yesterdays successful tests showed
how readily they can be turned and tilted
so as to command the ocean approaches to
the harbor and the bay itself. a man
standing on the gun mount has only to
touch little lever to direct the movements
of the tifty-foot steel barrel and the COM
pressed air, communicated through under
ground pipes from the engine house 100
feet to the rear. acts noiselessly upon the
well-ad justed mechanism, and the muZzle
swings slowly through great circle as it
sweeps around over the hilltop.
The tests showed that complete revolu-
ton can be made in one minute and
twenty-three seconds, and that the barrel
can be tilted from the horizontal to its
greatest angle of 81 degrees in eleven
seconds. But when compressed air was
dispensed with and hand cranks adjusted
nine men working with might and main
and constantly relieved by relays, got the
mass of steel throush a revolution in
eleven minutes and twelve seconds. The
lowering and raising of the muzzle was
accomplished by man-power in forty-nine
and forty-four seconds respectively.
No proiectiies were fired yesterday.
They will be fired at to-day's test, begin
ming about IL o'clock and continuing
through the early part of the afternoon.
Forty-eight rounds of simple blasts of
air were fired in one hour yesterday from
the three guns, using them alternately,
and that was the maximum requirement.
for speed. Then twenty rounds were fired
as rapidly as possible ana it took just
eight and half minutes.
b. c.. Batcheller, representing the Pneu-
matte Torpedo Construction Company, is
in charge of the guns during the tests.
The examining board consists of Lieuten-
dlI-OOIOIlSl OdUDlI VI Tic DeHlCld <iIScudi.
Major Heuer of the engineers, and Lieu
tenant Lassak of the Benicia Arsenal.
The projectiles to be fired to-day will be
dummies.
Annual inspection is in progress at the
Preside. Yesterday morning Inspector
General 6. III. Burton made an inspection OF
the barracks, including one of the new
brick buildings, only recently occupied
by two batteries.
In the afternoon light batteries and F
were out on the parade grounds in heavy
marching order for review by the inspec-
Tor and they were put through various
movements as battalion and then as in
dividual batteries. There was a terrific
rattle of the heavy wheeled gun carriages
as they whirled and formed in accurate
line with the four-horse teams on the run
and the men sitting bolt upright and hold
ing tenaciously on to the springless affairs.
Tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock there
will be concert at the Preside and in the
afternoon at 2:30 O'Clock the cavalry will
turn out for inspection and to be put
through all the spectacular manenvers to
which Uncle Sam s troopers are trained.