The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-21
FIRING TEST OF THE TWELVE
INCH BREECH-LOADING
MORTARS.
THE SHELLS FLY FIVE MILES
HE ALBATRoss BRINGS RARE SPE-
CIMENS FROM THE SEAS
OF THE NORTH.

gratifying to General Graham and Ma jor |
Darling of the Fifth Artillery. The test
Ing of the Pinch rifle recently was re-
garded as great event. The firing of the
breech-loadlng mortars was an event of
equal Importance. 1t is no longer theory
that massive projectiles, attaining height
of two miles in their flight, can be dropped
in the sea 5000 yards-or five miIes-from
the field where the battery is planted. 1t
has been demonstrated by practical tests
that the shells will strike the point desig-
mated on the firing chart. 1t seems hardly
possible, in view of the accuracy attained
in the experimental firing, that hostile
fleet within five miles of Fort Point could
withstand the direct and descending ire
which could be concentrated on it by the
batteries now in position.
-Four of the guns were used in the ex-
detrimental work, and three shots were
fired from each OF the four. There are six
teen Pinch mortars in the battery. and
one gun from each section of four was en-
ployed. Brown prismatic powder was
used, the maximum charge being seventy
six pounds. The shortest range adopted
was 1900 yards and the longest 5000 yards
The shells were not charged with explosive
powder, but filled with sand. The pro-
iectile, three feet in length, weighs 800
pounds. One observer was stationed at
Point Lobos and another on the bluff at
Fort Point. They scanned the otfing
closely with powerful glasses to ascertain
if the sea within the line of firing was clear
of large and small craft. No chance of
hitting a passing vessel was taken. The
flight of the projectile curving through the
air could be traced for some distance from
the point Of firing. 1t is calculated that
the greatest height attained was two miles.
The point of contact with the water was
distinctly seen by the tremendous splash.
In the long range firing the projectiles
were seen quite distance out to sea be-
tween Point LoboS and Point Bonita.
1t is believed that mortar projectile of
this weight-S00 pounds-with the force of
gravity acquired in descent OF two miles,
would pierce the armOred deck Of the
| largest warship ahoat, and penetrate far
into the interior OF the vessel, where the
explosion would probably occur. The
great steel clad vessels now atloat carry
belts of armor along the sides at the water
line, but the decks cannot be armored
against descending projectile, because
the weight of metal 50 far above the water
| would render the vessel topheavy.
Light Battery F, Fifth Artillery, Captain
! Charles Morris, concluded practice firing
at Redwood City last Wednesday, and pro-
ceeded on the march to Santa Cruz and
Monterey. The battery crossed the noun
tains, taking the route via Pescadero.
Rations have been forwarded to Santa
! Cruz from the Preside.
General Forsyth the department COM
mander, and First Lieutenant Bell, A. D.
c., who went to Sequoia Park October IA
to inspect Troop l, Fourth Cavalry, were
expected to return last evening.
The following detail was made for the
general court-martial which convened at
the Preside October II:
Major Tully McCrea, Fifth Artillery.
Captain Frank TnOrp, Fifth Artillery,
Captain Henry j. Reilly Fifth Artillery.
First Lieutenant William II. Coffin, Fifth
Artillery.
First Lieutenant Alexander T. Dean, Fourth
Cavalry.
Second Lieutenant Milton F. Davis, Fourth
Cavalry.
Additional Second Lieutenant Conway II.
Arnold Jr., Fifth Artillery.
Second Lieutenant Samuel Mop. Rutherford
Fourth Cavalry, Judge advocate.
Leave of absence for one month from
October 20, with permission to apply for
an extension of fifteen days, has been
granted Major John a. Darling, Fifth Ar
tillery.
Colonel Amos S. Kimball, chief quarter
MASTER department of California, has gone
to Los Angeles. He will return this week.
The inscription on the monument in
the National Cemetery to the memory of
Fifth Artillery soldiers who persisted in
the tuies has not been removed or defaced
Accounts recently published to the effect
that the sentinels on night duty had fired
at men prowling in the bushes near the
cemetery are not verified at the Presidio.
Firing at night on real or imaginary forms
would be reported by the officer of the dav
to General Graham. Still, if a person adj
vanclng to the monument in the darkness
should refuse to halt when challenged
| three times or attempt to run away after
| the challenge, the sentinel would fire The
| guards on duty at the monument carry
loaded pieces.
The United States ship Ranger, Comman.
| der Il. w. Watson, arrived in port last
Saturday. The Ranger has been on duty
along .the Mexican and South American
coast Tor the last ten months and her Off
GERS and men were glad to reach San Fran
cisco. The Ranger is sister ship of the
Alert and is not wooden vessel, as many
suppose, but one of the first iron ships con-
| structed by the Government. She carries
touT guns and has crew of 1913 men.
Inc Marion at last accounts was at San
Dlego. She viii guard American interests
| at points further south during her cruise.
| Mare Island Letter.
| MAKE ISLAND, CAL, Oct. 19-The
] event OF the week is the arrival from the
North OF the Fish Commission steamer
Albatross, leutenant-Commander Frank
lin J. Drake commanding.
On glancIng, as visitors usually do, at
the specimens of animate and inanimate
nature procured from the bed of the sea
and mounted or otherwise preserved in
cases and cabinets, civilians who visit the
MISUNDERSTANDING if they catch
| glimpse of the captains coy cabin-gener-
ally suppose the cruise to have been de-
cidedly IN the nature of pleasure excur-
sion. 1t is, however, for the officers of the
ship. as well as for the commission. a
period OF earnest work-to the command
ing officer one of considerable mental
strain.
The special work of the Fish Commission
is conducted by a fishery expert and
| naturalist, detailed by the department for
that duty. But the work OF the ships
| officers is varied and constant. In addition
| to the care and navigation OF the vessel
| and the administration of the affairs of the
little community on board, it consists in
| part of photographic soundings, which in
clude the observation of ocean currents,
| records of temperature and water densi-
ties, the conformation of the bed of