The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-03

gun In the forward turret was ready 20
seconds later. AS soon as the guns In the
after turret were ready red flag was
thrust through hatchway on the top OF
the turret and waved so that the trial
beard officials could see It, At once all
eyes turned TO the first turret. In a few
seconds red flag waved from hatchway
IN that turret. Two minutes later came
the order, "Firep' In 3s seconds from the
time the signal had been fred A member
of the trial board gave the order. Navi-
eating Officer Curtis stopped over his cleo
trio battery, turned a handle swiftly, and
at once tho ship shook under tho mighty
reverberation of the four g2ns.
1t was a terrific shock. Do one can de-
scribe the deep boom of such volley. IL
was like an earthquake to the accompani-
ment of heavy artillery. Every man on
the bridge had stuffed his ears with cot
ton. and this deadened the sharp. cutting
blow on the tympanum Of each car. An
intense gleam of excitement frightened
the eyes of every man, and then oil strain
cd their eyes TO see the splash. The noise
was forgotten at once. About ten seconds
passed, and then. three miles away to tho
east two immense gcyscrs spouted up from
the ocean. They went up to height OF
fully 75 feet and for a second or two SEEM
ed to remain stationary. Then 1t was that
they looked like beautiful icebergs gleam-
ing in the sun. their green sides flashing
with color. Soon they began to melt, and
Just as they were dropping their glowing
forms into the sea two moro geysers sprapg
up half mile beyond They were fully 90
feet tall. They, too, became icebergs and
then as they began To melt two more gey.
| sers, probably 35 feet high, sprang up and
| were transformed to bergs. Then Others,
smaller and smaller, leaped into the air as
the four shots, in pairs went ricocheting
across the waters. The icebergs were gone
now, and the surging foam looked as IL
two pairs Of porpoiSes were leaping In
mad frolic in monster jumps across the
water miles and miles away.
AS soon as tho guns had been fired the
men in and below the turrets swung to
their work again. Me after turret waa
ready for firing as quickly as before, and
the red flag was waved. There was q
slight delay in the forward turrct, but
soon that lag was waved. "Firev' came
the order once more. Mr. Curtis turned
on tho battery, but no response came Ii
was found that the electrical apparatus
was out of order 1t was simply tempo
| TNry tii' NtihO Va WV
timo test was lost for the time being
Soon word came that one Of the guns In
the forward turret was not loaded. One OF
the men had blocked a she'll by being too
anxious 10 ram IL home The rammer was
damaged because il was In the wrong place
at a certain time The result of 1t all was
tho time test Of firing the guns in volleys
had TO be postponed until some later day
favorable 60 the firing. The accident was
in no way the fault Of the pneumatic sys-
tenn. The men in the turrcts were unused
TO the machinery. In few days drilling
they would move 10 their work quickly
and with smoothness The tost therefore
was under the most disadvantageous con
ditions possible. With trained crew there
can be little doubt as TO the final success
of the system and In shorter time than II
required Ivy tho hydraulic system OF hrine
the guns. New York Sun.