New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-20
THE INDIANA.

one Of allowing her men to have some shore
leave and at the same time have her decks
calked and some minor alterations made In her
battery equipment and her machinery.
Incidental to the trip vas series OF expert
nents made under the direction Of the so-called
Walker Board, composed OF Rear Admiral John
G. Walker. chairman: Commodore Robert l.
Fhythlan. Captain George c. Ren.,y and CHIEF
Enginee, Edward Farmer. with Lieutenant Sid
ney A. Staunt IN, secretary. The Board Is act
Ing under orders from the Secretary OF the
Navy to thoroughly examine into the question
Of the mounting Of the main battery OF the
Indiana, and the advisabty OF changing the
method OF arranging the turrets on the new
battle ships. the Kearsarge and Kentucky. from
the present system The appointing Of this
Board was caused IVY the long ann sometimes
acrid discussion between the Bureau OF ord
rance and Construction and Repair over the
proposition to build the new ships with the
turrets for the olght-iuch guns on top OF the
turrets for the thirteen-inch rifles. The objec-
ton has been raised that the new plan would
endanger the lives OF the officers and men in the
lower and larger turrets when the guns above
them were discharged, through the force Of
the blast.
On the trip from Hampton Roads the eight
inch guns of the Indiana were discharged sngy
and in pairs. loaded with a full service charge
and trained directly aft over the hood OF the
,birteen-inch turret Lieutenan; Her ierson
was in the hood II the larger turret whi,h has
a projection above the walls pierced with sits
through which the officer who IS hghting the big
guns can see where they should be trained The
conclusion Of the discharge OF the smaller guns
was felt by the Lieutenant. bat no serious results
were noted. and the general opinion was mat
there would be no loss OF life caused by the blast
in case the turrets were superimposei. The
guns were fired at intervals as shor; as half a
minute and the results OF the experiment were
highly satisfactory to all hands concerned.
Lieutenant Commander swift the executive
officer OF the Indiana. in speaking OF the action
OF the vessel. did not stint his praise OF the
shin and remarked that she was the best snip
afoat in the Navy, far as stcadiness In "A
seaway and superior fighting ability were con-
ccrned. gale encountered on the UP iio
port ROYAL to Norfolk. which caused other YES
sels to heave to. was met by the big rhlp win
no diminution OF speed. and her roll In heavy
sea was not only remarkably small. but easy
and smooth AS a gun PLATFORM. ne uiu i'o'
believe she had her superior aiioat.
The members OF the Board. with the exception
Of ileutenan, Staunton left the ship as soon as
she Lad anchored. and. coming to the clty' TOOK
the first train for Washington Lieutenant
stanton who is assigned TO duty as secretary
OF the Board which VIII superlh'enn .nc sPu 90
trial of the Massachusetts this week startcu ioi
pns,on as the trials will be made over the
Cape Ann course. ,, o.ts,s .,
,onr thirteen-nch breech-loadlng iines mounted
In nairs in turre.s fore and aft; eight elgh'-ihcn
rIers also mounted In pairs la four tufI!s, anu
four eIv-inch rifles. Her secondary battery IN
c,udos twenty six-pounder rapid-hre guns SIX
nanounders and -four Gatlings. The snip ls
90 ,ae, long GO feet beam and "a feet draught Her
disnlocenent Is 10 200 tons. and her engines WIN
on Indicated horsepower Of 5000. are calcuatru
IN give her speed OF fifteen knots an hour' "%nVn %
vas exceeded on hcl trial trip She was pua'' u
Inv the Cramps at a contract price OF s''VSo,ovo,
The officers are: Captain Robiey H. Vans ~EvhIs.
commanding: Lieutenant Commander Winah
Swifi executive officer; Licutcnants ,: T. Nohh-
~ I e Fremont H. II. IIosley. X Hendersoh
and T. s Chaplin Ensigns ID. C. Decker anu
n p Jackson. chief Engineer Peter a; hea,iek'
paa.ed Assistant Engineers ii. Han ana a.
NcAIlister Assistant Engineer D. H. biady'
pavmaster H. c. Colby. Surgeon George i.
pr die Passed Assistant Surgeon r.. r. Hto'ic,
ca carries a crew of f3s men, including ov
,ar,nes the latter body OF men being on poaru
the shin against the expressed desire or her
cantaIn that there be no marines assigned 20
h,a vassel his belief being that the 'neinpers VI
% .ho crew can be counted on TO do all thc u"ty
nmu, performed by the marines without Impair
ing their efficiency as senmen' . ~. Noyy
The Indiana is expected to go 10 the navy
vard in Brooklyn to-day.