The San Francisco call., 1896-02-17

which has long occupied an ornamental
position near the Presidio flagstaff. On
the first occasion that Captain Reid used
the gun. the projectile which was .calcu-
late &, according to the army regulations
and the logic of the ordnance officers to
lodge in a sand bank, after it ad passed
through two wire nettings erected to test
velocity, did ricochet from the soft sand
bank, MADE graceful flight over brush
crowned hill, descend into the National
Cemetery and knock over headstone.
Thereupon General Graham directed
that future experiments should be made
on the water front of the Presidio, and
knowing the gun, cautioned the gunners
against shooting while any floating craft
in the bay was IN tine line of fire or any
way near it.
Every thing being arranged the old Ma
poleon was taken down to the beach and
the muzzle pointed toward Marin County
At the first fire the projectile went all
right, but the Napoeonic exhibition was
made in the rear. The gun kicked, broke
the trout, dismounted in the sand. Inquiry
disclosed the fact that the ordinary charge
of two pounds and a half of powder was
used, but that Captain Reid's new-fangled
prejectile weighed forty pounds, whereas
the ordinary prejectile weighs only twelve
pounds. The company which Captain
Reid represents must repair the damage
before further experiments can be made.
The board of army officers, which was
recently appointed by General Forsyth to
examine the forest area of the Presidio
reservation, with view of ascertaining
whether there should be extension of the
forests. has forwarded a report to Washing
ton. The chairman OF the board is Colo
mel S. 3. NJ. Young, Fourth Cavalry. 1t
Is believed that the recommendation of
the board is to the effect that the forest
area is already large enough. The Pre-
Il. E~.oA
land, and much Of that space is already
covered with young trees. In some places
the growth is so dense that one can hardly
walk through the woods. Space must be
kept open on the reservation for field
maneuvering of the troops and if the War
Department policy OF concentration is
fully developed the force of soldiers at
the Presidio will be largely increased.
The nomination of Colonel j. ]. Cop
pinger to be rigadier-general, which was
suspended for so long time in the Sem
ate, was finally confirmed a few days since.
Senators Burrows. Gear, Perkins, Teller,
Pettigrew, Squire and Wilson made
speeches in opposition to the nomination.
urging principally the delay of the general
in becoming citizen of the United States
and critieising the President in passing
over SO many senior officers in selecting
him. The vote of confirmation was de-
cisive, as A Senators voted atfirma ativey
and only II in the negative.
Lieutenant r. McA. Schofield of the
Fourth Cavalry recently appeared before
the examining board at the Preside for
promotion. The board found in the course
of the physical examination of the candi-
date that his hearing was defective. Then
came the question whether the deafness
was sufficient to unfit him for duty; also
as to when and how it occurred. Lieuten-
ant Schofeld was duly examined and
found uDa1ifiad bv a hoard Of army err.
geons in 1889. 1t appears, however, that
certain officers who knew Mr.. Schofield
before he entered the army are of the
opinion that he was then deaf. A ques-
tion arises here which the board will have
to settle. # Lieutenant Schofield's dis