The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-27

The great floating fortress quivered and
toes, and let your frame hang loosely, had
been the injunction of the assistant sur
geOn to the apprehensive landsmen who
had accompanied the assistant secretary
when they plugged their ears with raw cot
ton and asked how the conclusion from
the big guns affected people. Some of them
had been standing agape for half an hour,
and endeavoring to execute a tiptoe balance
on land legs. All of them said afterward
that II was not nearly so bad as they eX-
pected. Waiting for new experience or
an exciting character caused them greater
alarm than the actual happening
All eyes were on the target as the smoke
cleared away Fifty yards or so in front OF
it a column of spray went up as the shell
exploded, and then far to the right an
other upshoot of white water showed how
the shot had ricochetted. oh" hell, cried
a jackey. unable to repress himself. But IT
was the first shot fired from the Iowa and
should not have been criticised The gun
ners had not quite got the hang OF the
thing.
The cadet in the house off the bridge kept
calling the distances as the Iowa steamed
along her course. Another fash and puff and
CULVER, and the second shell started on Its
journey. 1t fell slightly TO one side of the
target. There was the same white column
of spray. and two ricochets. one point 10
the right" called the cadet with the IT,
and the yeoman hastily 1otted 1t down. II
would have gone smack into her hull said
The firing began to be brisk after that
shot after shot went toward the target
some Iell In 'front.'. some 10 the sue, ana
one or two went over. The shooting was
so good that it was hard to believe that
the Iowa had not tried her guns at a target
before. The Roosevelt party began to en-
joy themselves. They forgot to keep their
mouths open and to stand on their toes
Cease firing, sounded from the bugle
as the Iowa came about in big circle to
retrace her course and to give the guns on
the other side a chance Officers and men
popped out of the turrets to get breath of
fresh air. They were grimy and sWeaty
nraIn xxFl1n how al off m
auguration day and Grant monument pa
rades, or at hops or pursuing the even
tenor, of their ways on shipboard, would
not have recognized III these powder
stained warriors the dapper young fellows
of gold braid and dangling swords
EFFECT OF THE BIG GUNS.
Another round of firing from the twelve
inch and eight-inch guns was given on the
second trip of the Iowa along her marked
course. The twelve-inch thunderers shook
up the battle ship considerably, put
whaleboat out of commission, sprung locks,
shattered electric light globes and glass
skylights, and knocked a few doors off
their hinges. The whaleboat was lying
near one of the guns and got the full effect
of the conclusion. The doors which suf-
fered had been carefully closed by thought
full but inexperienced persons. Two men,
bers of Mr.. Roosevelts party will always
remember those twelve-inch rifles. They
were watching an eight-inch turret which
was being turned to bring the protruding
guns on the target. From their position on
the bridge they had a good view, but,
wanting a better one, they became venture
some and walked to the end Of the bridge.
Just then one of the twelve-nch guns in
the forward turret, ten yards away, was
fired. It's effect on the two iandsmen was
peculiar. They were lifted off their feet
straight into the air almost to the top of
the bridge railing. When they alighted
each was wildly clasping the other to pre-
serve his balance Then they went to see
the assistant doctor, who prescribed and
furnished liniment for internal use.
Down in the bowels of the ship the chief
engineer and his assistants were at work
operating the machinery. 1t was very hot
day there, so hot that the brass hand rails
OF the ladders leading to the engine room
burned the flesh. A cadet engineer, minus
a coat and waist coat, and with his cravat
hung loosely about his uncollared neck,
stood at his post, very grimy and perspir-
ing, but looked every inch an officer and
gentleman. The handling rooms beneath
the turretS where the powder charges are
received from the magazines and sent to
the gunners in cylinders raised and lowered
by steam, were full of activity. Three
fourths of the regulation charge was being
used. The boys in the magazine handed
out canvas bags. each holding more than
a hundred pounds of powder, and these
were placed In the cylinders and hoisted
above. A speaking tube connected each
turret with a handling room. Three hun
dred and twenty pounds of powder COM
posed the reduced charge used in the
tv elve-inch guns. The charge was in three
bags, one of which was placed in each of
the three cylinders of the hosting arrange
ment.
fled tones through the speaking tube from
the officer in charge of the turret.
10y, Oy, SURF" was the response from
the man in charge of the handling room.
The little truck which held the cylinders
was run quickly around on circular track,
the bags of powder kicked into their recep-
OnIC6 nVo6 Z hn ind xr~ff
rafting Of chains and a creaking of wheels.
A few minutes later rush of air into the
handling room and peculiar far-away
cracking told that the big gun above had
been fred.
The Iowa steamed up and down between
the two whalebcats several times,
while the men in the turretS fired at the
target. An odd sound made by the
shells as they flew through space. When
the report died away those ON the ship
heard noise like the "woo-oo" of heavy
wind and this suddenly ceased to be fol-
lowed by an entirely different sound, resem-
bling for all the world the far-away rum
bling of train of cars over a bridge
When all the twelve-inch and eight-inch
guns had been fired the siX-pOunder rapid
fire rifles of the second battery were tried
These little bankers gave a report sharp
and unpleasant to the ear. The crews in
charge of them did some excellent work
both in accuracy and rapidty. Three or
four men were assigned to each gun. Some
Of the guns did not work well. Some Of the
mon in charge who wanted to make a good
fame. A firing pin broke off in one of the
six-pounders, and the man in charge of
the piece exhibited his disappointment
with a heated disregard for regulations
He threw his cap on the deck, stamped
his feet and gave vent to some language
that made him feel better
How'd l score, Jimmy?' asked the cap
tain of a gun of one of his assistants.
Jimmy watched the shot as ii fell con-
siderable distance beyond the target. Jaw
tell" he responded. with deep contempt in
his tone. Then he spat on the deck to en-
phasiZe his disgust.
At Mr.. Roosevelt's suggestion test Of ra-
pdity in firing was made with 'one Of the
guns. 1t was worth wAile seeing the quick
ness and dexterity of the sturdy young ne
gro who put the shells in the breech. The
gun crew made record of twenty shots
in thirty seconds. Executive officer Rod
gers seemed to be watching every gun.
Jones'" he would call to a gun captain,
Every good, Jones'"
'Thankee SURF" Jones would say
touching his cap and smiling broadly.
When the practice was over Mr.. Roose-
welt and the members of his party took the
cotton plugs from their ears and inspected
the ship. When they returned TO the
Dolphin they expressed the opinion that
target practice by big battle ship was a
very interesting thing but that one expert
ence would last a long tinne.
TROUBLE AT ST. JOSEPH.