The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1898-07-16
WONDERFUL VESSEL.
(ooN4ueurp, YRon Y1n1 PAoE.)

from a gun whose original calibre ht-
ted it. ~. az ST. - =;
''It seems to me that our gun must be
olassed among the highest development
of modern science. None can deny that
gunnery Is a science, and therefore the
man who solves the problem Of gunnery.
finding a solution that brings increased
power and added knowledge, cos1tri butes
more than a mite to the scientific world.
I think that when you take our gun In
its entirely and look at its effect and then
follow it through, detail by detail, you
will tindsa wonderful object lesson
II have told how the projectiles are
made and the details regarding the barrel
of the gun, but the way to thoroughly
understand what the gun really iS to go
down in the bowels of the vessel to- the
steam engine that runs our air ceH1-
pressor. AS fast as the air is compressed
it is stored in wrought iron or steel re-
servuir5 loo tied in chambers under the
gun platform. The air Is conducted from
these reservoirs by means of pipes; up
through the carriage and thence through
a large facing that completely covers the
barrel Of the gun from the breeching
about one-third the length of the weap-
on.
"A large valve is located near the
breech Of the gun and this controls the
admission of air into the barrel. The
opening and closing Of this valve is en-
tirely automatic and under control OF the
gunner, who stands on platform at
the left side Of the carriage. Pulling a.
lever causes the valve to open and the
gun to be discharged. A very interest
ing fact I'm this connection Is that the
range Of the gun is changed not by alter
ing the elevation as In case Of all other
guns, -pur ny conrroIung the amount OIL.
compressed air that escapes at each dis
charge.
when tho discharging lever is pulled
the large valve at the breech of the gun
opens automatically and remains open
def1nate but sufficient length of time to
allow a certain fixed quantity Of air to es-
cape into the barrel.
''Then the valve closes before the pro-
jectile has left the muZzle of the gun.
This cuts off the escape Of air and re-
tains in the reservoir all that was not
needed in propelIing the projectile. Thus
we may use ten or twenty or any num-
Der of cubic feet of air at each dis
charge. The time that the valve remains
open in under perfect control of the gum
ner, and he adjusts it by turning small
graduating wheel within reach from the
platform where he stands. BY regulat-
ing the time that the valve remains open
he regulates the amount Of air that enters
the barrel. In other words to be a lit
tie technical, he regulates the amount of
energy impaired to the projectile.
''Since the muzzIe velocity and range
depend upon this energy, it will be read
lily understood how the gunner is able to
change his range without changing the
elevation Of his gun, by simply turning
the graduating wheel. We call this the
cutoff of steam engine. At each dis
charge of the gums the air pressure in
the reservoir falls according to the ad-
justment of the valve. II before dis
charging the air pressure in the re.
serVoir was 100 pounds per square inch,
then after a single discharge it may be
900 pounds or $50 pounds, but after each
discharge the normal pressure IL restored
to- 1000 pounds by drawing air tron
storage reservoir that contains air at
a much higher pressure, say 1000 pounds
per square inch, or by pumping air d.
rectly into the gun reservoir.
$50 much for the power that impels the
projectile. The gunner stands on a plat
form beside the barrel Of the gun. Aboard
Ship of course, that gun does not Sc
volve, but on land 1t does. In one re-
spect each of the Vesuvius' guns ia LIKE
a big revolver, for down by the breeoa
here are eight chambers. each OF there
chambers containing: shell. When the
gunner pushes back the lever and the
projectile leaves the gun the chamber
turns automatically, presenting fresh
proJectile, so that in reality the gun has
to be loaded but once out of eight shots.
THE loading is accomplished by means
Of barrel about the same length and
much resembling the upper part Of the
regulation gun barrel The loading pro-
cess is exactly as would be the case if you
attempted to load Il revolver by slipping
each cartridge down through the barrel
and thence INTO the chamber, giving the
chamber an eighth turn, and thus pre-
senting fresh hiding place for car
fridge. Eight shots can be fired from one
OF these guns in four minutes.