The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-06-23
THE yESUVIUS.
Tie Worlds Greatest Engine Of
Destruction.

States dynamite cruiser Vesuvius ev-
identity began new era in warfare
when she made havic OF the Santi-
ago harbor Notifications Monday
night with three OF her giant shells.
Army and navy men are talking
about her as il she were something
supernatural.
De Borden Wilmot is the represent
ative of the Pneumatic Torpedo and
Construction company of New York
which designed and built the cruiser
Vesuvius and sold her to the United
States government after she had un-
dergone series of severe tests
The Vesuviua," said Mr.. Wilmot,
,,has battery OF three pneumatic
guns, mounted in the bow at a fixed
angle of 1S degrees. The guns are
30 feet long and Il inches bore, and
built rigidly into the vessel. From
all | have read about Monday nights
trial with three shells | am convinced
that she has not shown h alf OF her
ability.
what can she do? She can drop
800 pounds OF nitrogelatin nearly
two miles away with accuracy. She
can repeat this feat fifteen times in
ten minutes. That means three and
three-quarter tons OF high explosive
thrown upon the enemy's ships or
forts, or whatever the object of at
tack may be.
"The destructive power Of such
broadside is almost beyond comput-
alton. 1t is enough TO destroy a
city; to wipe it off the face OF the
earth and eliminate every trace OF its
existance The nitrogelatin is half
as strong again rs dynamite. Imag
inc the effects OF three and three quar-
tiers tons o. it.
THE moral effect of a lombard
ment BY the Vesuvius must be ire
mendoua. By way OF illustration,
let me ten Won one fact: The dyna-
mite cruiser Nictheroy put an end to
the late Brazilian revolution without
firing a shot. Her mere presence was
enough. Dom Pedro, the emperor OF
Brazil, sent Admiral Saldama de
CANA of the Brazilian navy up here
to find out how the pneumatic dyna-
mite gun worked. The admiral was
deeply impressed.
I'D rather be with that gun than
against it." he remarked to me,
standing beside the gun on the prov
ing grounds at Fort Hamilton, where
he witnessed its range, accuracy and
destructive power. Within a short
time Dom Pedro abdicated; a repub
lican form of government was set up,
and Mello began his revolution. Adj
miral Da Cana was his chief fighter.
THE Brazilian government fitted
up the Nictheroy in New York with
one small dynamite gun. Her COM
ing was reported by teleg raph as
soon as she approached the Brazilian
coast. She steamed into Rio de ia
Metro harbor cleared for action.
There was nothing to fire at. The
mere news of her advent put Da CANA
and all his men to flight. They aban-
doned all their ships. That ended
the revolution.
"The Vesuyius has not one small
dynamite gun, but she has three big
ones. Their calibre is fifteen inches.
! can give you a suggestion OF their
force. There are three fitteen-inch
dynamite guns at the preside near
San Fra ncisco. AS a test one OF these
guns sent a projectile containing 200
pounds of nitrogelatin across the
Golden Gate into one OF the noun
tains one mile away. The explosion
of this shell dug crater in the solid
rock 80 feet deep aud 60 feet in diam
eter OF course it must not be Tor
gotten that the Vesuvius is using
guncotton in her proiectiles. Gun
cotton is only one-fifth as strong as
nitrogelatin.