The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-15
a WAR SHIP IN ACTION.
Sights, Sounds, Smells and Sensations
without Parallel.


New YORK Tribune.
People who read about modern war ships
in action, of the thunder and deafening
noise made by the ponderouS guns and the
clouds of smoke and steam by. which the
iron ghtng machines are en tn have
of affairs, and no picture can do the matter
full justice if reports of those who have
been there may be believed.
A member of the naval reserve who has
studied the subject and is thoroughly posted
and equally enthusiastic said that we'll
conducted target practice on one OF the
battle ships is similar in many respects to
naval engagement. Everything is made
shipshape, decks are cleared, and the same
precautions are taken in actual con-
tests and although there is full assurance
that no enemy will appear the decks pre-
sent a warlike appearance, and soon after
the exercises have begun the ship resem-
bles anything more than a pleasure craft
To the novice the discharge of big gun
is a startling thing, and may be followed
by unpleasant results unless the usual pre-
cautions are taken The men brace them
selves for the shock which follows the dis
charge of a big gun by holding the arms
rigid and the hands well away from the
body, to give the lungs free play They also
keep the mouth open, and by that means
equalize the pressure on the lungs, head
1T is a question which admits of some
argument" said the naval reserve man,
whether the discomfort comes from out
ward pressure in consequence OF the con-
cussion or from the vacuum created after
the shock The fact that men who use
cotton in their ears experience more trouble
than those who use no external protection
shows that there is much to fear from
vacuum and the natural pressure from
within Rtrst eardrums and ruptured
Blood vessels are less likely to follow the
discharge of big guns when those who
stand near by keep their mouths open and
their arms extended from the body"
To illustrate the force of air conclusion
it was stated that during target practice
on board the Atlanta some time ago a
sheep was killed outright by the shock fol-
discharge elRht-lnCn
although the gun was behind barhette and
the sheep thirty feet away. At another
time also on board the Atlanta, two six
inch broadside guns were discharged sew
eral times, and then 1t was discovered that
the cutters end whaleboats which were
suspended on davits fifteen feet over the
guns and to the rear Of the muzzles opened
in the joints although they were well built
and seaworthy small craft.
Another similar circumstance was men,
toned in connection with target practice on
board the New York. The two S-inch guns
in the forward turret have range of about
100 degrees on either side of the keel, and
on this occasion one of the guns was ranged
about thirty degrees forward of the beam
and fired with a reduced charge. Twenty
feet away were several signals, and near
these was signal chest with all the ships
signal paraphernalia. All of these, chest
and ALL were scattered in all directions by
the discharge of the gun and rendered use
less.
The noise made by the discharge of heavy
pieces is less painful TO the sense of hear
ing than that produced by smaller arms.
1.-The roar seems TO envelop one" said the
enthusiast, land the man who stands in
the turret, which shields him TO some ex-
tent becomes obivious to IL. The excite
ment connected with handling the guns or
passing the charges does much to make one
forget the noise, and the smell Of the burn
ing powder has an intoxicating effect which
lends charm to the situation. A man who
has charge of an 8-inch gun is allowed
about three minutes to load and fire his
piece, and he and those who form the guns
crew are kept constantly busy. Smaller
guns are fired more rapidly, and / have
ZEN oainsn gun 5,loJs s4Igst Two
in the air before the first one struck. That
Is work over which any one VIII forget his
surroundings.
But the surroundings change as soon as