The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-22
WITH a 13-INCH GUN.
How the Monster Is Served and Some
Information About 1t.
From Leslie's weekly.


II am told" said Capt. Higginson of
the battleship Massachusetts,, now of the
flying squadron, "that the Indiana put a
shell from her thirteen-inch gun through
a target at 1900 yards and then went
through the same hole with a second Shell
Pretty good work for one of these fell
lows" and the muscular little captain
stroked the muzzle of one Of the four thir-
teen-inch guns that make up the main
battery of the big ship of the line.
Don't get out a tape measure or a foot
rule and measure of thirteen inches and
wonder 10 what portion of the gun that
refers, because il would avail you little,
but rather listen to the account of the stu
pendousness Of this greatest engine Of de-
structon Of modem days. A "thirteen-
inch breech-loading rifle" as the biggest
gun used in the navy is technically de-
scribed, is a piece of metal weighing 1885,
CoO pounds, a few inches over thlrty-nine
feet in length ard with a powder space Of
$50 inches in diameter and S08 inches
long
The only reference TO thirteen inches is
in the diameter of the steel projectile fir
ed. This monstrous gun throws projec-
. tile that weighs 11C0 pounds, and the
amount of powder consumed for each shot
so fired is go pounds. The explosion Of
this powder sends this weight of 1,l00
pounds of metal from the muzzle at the
speed of 2,100 feet per second, and with an
energy OF 1882 tons-enOugh TO send it
through twenty-four inches of steel at
1909 yards, and twenty one inches al a
mile distant; and while the mechanism of
this gun is complicated, and while every
part after every shot must be cleaned, so
complete Is the discipline aboard that It
may be fired once every three minutes.
And there are four OF these terrible en-
gines.
1t is a bright, clear day, and the Massa-
chusetts has sighted an enemy's warship
The preliminary work Of clearing for ac-
ton has been accomplished; ratings, lad
ders and boats are down and have been
slowed away, and everything movable ia
The big ship fastened. The glass port
lights have been replaced with steel the
water-tight compartments closed, the cleo
trio, plants for lighting the ship turning
the turrets and working the ammunition
lifts started; the ammunition magazines
opened and, lastly the sick bay prepared
In the forward turret wSth the great
pair of 13-inch rifles stand a crew OF twelve
men, six TO each gum. In the hood of the
turret, just above the men, slts a senior
officer, and a junior officer. "Slenceg' is
the first command, and grimly the half
naked men Of the gun crew Stand behind
the guns. "Cast loose and provide" sharp
~ rings Their order, and every man is IN
stantly working.
The gun captain and numbers two, three
and four, who are the practical gunners,
unshackle the great monster from its peace
fastening; one sees that repair tools and
cleaners are placed, gets water and hose
ready; another opens the safety valves
and exhaust pipes, starts the smoke fan
and ships the sight; and another provides
drinking water and does dozen other
things. But all is done within a space Of
four minutes and again each man in his
place stands like a statue Of bronze
The ammunition has come Up prepared