The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-10
DYNAMITE GUNS.
Those Of the Cruiser Nesuvius Create q
Sensation at Santiago.

Those Of the Cruiser Ncsuvius Create 2
Sensation at Santiago.
on Monday the 18th Of June tho United
states dynamite cruiser Vesuvius for the
first time was brought into active oper-
alton at the entrance OF Santiago har5or
10 fired three shells. each containing 2l0
pounds OF gun-cOtton, on the western
headland. az the entrance TO SANTIAGO.
Each missile starting silently on its de-
structve flight and cre1dus Il tremendous
explosion when n fclL
No small amount OF satisfaction is
eInced by the people in the fact that the
Government Is in possession of several
heavy dynamite guns 90 De used also IN
coast defense. At Sandy Hook there are
two hfteen-inch guns and one OF eight
inch cahbre The first named are fifteen
inches m diameter OF bore, the very larg-
est cannon which the army has for ac-
ton. At san Francisco there are three
guns Of the same big calihrc, which ARE
20 placed about three miles from the
city as 10 assist materially IN defending
that harJOr Dynamite guns are ODerat-
ed upon an entirely different principle
from ordinary powder guns. They have
engines and boilers. and air compressOrs
and coolers. and an sorts OF intricate
machinery, In a house not far away, by
which the projectiles are fired. The dy-
Mantle or gun-coton. or eNplosive-gela-
tin or whatever the explosive material
may be. Is contained in the projectile
only. TIE proiecule is called am "areial
torpedo by the manufacturers, and is
exploded by means of a fuse. similar 10
any powder guns.
Dynamite or any other high explosive
cannot be used I'm am ordinary cannon,
because the powder would explode the
dynamite before 10 lcft the gun. there
tore. the system OF using compressed air
came into vogue as tho only method OF
throwing dynamite % any distance. The
system is popularity known as ZalInsNs
although that naval officer IS not con-
nected with tho manufacture OF the pro-
iecriies or the guns The air IS COM
pressed and passed along through various
tubes before reaching the gun, and is
used at about Loo pounds pressure 10 the
suare inch. which IS much less than the
power or powder Dynamite Will
be exploded at about 5000 pounds
pressure to the square inch. These
gums are enormous affairs. smooth
bore fifty feet iu leneth. made Of
the best iron. in three sections, Hanged
and bolted together ard supported on
a steel carriage. The carriage is mount
ed upon a steel raclnE-flnB, so called, ana
the system Of handling IS by means OF
an electric motor. AS these guns are
covered by a large number OF patents
thew are very expensive costing the
Government many thousands Of dollars
each. Fifteen men. in relays, are re-
CURED 20 work them.
The gunner stands on platform on
the lett side OF the carriage, uses a fine
telescope sight and when an is ready
ne pulls n lever. which allows the COM
pressed air TO enter the gun. and the DIS
charge takes place. These guns are all
loaded at the breech, and the Drojectile
is handed by a separate carriage. The
proictne rs about ten feet IN length for
the nneen-inch gun. and wlen charged
with 500 pounds Of dynamite or gun-co.-
ton. weighs fully 100 pounds. II Is a
steel tube. composed Of walls three-slx-
tecnths Of an inch thick. and has a spiral
vane at the rear The fuse IS a foot in
length. and weighs twenty pounds This
Fuse contains two pounds and n half Of
drv gun cotton and few grains Of full
inmate OF mercury as detonator II Is
SCI TO explode az impact. or as the gun
ner NAV desire as to time.-Leslie's
Weekly