The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-06-18
THE DEADLY GUNS
OF THE VESUVlUs.
They Are Relied Upon 10 Destroy cities
When Bombardmsnt becomes
Necessary.

New York, June 1.-THE United
States dynamite cruiser Vesuyius EVIL
IDENTIFY began a new era in warfare when
she made havoc Of the Santiago harbor
Notifications Monday night with three
or her giant shells. Army and navy
men are talking about her as reyereniiy
as II she were something supernatural
Citizens generally compared her win
Ericcson's monitor, and said she Is
hundred times more destructive.
DE- Borden Wilmot Is the representa-
tive Of the Pneumatis Torpedo and Con-
struction company Of New York which |
designed and built the cruiser Nesuyius
and sold her 70 the United States gov
eminent after she had undergone series
Of severe tests.
"The vcsuvius," said Mr. Wilmot'
''has a battery Of three pneumatic guns,
mounted in the bow az a fixed angle OF
| rs degrees. Tho guns are jj feet long,
70 inches bore, and built rigidly into the
vessel. From all / have read about Mon
days trial with three shells | am con-
WINGED that she has not shown half OF
her ability
What can she doi She can drop 800
pounds Of nitro-gelatin nearly two miles
! thaccuracy. She can repeat this feat
| 10 times In 10 minutes That means
three and three.quarter tons OF high ex'
plosives thrown into the enemy's ships
or forts, or whatever the object Of At
tack may b..
1.-The destructive power Of such d
broadsido Is almost beyond computation
Il is enough 70 destroy a city; 10 wip
il OIL the face Of the earth and elimit'
, every trace OF its existence. The nitro
gelatin Is half as strong again as dyna
mite. magazine the effec, Of three an'
Z quarter tons Of 1t.
n 1.-THE moral effect OF bOmbardmen
by the Vesuyius must be tremendous
a By way Of illustration, let me tel
Il you one fact. The dynamite cruise
Nictheroy put an end to the late Brazil
. an revolution without firing shot. he
e mere presence was enough. Don Pedr'
the emperor Of Brazil, sent Admir-
/, Salmanda de Cana Of the Buzilia
- navy, up here TO find out how the pne'
ID matte dynamite gun worked Tho az
miral was deeply impressed.
,, ia rather b. With that gun tina
!, against It, " he remarked 20 me, STAN
=, ing beside the guE ON the prour
" grounds at Fort Hamilton, where he vi
10 messed 10 range, accuracy and deSfru
H. tive power. Within a short time ID
10 Pedro ahdlcated, a republican form
he government was set up and Nell beg
IA his revolution. Admiral de Cana "
at his chief fighter.
"a The Vesuvius has not one small dyr
4. mite gun, but she has three big on
= Their calibre Is l5.inches. | can n
M you suggestion Of their force. Th'
Is are three l5.inch dynamite guns at
he Prcsidio, near San Francisco. Asa
arc one OF these guns sent a proiectile C
tanning 200 pounds Of uitro-gelatin
.ay the mountains one mile away. !
iail shell dog hole in solid rock 80 feet d.
ON and 10 feet square.
~ "whore a shell strikes from one
wy the guns Of the Vesuvius the havoc
ooi awful Ono Of her projectiles drop
son In the midst OF a regiment would ell
zero nate Il from the war. II any man
ers, the regiment was not torn 20 bits
and would not be ht for lighting
Against a ship the Vesuyius vii
deadly. One Of her big shells drop
ON the deck would crush through
red armor, and exploding in vital ?
una would shatter the ship. II one Of q
his shells eIpfodes In the air or In the VI
iine withif 10 feet Of a warship It will cI
was her side or bottom and sink her. IL
the 81 these shells explOdos within
inc yards Of modern man.ot.war It
TO render her useless Tor fighting, fdr
1as' detonation will throw the bearing
her engines out Of line, dislocate
4, shaft or jam the neatly fitted parts. 2
: the ship will become a mere hell
-. target"