Mesa free press. [volume] (Mesa, Ariz.) 1892-1901, 1898-07-15
W. D. NORTON. A.P. .sHEWMAN
MORTON & SIIEWMAN
Publishers
Advertising rates made known on ap-
plication.
WORKING BIG GUNS.

hOW OF Cne nylnS squadron, tna6 tns
Indiana put ashell from her l3-inct
gun through target at 1000 yards
and then went through the same hole
with second shell. Pretty good
work for one of these fellows" and
the muscular little captain strokeo
the muzzle Of one of the four 13-
inch guns that make up the main
battery of the big ship of the line.
Don't get out tape measure or 9
foot rule and measure off Is inches
and wonder to what portion of the
gun that refers, because it would avail
you little; but rather listen to the
account of the stupendousnesa of this
greatest engine of destruction. oi
modern days. A "l3-incb breech-
loading rifle" as the biggest gun in
the navy is technically described, is q
piece of metal weighing 10000 lbs,
or 68 tons, a few inches over thirty
nine feet in length. and with powder
space l5.5 inches in diameter and
8O.8 inches long
The only reference to Is inches is
in the diameter of the steet projectile
fired. This monstrous gun throws a
projectile that weight l,lC0 pounds,
and the amount of powder consumed
for each shot so fired is 500 pounds.
The explosion Of this powder sends
this weight of l,l00 pounds Of metal
from the muzzle at the speed of 2,l00
feet per second, and with an energy
of 3,627 tons-enough to send it
through "a inches of steel at 1000
yards, and q INCHES at 2 mile distant;
and while the mechanism of thie 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 min
utes. And there are four of these
terrible engines.
1t is bright, clear day, and the
MASSACHUSETTS has sighted an enemy's
warship. The preliminary work OF
clearing for ACTION has been accom-
plished; ratings, ladders are down
and have been slowed away, and ev.
erything NOVA BILE in the big ship fas-
tened. The glass port lights have
been replaced with steel, the water
tight compartment closed. the electric
plants for lighting the ship, turning
the turrets and working the ammuni-
tion lifts, started; the ammunition
magazines opened, ard, lastly the SICK
bed prepared
In the forward turret with the great
pair of l3-inch rifles stands crew ol
II nen, six to each gun. In the hooc
of the turret, jrst aboye the men, sits
a senior officer and 9 junior officer
"Silence !" is the first command, anc
grilnly the half naked men of the CUR
crew stand behind the guns. sCAs
loose and provide" sharply rings tht
order, and every man is instantly
| working.
The gun captain and numbers tive
three and four, who are the practica
sGnners. pnshackie the great monster
from it's peace fastenings; one see'
that repair tools and cleaners are
placed, gets water and hose ready
another opens the safety valves anc
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
in the space of four minutes, anc
again each man in his place stands
like statue of bronze.
The ammunition has come up pre-
pared with fuses, and then come the
orders in quick succession: "Oper
breech, sponge, land she'll" The great
hydraulic rammer pushes in the big
l., l,lOO-polnd steel projectile. "Loac
first cartridge" and the brown powder
one-half the quantity necessary, gqe.
in. load second cartridge" and in