Evening journal., 1898-04-20

ING PUT IN THEM TO LULL YOU
no SLEEP.
pAHLGREN ON EXPLOSIVES.
John f. Lynn, one Of the popular
young members OF the New Castle bar,
has. among his papers, letter written
TO George Reed Riddle by Admiral John
A. Dahlgren, U. s. NJ, in 1852. 1t was
shown 10 the Wayfarer by Mr.. Lynn on
Saturday, and he kindly consented to
its use IN the Note Book. Its text Is as
follows:
Dear Riddle: Within you have some
memor. in relation to accidents with
naval cannon. They are all penned
from the authentic accounts before me
except that of Decatur, which l write of
from memory. l can obtain copy OF
his official letter from the Bureau, II
you want It..
Truly yours,
JOHN A. DAHLGREN.
July II, 1852"
Below this Mr.. Riddle inserts the fol-
lowing:
"The experience Of our naval officers
induced the government to adopt a sys-
tenn which would secure to the service
guns OF proper size and material"
Then follows Commodore Dahlgren's
statement. which Is:
BURSTING OF CANNON IN U. S.
NAVY.
One Of the earliest accidents OF the
kind occurred between Paul Jones and
the Scraps (1779) Most interest also
attaches 10 1t because the consequences
commonly apprehended by officers did
not occur, and but for the unshaken
courage and will of Jones must have
caused the capture Of his frigate.
''1st--The principal battery of the
Richard was fourteen on a side r.
pdrs. Below. on the berth deck, Jones
had six ports cut on a side for that
number OF 1S-pdrs. On the spar deck
were Eight 9-pdrs. in ALL
"The Serapis had on her broadside-
lower deck, Ten 1S-pdrs; main deck,
Ten 9-pdrs. on the spar deck Ten G.
pdrs. in all.
AT the very first broadslde Two Of
Jones 1S-pdra. burst, blowing up the
deck over them and killing or wound
ing most Of the people about them.
Cooper says, This disaster caused all
the heavy guns to be instantly desert
ed
1.-The American ship had now one tier
Of 12-pdrs. to oppose to one tier of 49,
pdrs. and one tier Of 9-pdrs. Jones soon
found that his only chance was 10
grapple the Englishman, and in spite
OF all the efforts OF the other, he sue
ceeded in doing so-the result is
known.
tf"2d.r-In 1912 the President burst a
chase gun at the second fire, killing OF
wounding 16 men. AS she was one OF
\ squadron chasing the Belvidera, the
superiority OF force prevented any Ill
consequences except the loss OF life.
"3d.-1S13, Sept. 2S. Com. Chauncey
with the American squadron engaged
the British for 20 min The flagship
Pike BIlstained the fire OF the heaviest
ships OF the enemy The English flag.
ship Wolfe had the topmast cut out oi
her and being otherwise much injured
bore up before the wind, Chauncey af
ter him, and. while firing in chase
burst the Pixies how gun, which slew
or injured twenty-five men, blew up the
fQrecastle and disabled the gun on it
Rather e bad business when ones owl
guns do the most mischief, for the
English shot, killed and wounded, only
five men Of the Pike.
"4th.-Soon after the conclusion o.
the last war with England, Decatur wa,
sent to Algiers with a squadron. On his
way he encountered a small frigate un.
der that flag, which he captured. One
Of the 24-pdrs. OF his ship the Guer
riere. burst In course OF this affair anS
killed or hurt some 80 persons. Tn,
Com. In bis official letter. calls the at
tention OF the Government to the ne
cessity OF providing proper metal, ant
1ntimates that more serious conse
quences than loss Of life may ensu'
from such accidents.
A long and heavy 32-pdr. burst Nov
1894, whilst was engaged in practic
with 1t at the Exp. Battery in m.
charge. The two halves OF the breecl
few right and left in such a way as u
have swept OF many men II It had oc
CURED on board ship, at quarters. AS
was only one officer was killed, and
by-stander slightly wounded"
John Adolph Dahlgren, admira
with whom Mr. Riddle was on such in
innate terms, was, according TO his bi
ographer, born in Philadelphia, Novem
Der 10, 1909; and died in Washington
ID. C., July -, 1870. His father, Ben
nard Uric Dahlgren, was a merchar
OF Philadelphia, and for many year
consul to Sweden. His son entered th
navy in 1896 passed midshipman
1882 and afterward served in the coai
survey In 1S43 he went to the Med
terranean on a cruise. On his retur1
in 1S45, he was assigned TO ordnan1
duty in Washington. Under his MAJ
aeement the ordnance bureau acquire
its present extensive works, and II
Dahlgren guns. which he invente
have stood the test OF long use In 1Sl
he equipped the Plymouth according
pis own ideas. and visited the coast
Europe from Portugal to Holland. SUI
sequently he crlised in the West Il
dies, and on his return to Washingto