The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-01

rYnaer the direction OF Capt William
(sr,ezi.r OF the ordnance department OF
the United States army. the hrst omctai
test OF the mortar and rifle batteries OF
the lower sound forts was started yes
terday.
A ranort receiyed hy the Post-Intciii-
gencer from Fort Flagier where the firss
test was made yesterday morning, was
10 the effect that the guns worked per-
fectiy They showed carrying power
fully up 10 expectations. II was cas-
lily demonstrated that the rines AZ fort
Fgagler could reach the center OF the
channel where a feet would have 10 pass
In entering the sound.
The test and inspection at Fort Casey
was finished yesterday afternoon. II was
also successful in the highest degree
There IL mortar battery OF sixteen
guns at both Fort F1agier and Fort Casey.
In addition there are probably score OF
eight. ten and twelye-inch guns. The lat
ter are the biggest destroyers the war
department has. They fire steel shell OF
great weight O distance OF six miles. one
OF the shells cleverly placed would prac-
tically destroy rattieship OF nm invAd-
ing feet.
cant Crozser. who personally fires the
guns after directing tho manner In which
they are loaded. left Seattle yesterday
morning on a government tug. arcompA-
MED by Mai Mills and Capt. Harry FAy-
lor. Maj Mills yesterday succeeded
Capt Taylor In charge OF coast defense
and river and harbor work In this state
The PARTY was met by a number 81 artil-
iery ofIiacra on arriving at Fort F1Rxler
They spent tho forenoon at Frrt F1astef.
going in the afternoon to Fort Casey. To-
day they viii spend sorne hours ~ Fort
worden. known as Point Wilson.
The following supplies OF ammunition,
etc were shipped by special steamer yea
taraa x~nrvis.r for N IN fha f&atn.
To Fort F7agler twenty-four csses and
eix barrels OF powder and four boxes Of
steel projectaies for mortars and rifles
The total weight Of the shipment was
500 pounds.
TO Fort Casey thirty-two csses OF pow
der and eight boxes Of proiectiles. weigh-
ing 1000 pounds, Part Of the ammuni-
tion will be sent to Fort Worden this
morning.
In making the test huge projsotiles of
steel are fired~from both rifles and NOR
fars at tho three Sound forts These lie
In triangular form guarding the chan
mel Of vessels entering the sound from the
strait Of Fura. When finished they Will
constitute practically impregnabie sys-
tenn OF coast dafenseA
The guns are fred directly into the
straits. The larger rnortafs and the
twelve-ineh rifles have a range OF several
nllaa Fsirat shore N n terrible roar and
volumes of smoke tissue from the mouth
Of the rifles While the echoes aroused hy
the big destroyer are still reverbcrating
in the hills on shore. the officers watch
through fleld glasses for the proiectiie to
strike the water. noting the distance, tha
time eiapsing and the range. Every gun
which has been set up Will be pat through
shss test Ample n0ta,ions are made and
Capt crozier VIII incnrpotate these into
n report 20 Gen. A. H. Hnfslngton, fhe
chief af the ordinances bureau.
Capt croxier. who is conducting the
tests IL ono az the best known army aff-
GERS I'm tho country. lie WAS inemser
Of the peace commission which drafted
the Treaty 81 Paris. ending the war be-
tween the United States and Spain. Hs
arrived IN she city several days aRp. I'M
der instructions from tho aecr~sRrv ~
war &c make a thorough test and inspce-
tion OF all fartidcatioHs on the Pacific
coast He travels ~ n very quiet way
and tells no nue ~ his business
A. matter ~ fact. all information re-
RarainK she character ~ the forts. tho
caliher ~ the Guns ana fho strength ~
tbs defersea 81 kept ~ thase IN charge
state secret. FOR thie reason nothing
was known ~ Capt. Growers mission here
until after tho big guns at F1AxisF aaa
Casey yesterday nNok@ the echoes In fha
surrounding country, telling II the test
that was then IN progress