The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-09-17
Big GUNS OF
RUSSIAN
WARSHIp.
Successful Test Made Of AmHrl-
can Built Vessel OF the
Delaware BreakwateT.

News OF the presidents death was sig
nailed 10 the Russian battleship Retvi-
zan from the Delaware breakwater as
she was weighing anchor TO proceed 10
sea for the most important of the various
tests incident TO the construction and ac-
ceptanoe of a warship, that of the heavy
batteries, and out of respect the Stars
and Stripes were hoisted aloft and slow
ly dipped TO half mast where the flag
remained. 1t was the means OF informing
many passing vessels of Mr.. Mckinney s
death.
The ship steamed directly to the neigh.
borhood OF Five-Fathom Bank Light
ship. where she had made remarkable
success in her speedy trial.
sEverything had been made in READINGS
for the test during the night and the
Russians who were in charge of the tir-
ing sent theirst shell from the starboard
l2-inch after gun. 1T was only n half
service charge and the effect produced
on the ship was slight. After much delay,
on account of the nervousness of the tor
eigners who fired the guns from the con-
ming towers by means of long wires, an
other of the big guns sent shell bound
ing across tho sea with the velocity pro-
duced by a three-quarter-service charse
and the ships vibra tions were more no.
ticeable from this shot The motion Was
| soon over. however.
The great shock came when both l2-inch
after guns were fired simultaneously Win
full charges The noise was terrlhc dno
t.sU
| that temporarily separated the quarters
| of the main deck were smashed anc
| twisted like splnters and some or the
| electrical appliances were disturbed. Oth'
! erwise there was no noticeable damage te
| the ship, and T.. s. Cramp, VINO is OF
| board i'm charge was highly pleased WITH
| the stability of the ship as proved bS
| this shot Only n few shots were nrec
| from the forward big guns. After one ol
| two shots. one of the ammunition holsts
| got out of order.
The only differences that occurred dur
| ing the day between the builders and rep
| resentatlves of the Car were when th'
| foreign gunners proposed 10 fire bott
| forward guns at once. elevated 10 pitcf
| that threw them exceedingly close q
| the overhang of the main bridge. Suci
| a shot would have unnecessarily EN-
! dangered the bridge, and Engineer Harr.
| Null of the Cramp representatives pro
! tested. After much argument, the sho
was not fired
The gun, turrets. ammunition, MOIST
&C. were all products OF Russia, and IN
turrets are undoubtedly of spleudi'
construction, as the effect OF IN
] by careful measurement did not NOV
them one sixty-fourth OF an inch.
The test will be completed in two days
| Much longer time was taken than wa
| necessary on account OF the trepidatio
...l.c tn ~
parts OF the ship at each shot. The Rus
SLAMS placed living rabbits I'm the gu
turrets during the fire 10 see n they woul
live so as 10 show the effect on gunner
I'm the turrets Not a, single rabbit VS.
affected. vet the Russians were yer
tirnid about entering the turrets.
The structural tests were IN every wa
satisfactory. and confidence Is expresse
that I'm the Official speed trial. which
| TO occur about the middle OF Octorber ~
required speed for IL hours run {
sea viii he attained.