The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-05-29
GREAT NAVAL TEST
CONTINUED From Page one.)

mission for several months at the Nor
folk navy yard preparing, for today's
test. A large steel mast was built
upon a double spiral principle, each
set of spiral columns running in the
opposite direction and at the top was
platform upon which were two dunn
mics weighted and wired for record
ing The shock of the projectile. Two
similar dummies were on the forward
bridge, two on the top Of the turret
and one inside the turret
A singular feature of the test was
that the two dummies on the top of
the turret were not harmed in spite
of the fact that the explosion was
powerful enough to smash the II inch
armor plate. Shortly after 8 o'clock
a preliminary shot was fred from one
of the IL inch guns of the Arkansas
at small canvas target hung on top
Of the Florida's turret, for the purpose
of testing the sight and range. The
shots were fred at a range of about
$50 yards with reduced charge so
that the effect was practically the
same as a range of 5000 yards with a
full charge of powder. This prelimi-
nary shot was typical American gun
merry. 1t struck the lower end of the
target and tore large hole in it.
AS soon as this shot had been COM
pleted, the most spectacular firing of
the day was begun. One of the large
IL inch guns in the turTet of the Ar
kansas was loaded for the supreme
test The crew of 20 officers and men
on the Florida commanded by Com.
mander John G. Quinby, who remain
ed on the Florida during the test went
down below the protective deck in the
stern of the ship. Pte observers on
the Arkansas were compelled to go
below also to avoid injury to anyone
by flying fragments. In the coming
tower of the Arkansas, Chief Con-
structor Capps and Admiral Mason
watched the results of the powerful
IL inch shell. The shot was fired by
Lieutenant Walter w. Falcomer, as
soon as the red flag was raised on
the Arkansas giving notice that she
was about to fire. There was a deaf
ening roar. The Arkansas tugged at
her anchors from the impact of the
shot, the projectile struck the porN
plate of the Florida turret, little
to the side of one of the ports, where
a dummy 12 inch gun had been substi-
tuted for the regular IL inch gun. The
other 12 inch gun in the Florida tur-
ret was faced in a specially construct
ed shield and only suffered superb
cial scratch. An examining party OF
the Arkansas went over to the Florida
In launch. One OF the first to enter
the turret was Chief Constructor
Capps During this test Naval Con-
structor r. II. Robinson was on board
the Florida. The shock of the explo-
sion he said was only slight to those
under the Florida's protective deck.
Chief Constructor Capps found that
the pressure gauge in the Florida's tur-
ret did not show any unusual strain.
He moved the turret guns through
their usual arc of fire showing that
the turret gear had not been injured.
The ammunition hoists, he also found,
still worked In spite of the terrific jar
on the outside of the turret. The
velocity of the shot was 1900 feet a
second. The test was far more sue
cessful than expected, the experts de-
clared, and much valuable data was
gained from 1t.
The guns Of the Arkansas were rext
trained on the mast OF fle F1orida's
stern. The first shot, four inch pro
jectile cut one Of the steel rods. The
second cut several more rods but Gid
not iDjure it's stability. A twelve inch
projectiie likewise did very little dam
age. When five shots had been fired
at the mast Lieutenant Richard d.
White and Lieutenant Commander
George Bradshaw, assistant inspector
Of the target practice climbed to the
platform on the top OF the mast and
shook It with all their strength but
still the mast stood.
The trials were then declared ad-
journed and the start was ordered to
Annapolis for the more peaceful duty
OF taking the middies on practice
cruise The Florida was towed 10 the
Norfolk navy yard 10 be fitted for the
torpedo test which will take place in
Hampton Roads within the next ten
dava or two w6eks