Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-11-16
EXPLOSIVES TOUCHED OFF
AGAINST VESSELS SIDE
Two Heavy CHARGES Of Nitro-elyeerine
oeiantinc. Are Fired Against the
ship and She /. seveIy Crippled.
Tugs Are hurried to Take Her to
Dry Dock.
sBy Associated rrcssJ

tbt ArSoCidt'u fEt~Sf
FORT MONROE. VA. Nov. To-
High explosive test on the monitor
Puritan. anchored In Hampton Roads.
today damaged the vessel so seriously
that il was necessary to send hurry
call To the Norfolk navy yard TO have
tugs sent up al once to tow the bat
tered warship to dry dock. The tests
made were required by provision
in the last ordnance appropriation bill.
which hold up the balance of the APP
preparations for the year until the
tests were completed.
Two explosions were made. eacb
with 200 pounds OF nliroglycerinc
gelantine. unconfined. except as to n
thin covering of sheet iron. In the
first test the high explosive was
placed against the side OF the aft ;ur-
ret of the monitor, In the second.
above the water line
More Damage Than Expected
Naval officers and experts present
Acknowledged that more damage WAS
done than they had anticipated. TIE
first explosion cracked the side plate
of the iurret. which was eight inches
thick. and forced II inward aboute eight
inches. A cst and two chickens,
placed inside in the same positions
that the gunners and sighters would
l'occupy. we're not killed.
The second explosion bent IN so
badly ih,. tcu-inch side plate OF the
vessel, thereby opening a big hole be-
low the water line. that the rear emu
of the beat sank to the bottom IN
loss than two minutes alter the ex-
plosion.
As thc Puritan draws eighteen feet
snd was only IN nineteen feet OF
water. she did net disappear below
tr. surface cf the green waves. bh'
In few minutes at least one CT the
hi. compartments was almost flieh
with rushing water, and water was
pouring 1p from below deck and over
he stern OF the old fighter.
Arrnor plate Stove In.
Until the vessel is dry dockcd twill
be impcssihie 10 determine the exact
exteu, of the damage below the water
line. or how much OF the lower part
f fhe>vessrl was flooded. II was MOI
believed however. that the armor plate
was cracked. although IL WAS bent and
stove in about ten inches. The water
was pouring in. il was thousnt,
through holes below the armor belt,
which extended three and one-hah
feet under water. or through seams
caused b. The tearing apart OF thn
plates. At the point where the sec
! Snd tess was made the vesscls plate
WIS Ten inches thick o! tho two e<-
plcsiops the second was the more Sc
, ycrc H.. nitro-.lyccrine causing the
monitor 10 shake as IL she had been
; trek hv small earthquake. and II
was cvnn felt slightly On ether YES
sells living about 900 wards away.
Shocks Severe.
! CaIf. Austin VI. knight. president
cf the specisl naval ordnance board
wbo rcmair-i on the Puritan to dis
charge the explosive. said after IL wa7
over that the second shock was quito
severe. Even tho first shock. h had
acknowledged earlier. vas greater
than he had anticipated.
Almost on the spot whcrn The sIpe
riori;v Of a new form OF fightinc YES
sci. the ircnclad. was determined forty
eight years ago. today there was DIS
covered Z pDSSlDI- NV su'o''"o''N
force in warfare.
While il Wa M. shown V0sstivety
that tn. new explosive. ihc invention
Of willard :. Tshsm. Is more dcstruc
tive than tf~ present form cf explo
sivc which docs It's deadly work from
! tho inside rather than from the Cut
side. never hclcss II vas practically
acknox lodged that serious considera
ltion must b. given 20 the Dev outside
Explosive. VT. IShsm. who vas pres
cnt. vas not satisfied with The Brsl
test. claiming thst n i had bcef
.aralnsf ma. instead of rounded
~rrfacc. Il would have worked mucf
greater havoc. Tho scsOHd explosion
accompiishcd nearly - much - n
i.-xpccfcd. The resistance OF ta'
isr7mcs and the effect 0eiov the armo.
bot was uhat hs wanted 70 have Dc
ltrrmincd by the test. and h@ said at
lcrwards 'hai he felt sure cxamrnatioT
lin Or, dork world prove him right
c.. ard chickers Aboard
ON the Puritan with Cay'ain knirht
la The Tine - the .xpiosicn. were tb'
..hip CT. black a. coal. the cat Shici
lNr. Isham brou<hf along 10 piarc y
iilr furr,i. the chickens and -four sail
infe.
Most ~ th~ n-vs and srmy oriciali
aud prvr@r cxpcris who v~ut do~i
10 uiiu~se he icsis wrrr sfoerd ~