Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-03-25
RAIN OF SHELLS
SINKS TEXAS
Old Battleshlp Was RiddIed by
Heavy Fire.
A SPECTACULAR EXPERIMENT
Shells Passed Completely Through
Her In Test Of Projectiles and
Armor.

Her In Test Of Projectlles and
Armor.
The secretary of the navy and mem
bers OF his official party who OBJ
served the sinking of the antiquated
battleship San Marcos. formerly the
Texas. in the mud of Chesapeake bay,
while at the mercy of the experiment
tai fire OF the formidable modern bat
tleship New Hampshire. returned to
Washington.
Gaping holes in her port side and
two jagged openings in her forward
armor. where shells passed complete.
ly through her, showed how she sue.
cumbed. Part of both her fighting
Jnasts were shot away and her deck
was a clutter of wreckage.
These craftsmanship experiments.
testing on the one side the modern big
guns and projectiles and on the other
the armament needs Of the navy, al
though the armor of the San Marcos
Is OF an old type. were conducted with
almost uncanny secrecy. No one was
permitted 10 approach the San Mar
cos. except the official observers and
one or two naval officers and officials.
The broadsides delivered by the bat.
tleship New Hampshire at varying
distances of from six to seven and
one-halt miles were considered re-
markable by ordance officers. More
than one-third of all the shots were
said to have gone true, although no
official statement was given out.
After the seventh broadside the
Texas was plainly in distress. The
two naval tugs that lay alongside the
monitor Tallahassee. on which were
stationed the naval observers. raced
10 her assistance. Secretary Meyer
ordered out his launch.
The shells apparently had set the
vessel afire. for hose was run over the
side and the engines were set to work
pumping. The San Marcos also had
been driven out of broadside range by
the force of the New Hampshire's
shells. and the tugs Strengthened out
for her further ordeal. Twice after.
ward shells set the hulk afire.
These are some of the things that
Secretary Meyer saw when he board
ed the San Marcos between volleys.
The dummies representing sailors in
the fighting top OF the ship unscathed,
in spite OF the great number of vol.
leys fired at the ship. This was a
tribute TO the excellence of the gun
pointers work, as they were ordered
m hAf IN ha hui nd
turrets.
A raging fire inside the ship caused
by the explosive shells which pene-
trated her sides made ii impossible
for the observers TO go below the
main deck to ascertain the damage.
A shell somewhat broken inside of
the coming tower, whose 9-inch steel
wall 1t had pierced on one side. This
was not an explosive shell.
A number of holes clear through
the hull from one side to the other.
the greatest damage being done on the
farthest side of the ship. None OF
these holes. however. were through
the 11.inch armor belt
Some dead animals and chickens
killed by the interior explosions. Some
OF the animals. however were I'M
harmed
A cat walked quietly out of one of
the turrets. whose base had been
smashed by 12.lnch shell.
The further experiments TO be made
with the ship will be confined to at.
tacks on the armor belt and turrets.
No effort will be made to raise the
San Marcos. II would cost several
hundred thousand dollars to float the
ship and restore her to her original
condition and she is not worth II.