The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-12-27
Former BrattlebOr0 Man Now
a POWderman Stationed
Off Coast of Mexico
REMARKABLE RESULT
OF TARGET PRACTICE
Skipping Shell Sends Several Columns
Of Spray Into Air Mile Apart-Mr
Leader Formerly Was Superintendent
for E. L. Hildreth Co.

In forwarding to c. l.. Cobb check
covering dues in Wantastiquet lodge
OF Odd Fellows. Leon !. Leader, tor.
merlv superintendent Of L. L. Hldrcta
4 Go. 5 printing plant, writes an in
tcrcsting letter concerning his expert
cnccs in the United States navy in the
past few months Mr. Leader is 4
powderman on the New jersey, winch
is lying off Tuxpam, Mexico. HIS let
ter was dated at TuNpam sunday, Dee
:, and is as follows
This Part of the world seems a
long way from the Green Mountains.
After spending the summer on the At
lantic coast with headquarters at New
Iport, we were ordered south in October.
/ Among other places visited were
| New York Memorial day for the dedl-
cation of the monument to the crew OF
the Maine: Boston for Bunker Hlll
day. Salem on July +; Annapolis to
take the midshipmen on their summer
cruise (while here | made a trip To
| Washington over Sunday; Newport
! Norfolk and Hampton Roads, Annapo
| lis again, and then to Boston tor dock
ing before leaving for Mexico.
Target practice was held on the
Southern drill grounds near Hampton
Roads twice, covering a week each
time. This was preceded by many
weeks subcalihre practice. when small
calibre guns are placed on the great
guns and experience is thus gained II
aiming and handling the guns at les:
expense than were charges fired iron
the great guns themselves.
am powderman on the 12-incl
guns in the after turrct, and Will
I the rest of the gun crew, was Yer,
much pleased last Friday wncn ",
were called out before the assemble
crew OF the ship to receive prizes 0
J SO each. We had won second prIlv 70
: l2-inch guns in the whole navy, and a
r !, the New jersey is one Of the olde
G battleships, nearly ready for going on
: Of commission, we felt proud OF beat
!. ing the newer ships at shooting
: One Of the thrce-inch guns won frs
prize in It's class, S2o per man, and tn
G forward 12-iuch turret Won third prlz
6 - per man.
4 Probably few people realize he nun
Der Of men il requires 10 fight q BATH
I ship or to man It's guns and machlner
: | While the threelnch guns are handle
\ hy four men, the l2.inch turrets, co.
tanning two guns, require 70 men
man the guns, magazines, shelIroom
pass up the powder aud operate Il
intricate machinery of the turrct. o,
k record was six shots. SIX hits, III o.
i minute and 80 seconds. It Wa, oniy
d mere technicalitv that we did not !
" ceive first prize We should have fir
n three green and three white shells, al
. We were scored lis firing four gre
IS and two white. The shells are fresh
painted before firing so they lea
= traces Of color where they pass throui
the target and prevent q hole made
rs other means being counted as h
ID The above time includes bringing t
st powder and shells from the magazi
IL TO the guns, loading, aiming and Grn
n The 12-inch she'll weighs 80 poun
rs and is propelled by $50 pounds
I'd smokcless powder, in four bags, res
V. | larry, but in target practice = reaue
e. charge Of three bags is used. Aithou