| Show THE VESUVIUS the papers of the east bast are giving pictures galore of the cruiser vesuvius since her exploit at santiago a few days clays ago aero she is the only vessel of the kind in the world and her construction st and equipment were looked upon more as an experiment than any thing else she has been tried before beffi but such trials were to some extent dress dresa parades and there was a good deal of interest felt to 10 see what she could accomplish in active service the opportunity came a week am ago in ua ahr i night when the vessel crept up near enough to the headland fortifications at the entrance of santiago harbor to get 9 a good range and without warning let fly three shells each containing pounds of gun cotton these tore up the earth at a furious rate and de 1 l moli polished shed everything within reach whether Wn ether they killed anybody or turn bilm 1 b bled ae d ov over 6 r a any ny dete to is not kno tout but because of the precision with which they were placed and their fearful destructive truc tive power the test was pronounced successful it seems fro from m descriptions given that ahalt the guns gun being discharged by pneumatic power made no noise until the hells reached the object against which they were directed and exploded under such circumstances as these ves eels aels of the vesuvius type evidently are to prove of value it still remains to be seen however says the chicago record how such a vessel will work under other conditions and especially where greater activity is required the mechanism of the vesuvius is delicate and doubtless might easily get out of order at critical junctures the ves eel carries no armor and consequently bould could be destroyed by a single well placed shot from the enemy but the effects of the dir discharge charge of the shells in the neighborhood of santiago harbor indicate that within its limitations the vessel Is likely to prove as effective an engine of destruction as its champions have claimed perhaps 1 the vesuvius greatest art field of usefulness will be found in clearing harbors of mines and torpedoes and obstructions obstruct lons and if this shall prove to be the case the vessel is in abood a good place for the exercise of its peculiar qualities right where it is the news that sampson could without danger of being blown up en route run into the barbor and have that long expected interview with mr cervera would be vy very gratifying to people everywhere in this his broad land |
