Page 70

March 23, 1899, clear and very pleasant. Very gentle breeze. Course this morning was N13° W. Barometer rising. At 6:00 AM, rigged up a target and got things in readiness for target practice. At 9:00 put the target over and went to general quarters. Had target practice with the main and secondary batteries; ranges varying from 300 to 5000 yards. My station was up at the crow's nest of the foremast with Navel Cadet Gilmer, who took observations of target through sextant; giving me the ° [degree] and ‘ [feet] and I finding range and informing the Officers stationed on the bridge. Fired 22 shots from 5' and 77 from 3 pounders. Lost target in trying to pick it up. All divisions were ready in 2'10". Set the clock back seven minutes at 11:37. In the afternoon, weather was partly cloudy and barometer started to fall very slowly. Changed course at 12:09 to N 28° W. Tested life buoys and found them to work satisfactorily. Had quarters at 4:15 and exercised at "monkey drill". 

Wrote to J. 

Lat at noon DR 29° 17' 30” S.

Long at noon DR 72° 20' 30 “ W. 

Covered a distance of 325 miles since noon March 22.




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