Near-Dark, No Windows, Filled with Explosives, and Breathing Cordite. 1894

JF Ptak Science Books   Quick Post

This is an elementary but still highly useful cross-section illustration, showing the semi-automatic loading system for a U.S. Navy  rapid fire gun as it appeared in Scientific American for September 17, 1894.   I wonder if the sailor sending up the (six inch?) shells in near -dark (except for the "light box") was breathing in any of the cordite from above?  The weapon was probably the revolutionary six-inch Dashiell rapid firing breech loading gun, which in trials scored 5 aimed hits at a 900-yard target in 55 seconds.  Fast and accurate for 1894.