Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-12-20

htouutS @Gout iSt guns 1t Is biillt Of
white limestone, fne sound stone. which
becomes hard and is very drrable. the
same material being used for all the other
forts. Between every two easements are
furnaces for heating shot red hot: we
measured the calibre of the euns. and
found it to be eight inches. capable of
throwing shells of sixty y-eight pound solid
shot
Sebastopol is admirably adapted by ma
ture for strong position toward the sea-
and it will be seen from what we have
stated above, that this has been fully
taken advantage of To render 1t one of
the most formidably fortified places. in
that direction. which could be imagined
We do not mean to assert that it is i'm
possible to destroy Sebastopol from the
sea alone, but we believe that it could only
be accomplished by an unnecessary sacr-
fee of life End ships with our present
means. and that it would be nothing short
of madness to attempt it unless we had q
reserve feet on the spot sufficiently strong
to insure the command of the Black Sea
in case of failure.
In speaking of the means Of defense at
Sebastopol. we have left the Russian feet
out of the question. This. however. is
not to be treated either with indifference
or contempt, for while we are ready to
admit that neither in the strength of the
ships, in the quality of the sailors, nor
in any other respect, can it be compared
for an instant to those of England and
France. vet there can be DO doubt of the
Russian seamen being well trained in
gunnery. nor of their being endowed
with kind of passive courage. which
would lead them to stick to their work.
when not called upon to exercise their
seamanship, in which they are very def
eient
We visited. among other ships. the
T5celre Apost1es. of l20 guns. and the first
Lieutenant accompanied us over her
She was remarkably fine looking ship,
in excellent order, ard very neat in her
fittings One thing winch instantly
struck US was the absence of hammock
hooks; bat we learnt that beds were lux
uries which the Russian sailors never
dream of, the decks forming their only
resting places.
The town of Scbastopol is situated on
the point of land between the commercial
and military harbors, which rises gradu-
ally from the waters edge to an elevation
of 200 feet 1t is more than mile In
length. and its greatest width is about
three quarters of mile, the streets en-
tering the open steppe on the south. 1t
was partly defended on the west towards
the land by loop-holed wall
The streets are built in parallel lines
from north to south. and interseeted by
others from east and west; and the houses.
being of limestone, having substantial
appearance The public buildings are
fine The library erected By the Emperor
for the use of naval and military officers,
is of Grecian architecture, and is elegant
ly fitted up internally. The books are
principally confined to naval and military
subjects. and the sciences connected with
them. history, and some light reading
The club house is handsome externally.
and comforta bic within; it contains a large
ball room which is its most striking feat
ure and billiard room, which appeared to
be the great centre of attraction but one
looked in vain for reading rooms, filed
with newspapers and journals such as are
found in the clubs of England
To form a great reservoir, and thus to
insure a constant supply of water, an euor-
nous dyke of stone. like those of the pool
OF Solomon. near Bethlehem, was built
across a mountain gorge. but on much
more stupendous scale. MIR Wm. Upton
superintended the engineering depart
ment. and the work was achieved with
perfect success. proper sluces being con
structed to prevent too great a pressure
in case of unusually heavy rain.
In order to make sufficient space for the
dock. the canal Of which leads from the
southern extremity CT the little port, it
was necessary to cut away a portion of the
mountain, and Oh the top of the great per
pendicular wall thus made. now stands
massive pile of stone buildings, used as
the sailors winter barracks.
In case of au enemy penetrating the
dock-yard port. these barracks might be
held as formidable position by men arm
ed with the MIME rife; and it has been
suggested that a couple of line of battle
ships in the basin. with their broadsides
to the port. and commanding it, would also
form battery of great power. Thus. IN
an attack by sea alone on Sebastopol- eve
ry inch of ground would have to be con-
tested.
4 large filter has been erected, from
which pipes are carried to the quay. into
which a stream has heen turned from the
acueauct. and when a ship requires a sup
ply of water she or the tank barges have
only 10 go alongside, hose is attached to
the pipe. put on board. and the process is
accomplished with the greatest facility and
expedition No expense has been spared
to render this naval arsenal perfect, and
we doubt whether there is another in Eu
rope so convenient, always supposine the
works projected to have been carried out
The streets of Sebastopol, as may be
expected, TEEN with soldiers, sailors in
deed no one uBconnected with this service
lives there; and all but Russians are dis
couraeed or forbidden to do so
1t was stated that no foreigners were
permitted to remain there more than "a
hours but during a sojourn of 10 days
we met with no interference. although we