The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-02-20
WARRINGTON CORRESPONDENTS
WASHINGTON, D. c.. 18th, Isl

WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENTS.
WASHINGTON, D. c. 18th, 1866.
FRIEND DANFoRTH While / write, the
crowd ia surging towards the capitol to at
tend the Memorial to Abraham Lincoln"
The pressure on the members to obtain TICK
cts. leach member being limited to five tick
ets. has been immense. As high as $50,
ticket has been obtained. The large con-
course of strangers in the olty-the fame OF
the orator, Hon. Geo. Bancroft, the eminent
historian, the unceasing love OF novelty that
animates the American people, and the large
and imposing array of distinguished ceiebrl-
ties assembled together on this occasion, Is
the tru solution Of the mighty throng that is
vending it's way to the capitol. Were Mr.
Lincoln to look down on this throng, he would
witness such a scene of gsiety, frivolity, fun,
frolic and fashion as would temps him TO ex-
claim with the wise man of OLD, vanity OF
vaineties all is vanity"
While Mr. Bancroft is pouring forth his
studied eloQuence before the favored and mix
ed conglomerats in the capitol. let US, who
olive, move and have our being" entirely In
dependent of congressional favors take peep
into the
WASHINGTON ARSENAL.
Now that Rock Island has an embryo ar
ssnal of It's own, which will one day become
an object of attraction and interest to the
whole western country, 1t may be worth
while to learn how they are gotten up and
what particular features they present
Washington Arsenal is on the extreme end of
Greenleaf Point, or the Island, "a 1t IS called
here in Washington, from the fact that the
Baltimore and Ohio canal runs through this
city, and that portion south of the capitol and
Il -, .stha Island ~ IL
mands az extensive view. The Potomac and
eastern branch run by the arsenal shore
1t is one of the principal srsenals of con-
struction IN the United States and contains
much useful and ingenious machinery.
The chiet novelty, and indeed the only at
traction, apart, from the big guns. cassions
ammunition aud machinery. is a collection, en-
bracing all the different varieties of project
lies used during the war of the rebellion
These are Systematically arranged IN an
apartment in one of the arsenal buildings,
specially fitted up for that purpose.
Shelves are arraged completely around the
room, while the centre is occupied by two
stands upon which the shells aud other pro
jectiles are placed in regular order -
In addition to all the projeotiles used by
the Union forces, the collection includes q
great variety of shell, solid shot, So, many
of English manufacture, which have beer
captured from the rebels. Among those used
by the Union / observed the James proiec
tile, which was used to great advantage IL
the reduction of Fort Pulaski, in the earle,
days of the rebellion. The inventor unfor
tunately lost his lite while engaged in exhib
iting his she'll to several foreign officers and
others. IL appears that a workman attempt
ed to remove q cap from q shellw it'll a pail
of pliers. when it exploded, instantly killing
the workman and General james, who wa
assisting him, and severely injuring severa
of the bystsnders.
Several inteniously constructed torpedoes
destined to be used in destroying the vessel
of blockading squadron, are suspended
from the ceiling, mementoes of the ingenui
ty and perseverance of the confederatss, h
say nothing of the malignant spirit manifest
sd by them towards the protectors of the Tn
ion and the beloved emblem of our country
Three of the torpedoes. taken from the Jame'
river, are constructed of common casks, Will
conical floats attached to each end. They
were to be allowed to float down the STREAM
with the current. until they arrived in clos
proximity to the federal ships of war, ant
were then to be exploded by means of core
attached. Upon one of the shelves l observ
ed number of singularly shaped projectile,
termed darts. invented by Floyd when sec,
of war, and by him forwarded to the arsena
for trial. Like q majority of Floyd's projects
they proved q complete failure, much to thu
chagrin of the valiant hero of Fort Donald
son.
A collection of hand. grenades, of diferen
patterns, are among the most interesting OBJ
iects of attention. in the model room. On,
grenade is in the form of a hollow sphere
designed to be filled with powder. From tn
outside surface q number of common gun MI
Piles project, upon which percussion caps ar
placed. The grenades are to be used to re
pei an assault of an enemy upon q fortified
tion. and as they explode with but a Sigh
conclusion. they would undoubtedly prov
exceedingly destructive TO the assauiting par
ty. The Adams grenade is made in a simi
lar shape, only differing in the manner il
which it is exploded. 1t is the invention O
private in the army. who had observet
that the hand grenaies in general use FIRE
quently failed to explode. The hollow glot
contains the explosive matter and a commo
fuse, over which is placed friction plungel
To the plunger, Q lanyard. several yards i
length. is attached. one extremity Of which j
securely held in the hand of the perso
using the grenade. The projec.ile 10 throw
in any desired direction. and when it reache
the end of its lanyard the frictionplungsr is sus