Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-05-31

Extensive Preparations for War
The Coming Movement Against
Canada-Arms and Ammunition
for One Hundred Thousand Men
The Fenian Arsenals in New York
City.
FROM the New York H,rald My 81
Ii may have been supposed by many,
owing to the luii in Fenian matters during
the present year, that the attack on Canada
was finally and forever postponed; but
any one acquainted with the interior work
ings OF the organization would be disabus-
ed OF the idea by observing the magnitude
of its secret operations. In consideration
of the fact that the United States Govern
inent is said 10 have formed a determine
ton not TO interccdc or interfere in any
movements of the Fenians against Causda
in the future, it was not deemed inappro-
pirate to obtain privately the details of
their preparations during the past eighteen
months Tor a public announcement.
by visit TO the iron foundry of
McDermot & Co., Eighteenth street. near
avenue Is, it was observed and learned
that since the LIST of January, 1866. the
most active preparations have been i'm
progress in the way of manufacturing
ordinance and arms for the Fenians under
the leadership of President Roberts.
During this time they have been manufac-
turing at this foundry large numbers of
twelve and twenty four Founders, ofbronze
metal, OF ten hundred or twelve hundred
weight each. and shells of various sizes at
the rate of two hundred per day. Besides
this, three or four tuns Of grape and CAMS
ter shot have been manufactured daily. or.
since the receipt of the contract, over two
Thousand tuns. Three or four United
States service field cannon have also been
made. The howitzers have been principally
made ~ other fOundries. About twenty
or thirty twelve Founders, or Napoleon
guns, nave also been made during the past
year. These are manufactured of bronze
metal or brass, and weigh about seven
hundred pounds each. They are to be
drawn by four horses.
The foundry employs thirty five men.
who are constantly engaged in the manu-
facture of ordinance for the Fenan service.
These have been actively employed in this
work for the past eighteen months. Three
or four mounted howitzers have also been
made during this year by McDermot d Co.
These weigh nine hundred pounds each.
and can propel twelve-pound shot or
shell distance adequate 10 eilcctual work
in actua! service. These arms and NUM-
lions of war are stationed in twelve build
ings in this city, oStensibly rented for
mercantile purposes, but which are soon to
yield forth their arsenal contents ofdeadly
weapons To deal another and severer blow
on the Canadian Government a similar
arrangement obtains in every prominent
city in the country.
The Fenians in this city alone have al
ready stored away enough artillery and
ammunition TO equip 100000 men and
supply them with the material of war for
SIN months. These are made on greatly
improved methods, which made them i,I-
measurably superior 10 those used in the
great rebellion. All the inventions and
improvements in Europe and elsewhere,
whose excellence has been established by
actual use, are being availed OF To- the am
plest extent of the Fenian excheQuer
Many Of these guns far supersede anything
heretofore invented. They have cannon
which will impel ten shots per minute,
and only require three men to manipulate
them. Formerly il required at least eight
men to serve u single gun. These arms
have cost the Fenian organization $500. OCO.
and the ammunition for six months over
Sl,oC0,0C0. This firm have also manufac-
,ured torpedOes of the most destructive
character at the rate of six per day, and
have therefore stored in their private arse
nails about twenty five hundred varying in
weight from two to six hundred pounds
each. They cost about 800 each. and
are 10 be used for harbor purposes. in
order TO destroy the commerce ofnn enemy.
A vessel coming in contact with one of
these will be blown up or so impaired as
to be unscrviccable. They arc filled with
powder and nitro glycerine, or Greek fire.
a very recent invention remarkable for its
destructive qualities. Millions of fuses
are also being manufactured by this firm.
These are, of course used for igniting and
bursting the shells. They arc made to ex-
plode in from two TO sixty seconds A
large number of spherical case shells have
also been made. These are filed with
gun or round musket balls. They are the
same as the ordinary shell. only a little
heavier, and are filed with balls They |
contain but small charge internally. in |
order to break the shell. The force of
the explosion breaks the shell and scatters
the balls far and wide with a deadly effect
a distance Of over one thousand Yards.
In the secret arsenals of this city alone |
there arc 10000 spherical case shells,
10000 grenade shells, 81 tuns of grape.
and or tuns Of canister shot, as well as
100 twelve and twenty-four pound howit- |
GERS, together with the others mentioned. |
These latter were bought cheap from the |
nited States, at the rate of old iron one |
cent and half per pound, as well as
large amount of cannon and ammunition
not mentioned above. Two or three tuns
of hand grenades are being manufactured |
per day by McDcrmot & Co., for the ap- |
preaching Fenian movement. These are |
'hree-inch shells, and can be thrown by
the hand among garrison or impelled
from the mouth Of gun or howitZer
The appearance at the foundry is not |
such as TO suggest any warlike dcmonstra- |
lions Of this magnitude, all The material of |
war, as soon as completed, being quietly
and secretly hauled away to the private