The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-07-15


rouse up the terrors of this war
specimens of all the varieties of guns
made here, from the old hintlock down to
the latest Improvements of breech-loading
musket. Here, too, / handled with curios-
ity the needle gun and the telescope instru-
ment of the sharp shooter, and heard puz-
zling explanations of the inventions,
enough to make one admire to what fine
ness the science of murder can be reduced.
There were some 500 models in all, also few
relics from the Harper's Ferry armory,
whose destruction by fire LETT Springfield the
sole remaining armory. The workshops
were our next point OF interest. Here, tbs
engineer exhibited to US the mysteries OF
his underground domain, furnace, water
tank, condensing pipes, and with pride re-
hearsed the virtues of the huge pet and
plaything whose mighty energies his fidelity
for thirteen years has curbed to the arInory
uses. In his Office above ground he has
collected q museum and cabinet of
curiosities, stuffed birds, Che is a self
taught taxidermistl, an eagle with the
star-spangled banner artistically arranged
above its head; also live eagle ia coop
in the yard tearing W IT'D carnivorOUs feroclty
a filthy morssi OF eutrsils; stuffed snakes,
equ2ria. minerals, hOrnet's nests; treasures
from ali natures realms. L asked IL he re-
ceived pay TOR his exhibition and learned
that il was quite tree; he liked it, and II
made the place look pretty, and he noticed
1.-The commanding officer kind o'iiked TO
have it, too" Our names in his book was
all he coveted for his show. Happy engin-
eer-faithful servant. Who shall say, when
the books are opened, that his viii be a
humber name than some of the titled ones
which he holds in such honor? The making
of gun from the rough block OF wood Is
all illustrated in the various rooms of the
workshops. Visitors are forbidden
to speak 10 the workmen, or the latter 10
each other except from necessity. All goes
on quietly, and with the regularity of clock
work. An intelligent foreman, in answer
TO some inquiries, advanced the idea in re-
gard TO
INVENTORS AND INVENTIONS
that to no one man is ever due the credit of
a mechanical invention. Somebody gets
an idea, or may be half an idea into his
head, an i gives it to practical workman to
see what ne can do with it. As likely as
not the workman finds it amt worth a cent
rs it is, but he sees something it needs, and
alters It or fixes il, and somebody else
alters il again, and by and by they have
made il q success, and then they call it the
- gun, but it don't belong to - any
more than it does to the other men that
worked it up" This mechanic master of
mis- trade evidently had a profound contempt
for visionary paper theorists, who
come in after work has been done
TO despoil honest laborers of their
laurals. Nor had he a much moro exalted
idea Of the wisdom OF congressman who
make and reduce appropriations and cut
down the laboring force of Springfield ar
mory. 1.-THE more guns we make, the tower
hands it takes in proportion, and the cheaper
we can co the work, and yet we have had
orders TO reduce the number" III some
body could onlv explain to congress they'd
know BETTER" said he; but he added, with
a sigh of incredulity: ST don't know as they
want to understand thingsw Leaving the
foreman to his dubiety about the congress-
mans desire tor enlightenment in regard 10
the economy OF musket making, we re-
turned to the office and availed our
selves of the politeness of an official TO gain
from the books and recosds some
statistics of the armory, Tradi
ton says-it would be out of the spirit
of the times TO stop short OF oral tradition
that Gen. Washington selected the site OF
the armOry. Be that as IL may, there IS
date in the armory records referring to work
done in the "laborators," as The first build
ing was called, as early as 177S. Fhe national
armoIy was established by act of congress 10
1874. There are in all about 40 buildings,
including officers quarters. Also the
water works, mile away, belong to tthe
government, and there is done the heavy
forging for the armory. The total value OF
the property, stores, etc, is abont S, ,OOO, ,OOO
This visit revived my own fading memories
of the poet Longfellow's lines, embodying
the sentiment OF these scenes, and as it has
interested me to reread them, it may also
be pleasant 10 your readers to recall them in
this connection:
This is the arsenal. From floor to ceiling,
Like huge organ, rise the Furnished arms;
But from their silent pipes no anthem peal1ng
Startles the villages with strange alarms.
OH what a sound will rise, how wild and dreary
When the death-angel touches those swift
keysi
What loud lament and dismal mlserere
Win mtngle with their awful symphonies!
@ y
Down the dark future, through long generations
The echoJDg sounds grow fainter and then,
cease;
And like bell with solem sweet vibrations
1 hear once more the voice of Christ say, Peace