National Republican., 1875-11-02
NAVY YARD NOTES.
The Ordnance Museum.


No visitor to the navy yard should fall to see
the ordnance museum. 1t is square brick build
ing, two stories high, and is reached BY the ave-
nue. running down to the left as you enter through
the main gate, and was erected on the recon-
mendation of the late Rear Admiral John A.
Dahlgren for the purpose Of collecting within
its walls specimens OF all small arms in and out
of service, shot, shell, torpedoes, and in fact
nearly every piece Of ordnance or instrument,
with the exception of heavy guns, that has been
invented for use in time Of war. Asyou enter the
door you are met by old Jack Holmes, the pre-
siding genius of the Institution. Jack las grown
gray in the service, and has cast anchor here.
He will take you In charge, and point out the first
three show cases on the right These contain
struction. When you reach the east end an
original Gatling gun meets the eye. This gun
has six barrels and is turned with crank when 1t
is desirable to use 1t. Since IL was manufactured
improvements have been made to the model, and
the GatlnR guns now in service have ten instead
of six barrels. Near 1t is a curious-lOoking arm
called the Billinghurst battery, invented during
the war. but never used. This battery has some
wheel carriage, and SO pointed that when the
charges in them are exploded, as they can be all
at once, the bullets scatter in every direction.
The barrels of this battery are about the same
calibre as the Springfield rife. In front Of the
Billinghurstis is the Floyd breech- loading 3-pound
rifed gun, the invention OF John b. Floyd, who
was Secretary of War under James Buchanan.
The cases along the north wall are filled with
Snot and s9eI ProKen apa ournt ltoi, wne oe,ns S1
OF the windows looking north stands q shattered
section of the
STERN POST OF THE KEARsARGE,
in which is embedded an unexploded shell fired
from the rebel pirate Alabama in the memorable
engagement of Cherbourg Had that shell ex-
ploded the probabilities are that Captain Wins
low and bis ship would have gone to Dsvy Jones'
locker. Passing on to the west end of the build
ing, among the interesting objects you will see is
a gun said to have been brought over by CorteZ,
and used in the conquest of Mexico. 1t was casein
the year 1890, two years before Columbus discov-
cred America, and was captured by the United
States forces at Alverado, Mexico, in 1s46. 1t is
a breechloader, but Of q clumsey pattern; that
portion Of 1t where the charge inserted is about
eight inches long, four inches in diameter and
shaped like hat-iron on top, having handle by
the gun when 1t is to be loaded; It is sound the
bottom, and when placed In position for firing is
The cannon is cert ainly q curiosity, and it dis
proves the general impression that breech-loaders
are q new Invention.
Near the Cortez gun is a beautiful l2pound
Dahlgren brass boat-howitZer, mounted on q
handsome wrouRht-iron carriage. The three
cases on the right of the door are principally de-
voted to fuses and pieces of broken missiles.
Along by the windows looking south are the
shells OF torpedoes Of every description. Most of
by the United States fleets in Southern rivers
and harbors, but there are some that were de-
signed by the oficors Of our navy. Among them
late ''e ''"'''s 0i 'n' '0fp'u0 Win "ni'n the
COMMANDER CUSHING
blew up the rebel ram Albemarle at Plymouth
North Carolina, in October, 1854. 1t is conical
shaped, about two and q half feet long by about
ten inches in diameter, and made Of copper. At
the butt end is an appurtenance by which 1t can be
attached to q boom or spar when 1t is charged
and ready for use. Few who look at this torpedo
can scarcely imagine how terribly its prototype
done its work on the side Of the monster that at
one time bid defiance to our navy. After show
ing you the torpedoes and gun at the foot of the
stairs, old Jack Holmes will invite you to step up
TO the second floor. As you walk up
the polished steps your attention Is at
tracted by an immense circle on the side
| Of the stair wall, formed with cutlasses with
brass guards attached to the hilt. In the centre
OF this circle is the figure Of an eagle graspIng
the shield, sc. When the top of the stair Is
reached a number Of cases containing the Rem
| ington and other improved arms are seen along
the walls. At the west end is model OF the
Cobb or ordnance dock at New York, while at
different places throughout the room are models
Of guns, turrets, boats and other appliances used
| in naval warfare On the gun-racks are weapons
Of every size and calibre, from the ancient blum
derbuss to the sxteen-shooter. The ceilings of
both stories are ornRmented with stars and
diamonds, formed Of swords and bayonets, while
| on the cross. beams Of the upper story miniature
cannon are pointed in every direction, and beside
them are small stacks Of shot If space would
permit more could be written on this museum, q
visit TO which will amply repay the reader If he
or she has not already seen II.