Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-06-30

once heard an old sailor who fought in
a monitor, describe the sound of the shots
beating against the vessels plates. You
know what 1t is to be in long railway tun-
nel,-how Intensely dark II is, far darker
than starless night, and how yellow and
feeble the lights look. Well, 1t is much the
same in the bowels ofaturret-ship, when all
the hatchways are closed. Oil-lamps swing
from the beams, but they give no luster,
and each flame seems like a little bit of
yellow floating in the air. The men grope
about and knock against each other, some
| bearing ammunition to the elevator connect
ing with the turrets, others carrying coal
from the bunkers to the furnaces under
meath the boilers. The engines groan and
rattle, and at times the captains bell rings
a sharp order to slacken or increase the
speed.
Meanwhile, If there has been lull in
the firing, the men move about feeling very
like timid boy who is alone in country
lane after dark-not that they are afraid.
The boy looks at every shadow, thinking
there is a robber or kidnapper behind 1t.
The men anxiously await each moment,
not knowing what deadly surprise il may
bring forth.
And as the battle goes on, II is not long
before there is ringing sound that is cal
culated to fill the bravest and strongest of
nerve with momentary terror. 1t is as
though the inner deck and walls were fall
ing in upon them, and for a little while
they are unable to realize what has hap
pened-uncertain that they are not on their
way to the oitom. Every ear is stung
with the awful sound, and every nerve is
thrilled.
The great mass of iron seems 10 tumble
over on one side and moan with pain be-
fore the vessel rights herself again and
steadies herself for fresh exertions. Then
she returns the compliments paid her with
vengeance, and her bulldogs in the tur-
rets bark and spit fire at the enemy until
we pity that unfortunate, aHd wish she
would retire from the field.
The turrets are ranged along the deck.
They are about ten feet in diameter, fifteen
feet high, and each one is fastened to
massive upright pillar of iron passing
through the centre and working in sock
ct on the lower deck. The pillar is con-
nected by a series of cog-wheels with a
steam-engine, which causes it to turn the
turret in the direction the captain requires.
Two small PORTFOLIOS are cut in the plates
of the turret, and furnished with selid iron
doors. When the guns are to be fired, they
are worked on slides to the PORTFOLIOS,
which remind us of the mouth of dogs
kennel, and their noses are pointed at the
enemy. A second after they have uttered
their bark they are dragged in and the doors
closed, just in time, perhaps, TO avoid,two
return shots which crack like thunder on
the plates outside. While the guns are be-
ing loaded again, the men are hastened by
the whistle and crash of the shot and shell,
which strike the iron walls of the turret.
Above one of the turrets there is a little
irOn-clad pilot house, where the captain
directs the movements of his vessel. 1t
has no window, and the only outlook is
through slits, about an inch wide, in the
plates. The intrepid man, whose position
is the most dangerous of all, stands there
throughout the thick of the fight, control
ling the rudder, the engines, and the tur-
rets, by motion of the hand or the tinkle
of bell.
You may remember what told you in a
previous article,-I am beginning to look
upon you as old friends, by the way,-about
Admiral Worden, the hero of the Monitor.
He was watching the Merrimack from the
Sits in his little look -out box, when shell
struck Il o outside aud knocked him sense
less. All captains of turret-ships are ex-
posed 10 such dangers as this, and even
greater ones; indeed, as 1 have said, their
positions are the most perilous.-.T Nicho-
las for July.