The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-05-25
PIrEADELPuIA. MAY 18Th,

tainlv will be, if its merits are understood.
W. Il. 5.
PHILADELPHIA, May 18th.
The United States Building contains world
of interesting and instructive exhibits, and it
undoubtedly, in comprehensiveness and COM
pleteness stands at the head of the Exposition.
In stroll therein this morning, discovered
much that had escaped observation at the first
visit. There are two or three carefully guard
cd glass cases, containing very interesting relics
OF Gen. Washincton-hls military suit, sword,
pistols. camp furniture, consisting of bed, chairs,
table furnishing, &c. There is set of porce-
lain, much cracked by service, that was present
ed by Lafayette to Mrs Washington. The gold
headed cane ~lled by Franklin to Washington
is among the curiosities. 1t was of this sword
and cane that well known American poet
wrote the stirring lines commencing
THE sword of the hero and staff of the sage,
Whose yalor and wisdom stamped on the age;
Jlme-hallowed lnenentoes OF those who have riven
Inc sceptre from tyrants the iightuings from
heaven"
Washngton's surveying ms truments have a
conspicuous place here. Also Baron de kalb's
saddle, and Jacksons coat, worn at the battle
of New Orleans. There are two flint lock
guns, chased and inlaid with gold, that were
presented 10 President Jefferson by the Empe-
ror of Morocco.
One object of the elaborate display of arms is
to show the improvements that have been made
In the century, and this has brought out some
interesting relics. There are two very beau
titullv ornamented six pound bronze cannon,
that were presented to the government by La
lAyette. When the Spanish held Louisiana
they had, in one of the old forts, twelve brass
cannon called The Twelve Apostles. They
took but 4 portion away, and the rest fell into
the hands of the United States, in consequence
Of which Schism in the church. four of the
saints, lettered as Mathew, Marx, Luke and
John, now exhibit themselves ut the Centen-
nisl. They are hard looking old chaps.
The show Of swords, cutasses, sc. is very
eXtensiye-among them some fine specimens Of
foreign make, such Malay Kreeses and To-
ledo swords that can be bent until the point
touches The hit, and then will fly back as
straight as a line. Among the mushets are
some that were used at Bunker Hill, and some
curious old French guns and pistols of the time
the flint lock snaps towards the soldier instead
of from him.
If Or. Pendleton of our city, with his love OF
Indian relics, We're here, he would certainly
break the command concerning the sin of COW
etousEess. This department is exhaustive
with its endless variety of weapons of bone
wood, stone, copper and iron. There are
stuffed figures Of Indian braves, with spears
arrows and shields, all ready for the war-path
There are the costumes Of gay young Indians,
dandies among the squaws, no doubt There
are necklaces of bear claws and dangling hui
man scalps.
Among these curosites is Il very interesting
model of a ruin found on the Rio dc Chiefly, in
Arizona-an ancient town built partially in a
caye-probably for security. Broken pottery
and ornaments curiously inlaid, taken from
these ruins, evidence a high state of refine
ment That region is full of the relics of = lost
civilization, the mystery Of which no research
has yet been able to penetrate.
The torpedo service, which is mystery to
most people, is here made plain. 1orpedoes
are represented in their three classes Of NOV,
able, towing and spar. The best specimen OF
the movable torpedo is the lay. One of these
here exhibited made of wrought-iron plates
has somewhat the shape of two cones joined at
their bases, and is about IS feet long and Is
feet in diameter. lis interior is divided into
four sections, separated by bulkheads. In the
forward section is placed the charge of seven
ty-tye pounds of dynamite or three hundred
pounds of powder, on the outside of the shell
being the conclusion fuses. In the second see
ton are vessel, Of carbonic acid gas, which fur
nishes the motive power to the engine, the lal
ter operating the helm. The engine is connect
ed by electric wires-a reel of which is in the
shipboard, the electric current opening or clos
ing the throttle-yalye, and thus causing the
streams Of carbonic acid flowing through pipes
TO have the same effect upon the engine as
steam The after section contains the engine
which guides the Internal machine at the will
OF the operator. From each end of the torpedo
rises pole four or five feet long bearing Il sig
nal flag, one being red and the other white, sc
that the operator can the better distinguish
line in sighting. The signals appear just above
water, the torpedo floating underneath, and
shark-lile awaiting its prey. 1t is sometimes
sent out as far as three miles from the opera
tor, and can DO drawn back at Will The tow.
ing torpedo is lowed alongside from the fore
yard of a vessel, while the spar torpedo is fixeG
upon a little craft of its own, above water, ant
upon spar- extending out over the bow
This morning there was rain again, with the
accompanying mud to the discomfort of every
body abroad, and consequent small attendance
at the Centennial grounds. This afternoon
there is an appearance of sunshine once more
W II. 5.