Connecticut western news., 1876-07-07
Inside a Fighting Turret Ship.

once heard an old sailor who fought in 8 monitor, describe the sound of the shots beating against the vessels plates. You know what it is to be in 8 long railway tunnel, ,-how intensely dark it is, far darker than starless night, and how yellow and feeble the lights look. We'll, it is much the same in the bowels of turret ship, when all the hatchways are closed. Oil lamps swing from the beams, but they give no luster, and each flame seems like little bit of yellow floating in the air. The men grope about and knock against each other, some bearing ammunition to the eleva- tor connecting with the turrets, others carrying coal from the bunkers to the furnaces underneath the boilers. The engines groan and rattle, and at times the captains bell rings sharp order to slacken or increase the speed. ....-9 Meanwhile, if there has been 8 lun in the firing, the men move about feeling like timid boy who is alone in coun- try lane after dark-not that they are afraid. The boy looks at every shadow, thinking there is robber or a kidnap- per behind it. The men anxiously await each moment, net knowing what deadly surprise it may bring forth. ..I
 And as the battle goes on, it is not long before there is ringing sound that is calculated to fill the bravest and strongest of nerve with 8 momentary terror. It is as though the inner deck and walls were falling in upon them, and for little while they are unable to realize what has happened-uncertain that they are not on their way to the bottom. Every ear is stung with the awful sound, and every nerve is thrilled. The great mass of iron seems to tum- ble over on one side and moan with pain before the vessel rights herself again and steadies herself for fresh exertions. Then she returns the compliments paid her with vengeance, and her bull dogs in the turrets bark and spit fire at the enemy until we pity that unfortunate, and wish she would retire from the field. The turrets are ranged along the deck. They are about ten feet in diameter, if teen feet high, and each one is fastened to massive upright pillar of iron pass ing through the center and working in 8 socket on the lower deck. The pillar is connected by series of cogwheels with steam engine, which causes it to turn the turret in the direction the captain requires. s...
 Two small portholes are cut in the plates of the turret, and furnished with solid iron doors. When the guns are to be fired, they are worked on slides to the portholes, which remind us of the mouth of dogs kennel, and their no- ses are pointed at the enemy. A second after they have uttered their bark, they are dragged in, and the doors are closed, just in time, perhaps, to avoid two re- turn shots which crack like thunder on the plates outside. While the guns are being loaded again, the men are bastened by the whistle and the crash of the shot and shell, which strike the iron walls of the turret.
 Above one of the turrets there is lit tie iron clad pilot house, whence the captain directs the movements of bis vessel. It 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, controlling the rudder, the en- zines, and the turrets, by motion of the hand or the tinkle of bell.
 | You may remember what I told you in @ 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 l Merrimack from the slits in his little | lookout box, when shell struck the outside and knocked him senseless. All captains of turret ships are exposed to such dangers as this, and even greater ones ; indeed, as have said, their posi- tions are the most perilous.-St. Nich- | OL0S