Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-07-21
A Monitor I'm Battle.
HOW WATCH BELOW" APPEARS ON A
TURRETED VESSEL.

TUHhETED VESSEL.
/ once heard an old sailor, who fought In a
monitor, describe the sound of the shots
against the vesseI's plates. You know what
II Is TO be in long railway tunnel-how
Intensely dark II is-fsr darker than star
less night, and how yellow and feeble the
lights look. Well, it Is much the same In a
turret ship when all the hatchways are
closed: on lamps swing from the beams,
but they give no luster, and each flame
seems like little bit of yellow floating
In the ali. The men grOpe about and
knock against each other, some bearing
ammunition to the elevator connecting
with the turrets, others carrying Goals
from the bunkers 20 the furnaces under
meath the boilers. The engines groan and
rattle, and at times the captains bell rings
sharp order to slack or Increase the speed.
Meanwhile, If there has been lull in the
firing, the men move about feeling very
much like timid boy who is alone In a
country lane after dark-not that they are
afraid. The boy looks at every shadow,
thinking there is robber or kidnapper be-
ment, not knowing what deadly surprise it
may bring forth. And as the battle goes on,
IL is not long before there is a ringing sound
that is calculated to fill the bravest, strongest
nerve with momentary terror. 1t Is as If
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 tumble over
vessel rights herself again and stea1ies her
self for fresh eXertiOns. Then she returns
the compliments paid her with vengeance,
and her bull dogs IN the turret bark and spit
fire at the enemy until we pity that untOr-
tunate, and wish she would retire from the
field.
Tie turrets are arranged along the deck
They are about ten feet In diameter, fifteen
feet high, and each one is fastened to a mas
sive upright pillar of iron passing through
the center and working in q socket on the
lower deck. The pillar is connected by a
series OF cog-wheels with a steam engine,
which causes 1t TO turn the turret In the
direction the captain requires. Two small
portfolios are cut In the plates of the tur -et
and furnished with iron doors. When the
guns are fired they are worked on slides to
the portfolio, which rem nds us OF the mouth
OF dogs kennel, and their noses pointed at
the enemy. A second after they have ut
tered their bark, they are dragged in aud
doors are closed, just In time, perhaps, tn
avoid two return shots which crack like
thunder on the plates outside. While the
guns are being loaded again, the men are
hestened by the whistle and crash OF the
shot and she'll, which strike the iron walls
OF the turret.
Above one Of the turrets there is little
irOd-clad pilot house, whence the captain
no window, and the only outlook is through
Sits, about an inch wide, in the plates.
The Intrepid man, whose position is the
most dangerous of all, stands there through
ont the thick Of the fight, controlling the
rudcer, the engines and the turrets by
motion of the hand or a tinkIe of q bell
| Boston Herald