The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-08-02
Inside of a Fighting Turret-Ship.

I once heard an old sailor who
fought Id a monitor describe the sannd
of the shots beating against the YES
sells plates. You know what it is TO
be in u long railway tunnel-how in.
tensely dark it is, far darker than a
starless night. and how yellow aid
feeble the llghta look. Well, it is
much the same in the bowels of a tnr-
ret ship, when all the hatchways are
closed. Oil lamps swing from the
beams, but they give no lustre, and
each fame seems like little bit OF
yellow floating in the air. Tie men
grope about aud knock against each
other, some bearing ammunition to the
elevator connecting with the tnrrets,
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
Meanwhile, if there has been lull
In the firing, the men move about feel
ing very like a timid boy who is alone
in country lane after dark-not that
they are afraid. The boy looks at ev-
cry shadow thinking there is a robber
or a kidnapper behind it. The men
anxiously await each moment, not
knowing what deadly surprise it mag
bring forth.
And as the battle goes on, it is not
long before there is ringing sound
that is calculated to fill tho bravest
and strongest of nerve with momen.
tary terror. It is as though the inne,
deck and walls were falling in upon
them, and for little while they are
unable t" realize what has happened
uncertain that they are not on their
way to the bottom. Every ear is stung
with the awful SQUAD, and every nerve
is thrilled.
The great mass ofiron seems to tum-
BILE over on one side and moan with
pain before the vessel ri,hts herseli
again and steadies herss'f ":;aiu Tor
fresh exertlons. Then she returns the
compliments paid her with q ven
geance, and her bnll 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 tur
rets are ranged along the deck. They
are abont 10 feet 10 diameter, Is feet
high, and each one is fastened to q
massive upright pillar of iron passing
through the centre and working in a
socket on the lower deck. The pillar
ia connected BY a series of cog wheels
with steam engine, which causes it
to turn the turret in the direction the
captain requires.
Tive small pert holes are cut in the
plates of the turret and furnished with
snlid iron doo,s. Ws.ea the guns are
to be fired, they are worked on slides
to the port holes, which remind us of
the month of a dogs kennel, and their
noses pointed at the enemy. A second
after they have uttered their bark.
they are dragged in, and the doors
closed, inst ia time, perhaps, TO avoid
two return shets which crack like
thunder on the plates outside. While
the guns are being loaded again, the
men are fastened by the whistle and
crash Of the slot and shell which strike
the iron walls of the turret. Above
oue Of the turrets there is little iron
clad piIot-house, whence the captain
directs the movements of his vessel
It has no window, and the only out
look is through Sits, about an inch
wide, in the plates. The intrepid
man, whose position is the mos, dan
gerous of all, stands there throughout
the thick of tho fight, controlling the
rndder, the engines, and the turrets by
u motion of the hand or the tinkle of
a bell. -....
You may remember what I told you
in previous article--I am beginning
to look upon yon as old friends, I,y the
way-about Admiral Worden, the hero
of the Monitor. He was watching the
Merrimack from the Sits in his little
lockout box when shell struck the
outside and knocked him senseless.-
All captains of trrret.s ships are ex
posed to such dangers as this, and even
greater ones indeed, "a I have said.
their Positions nre tue most perilous.
NV. H. Rideing in St. Nicholas for
July.
SAYS Mr.. William A. Wheeler
in his letter of acceptance, just
out:
"The American citizen, without re-
gard tn color, shall wear this panoply
of citizenship as fully and securely in
the canebrakcs OF Louisiana as on the
banks of the st. Lawrence"