The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-06-30
Inslde a Fighting Turret-ship.

1 once heard an old sailor who fought in
a monitor, describe the sound of the shots
beating against the vessels plates. You
know what it is to be in long railway
tunnel-how intensely dark it is, far
darker than starless night, and how
yellow and feeble the lights look. Well,
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 elevator
connecting with the turrets, others car
rying coal from the bunkers to the fur
naces underneath the boilers. The en-
gines groan and rattle, and at times the
Captains bell rings a sharp order to in
crease 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 a
kidnapper behind it. The men anxious
ly await each moment, not knowing
what deadly surprise it may bring forth
And IA 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 momentary ter
ror. 1t is as though the inner deck and
walls were falling in upon them, and for
| a little while they are unable to realize
what has appened-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-
BILE 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 bulldogs
in the ;urrets 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,
fifteen feet high, and each one is fast
ened to massive upright pillar of iron
passing through the center and working
in socket on the lower deck. The
pillar is connected by a series of cog
wheels with q steam engine, which
causes it to turn the turret in the direc-
ton the Captain requires.
Two small port holes are cut in the
plates of the turret, and furnished with
solid iron doors. When the guns are 10
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 Sec
ond after they have uttered their bark
they are dragged in, and the doors are
closed, just in time, perhaps, to avoid
two return shots which crack like thun-
der on the plates outside. While the
guns are being loaded again, the men
are fastened 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 lit
tie iron-clad pilot house, whence the
Captain directs the movements of his
vessel. 1t has no window, and the only
outlook is through Sits, about ali incn
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-
gines, and the turrets, by a 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
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-
tons are the most perilous. IL.
Rideing, 81. Nicholas for July.