Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-08-02
Inside . f,shsi.x rurres Ship.

AosAoC = - neAs8 % %
once heard an old sailor who fought
i'm a monitor, describe the sound of the
shots beating against the vessels plates.
You know what it is to be in a long
railway tunnel,-how intensely dark it
is, far darker than a starless night, and
how yellow and feeble the lights look.
Well, it is much the same in the bowels
OF a turret-ship, when all the hatch
ways 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 carrying coal from the bunkers
to the furnaces underneath the boilers.
The engines groan and rattle, and at
times the captains bell rings a sharp
order to slacken or increase the speed.
Meanwhile, if there has been a lull in
the firing, the men move about feeling
very like timid boy who is alone in a
country lane after dark-not that they
are afraid. The boys look at every
shadow, thinking there is robber or
kidnapper behind it. The men anX-
iously await each moment, not know
ing what deadly surprise it may bring
forth.
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 a mOmentary
terror. 1t 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-uncer-
tain 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-
bic over on one side and moan with
pain before the vessel rights herself
again and steadies herself for fresh ex-
ertions. Then she returns the cOmpli-
ments paid her with vengeance, and
her bulldogs 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 diam
eter. fifteen feet high, and each one is
far,apaI ta n p,a.siva upright pillar of
iron passing through the center and
working in a socket on the lower deck.
The pillar is connected by series of
cog-wheels with a steam-engine, which
causes it to turn the turret in the direc-
ton the captain requires.
Two small portfolios 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
second 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 thunder 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 a
little iron-clad pilot-housc, whence the
captain directs the movements of his
vessel. 1t 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 dan
gerous of all, stands there throughout
the thick of the fight, controlling the
rudder, the engines, and the turrets,
by motion of the hand or the tinkle
of bell,
You may remember what told you
in previous articte,-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 slits in his little
lookout box, when a 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. Nicko-
las.
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