Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1882-10-24
PRAISE THE LORD. :"
NORWICH, CoNN., OCT. l0, 1852

NOhhlOhi OONN'j OCt. 10, 1907
Dear Inferior:
My last closed with our arrival al
Portsmouth. The city is no great curiosi
ty, but just the ordinary seaport. Plenty
Of fishing odors, hiltOcks Of oyster shells
nautical store in every direction, with
grog shops galore. A handsome monu-
ment of gray granite, near the post Office
in honor of Confederate dead is as touch
| ing thing of the kind as l ever saw. Not
line Of inscription on the noble shaft but
the words 1851 1866" and at the base
just above the grass the words "COnieder-
ate dead" Unuttered and unallerable sor-
row that is only Knocked by an attempt to
carve it upon the rock.
We drove To the Navy Yard and won
derfully enjoyed the sights we witnessed
there. Ii is little town enclosed on three
sides with a high brick wall the fourth
being the dock front along the river. Az
enues of neatly built brick houses with
every variety of naval material, bear the
names of great men. We were shown over
the Armory by one Of the Clerks, Mr..
Mccoy, with the greatest courtesy. Every
possible variety Of weapon in modern use,
is gathered in this building. Shot, shell
cutlasses, pistols, rifles, boarding pixies,
sword bayonets, and many other things
that cannot enumerate, the awful Gatlin
gun, that throws 500 ounce balls minute
by turning a crank at the side, or 1000 a
minute il the crank is turned from the
end. Range 900 TO 800 yards. 1t made
me sick just to hear its revolutions with
empty cartridges dropping from il, like
hail. Description Is impossible, 30 deli
cate and complicated il the machinery.
The latest pattern Of the Hotchkiss breech-
loading cannon Is marvel Of beauty and
ingenuity, il any thing intended to kill
men can be called beautiful" Our next
visit was 10 the Monitor "Passaic," in dock
for repairs, but every thing perfectly ship
shape and ready for inspection. We were
kindly shown over her and every thing ex-
planned. Revolving turret, l | inches, sol id
iron, thick, two prodigious guns, every thing
living below water during the engagement
but the gunners and officer ia charge, port !
holes protected from a stray shot, the mo
ment the gun is fred and Withdrawn to
load, Sc, with which will not weary you,
though intensely interesting TO US, at the |
time. On the dock, where the Monitor |
lay, i read this inscription: Commenced |
Dec l, 1927, John Quincy Adams, Presi-
dent, Samuel l.. Southland, Sec. Of Navy.
Finished 18th June, 1888, Andrew jack
son, President, Levi Woodbury., Secretary
Navy Our next visit was TO a torpedo
ship, one Of the unsuccessful experiments
Of one Of our Admirals. II ed far
fully formidable TO landsman. The most
terrific cannon / ever saw, was mounted
IN the bow. Its weight, marked on the
Dreech was 1881. Ii throws a 3OO.lb.
ball, Is inches in diameter. Besides this
earful weapon 1t had ram projecting
rom the prov, that looked AZ IL il could
pierce and sink almost any thing that
loats. II had three places 10 discharge
through tubes thrust from its
ides and bow. We saw the torpedo mod
is in the armOry--awful things. But il Is
PRACTICAL failure and will perhaps never be
Ised The "Alarm" as this vessel Ia nam 1
d, is DominallY up for repain., and praeti- !
ally abandoned A colored employe
bowed US over the orewless, ofhoerless
tructu re. q
Next we went aboard the "Franklin"- Z
wing al anchor in the stream abreast Of |
he Navy Yard, and used as a training ship q
" officers and men. Ii was once Admiral =
'arraguts flagship when he circumnaviga- 8
ID the globe in her. More recently she q
adj her nOtOriety increased in certain
ERECTION by bringing over "Boss Tweed" n
risoner, from Europe. She is iDe Al r
an steam frigate, trim and staunch for her i
ind, but will perhaps never be used in
ar, such vessels having been superseded Il
Y the armored, floating castles Of modern ~
avel Architecture. A signal from oar j
Irri1ge brought wave Of a red flag ON a
'ard the ship, and neat steam launch I"
on transferred ms from shore 10 the yes h
]. A young officer, Thompson by name b.
A. assigned 10 us as ohaperone, and he II
ok us from pOop.deck 10 keelson, ex- on