Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-27

The navy yard was never more active than at
present, barring, of course, those troublous
times Of terror in the COS. In q different de-
gree and in a different sense as well it is still
the center Of warlike preparations. Hundreds
OF workmen are busy each day over long tubes
that lay in peaceful silence on boring machines,
but may one day send forth below of de-
struction and death. Innocent-looking Jumps
OF iron with pointed ends stand round in
myriads, now like 80 many paper weights, that
may some day screech and scream in an infer
nal flight. On every hand lie the munitions of
war-guns, carriages, armor, projectiles, infer
nal machines-to reinforce prestige and to battle
an enemy.
THE NEW GUN SHOP.
The work on the new gun shop is being
pushed as rapidly as possible. The south end
is already fitted with number of machines
lathes, borers, rif1ers and other gear. The
mammoth travelling crane is in operation, one
OF the engines is in place and the great shrink
ing pit is in working order. But it will be sew
erai more weeks before the ordnance work can
be started. The north end is yet unpaved
There are no tools set up in the new part at all
and confusion reigns.
RAISING A BIG GUN
This morning the great S-inch steel rifle that
has just been given its first jacket was raised
from the pit and carried out Of the building.
1t Is about 25 feet in length and weighs up
ward Of IL tons at present. The operation of
lifting it from the pit. which is fully 80 feet
deep, was delicate one, but it was performed
by the crane with an artistic finish that was
wonderful. sling was put around a wooden
shoulder that had been fitted to the gun lust
In front OF the new jacket, and other gearings
were put In place to provide TO. an emergency.
A little engine down near the north end of the
long building was furiously turning a square
shafting that glistened in its wabbling
motion throughout the entire length of the
shed, high up in the air. man
HANGING IN A CAGE
under the crane pulled one Of q half a dozen
levers and the great steel tube was slowly lifted
out Of the pit, its lower, smaller end coated
with red rust. When the breech was half
a dozen feet above the surface OF the hole the
great block that carried the gun, winding four
turns OF Chain, was moved to the west a few
feet and the big piece of metal swung ul out Of
the PIT, the larger end going down and the
small end up. Then the entire crane was
moved, with its swinging load of IL tons, to-
ward the southern end of the shop. The
muzzle OF the gun was pointed north ward and
dozen men marched alongside Of the tube
with slow steps, for all the world like pail
bearers, their hands on the tube to steady it.
AT the southern end car was waiting for the
gun, which was slowly lowered npon it, and the
gearing slipped off.
TO RECEIVE OTHER JACKETS.
This gun will be given other jackets, grad
ually building it up until its breech will be
319 or feet thick. 1t will be riied and fitted
with breech mechanism. There have been
no more accidents such as happened to the 10
inch gun year or SO ago, when the breech
plug, on being put in to see if it fitted stuck so
fast that it could not be removed 1t will be
remembered that by some ones orders the
plug was heated from the inside in order to
loosen 1t, and the effect was directly opposite
to what was intended. 1t was finally, after q
good many weeks, bored out. This accident
has caused the exercise Of great care in the
handling OF these costly pieces of steel, and
there have been no more stuck plugs.
MAKING FIRING TURRETs.
The men in the yard are hard at work on the
armored firing turrets-half turrets in reality
for the new cruisers. These things are from
5to 10 feet high, presenting asemi-circular front
pierced by hole large enough for the muzzle
OF gun. They are entirely open in the rear.
They are intended to be proof only against
bullets and other small missiles-to protect the
men in working the large guns of the broad
side battery of ship. They are about inches
thick and weigh probably three or four tons
each