The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-30
Evolutions Of Firing Party at
the West Point Acad-
emy.
The Dauntless Cadets Run the
Batteries Of Loneliness Like
Heroes.
Practicing at the Target Painted on = Rock
On Crows Nest, 2, 100 Yards
Away.

breath of air was stirring. The sun beat
hot upon the bosom of the Hudson. It's
rays were reflected from the surface of the
river to the shore, increasing if possible the
heat of the battery. A firing drill had been
ordered at o'clock. Here is the picture:
The great guns stand, black and grim,
near the bay washing the feet of the dark
green mountain known as the Crows Nest.
Storm King is outlined against the sky be-
yond it. To the right, ten miles across the
blue water, the glistening spires of New
Mount Taurus and beyond that Break
Neck, as wild, rugged and ragged as when
Benedict Arnold fed down the river after
hearing of the capture of Andre.
Sloops, lazily drifting with the current,
dot the bosom of the stream. In the far
ber-laden canal boats toward the Tappan
Zee. The heat is intense. Crows sailing
over the west shore flats emit lazy H'caws,' y
and the robins remain silent in the shade.
The hill behind the battery is Uttered with
sda Among them a
meath the trees and the play Of their fans
is incessant. Knots of cadets of duty are
seen lower down the slope. All eagerly
await the drill.
Suddenly the sharp rat-tat-tat of a drum
Is heard. 1t comes from the barracks be-
umn of cadets is in sight. It is the firing
party. The boys wear gray jackets and
white trousers. The column moves with
the precision of machine. Down the slope
it comes carrying the elastic step of youth.
In discipline it is perfect. With eyes
rigidly to the front it passes batteries far
more dangerous than any coast bat
teries. They are batteries of loveliness-
maidens, the fire of whose eyes would make
the hravest of men lay down their arms.
Filing to the left. the column is aligned
behind the guns. At the word of command
it breaks into detachments. Each de-
tachment marches to its. gun. There are
SIX pieces of artillery. The first two on the
right are fifteen-inch smooth bores, and the
third, fifth and sixth are eight-inch rifles,
converted. The fourth is thirteen-inch
mortar. The sraooth bores carry round
shot weighing over four hundred pounds,
All frown above the earthworks black and
, defiant.
"rake equipments" shouts the COM
manding officer.
are found upon the chassis, as the crescented
railway upon which the breech rests is
ter med, In twinkling the cadets are at
work. Some mount the platforms. while
others are busy below. The excavation is
alive with activity. The gunner stands up
on the chassis, experimenting the move
ments around him. He passes the primer
pouch to cadet, and removes the cover of
the vent. This he places in his own pouch.
Two cadets work the screw and give the
piece an elevation, and all resume their
1places.
From battery" shouts the command
ant.
It means "Roll the gun back" The gun
ner cries: "1n gear" and each detachment
4 is again alive. Handspikes are inserted in
! the sockets of the carriages and the axles
are unkeyed. This leaves the cannon free
A 1o%n Aho
gunner shouts, "Heave.'' The wheels re-
Eolve and the muzzle of the monster is
ldrawn within the battery. "Halt," cries
the gunner, and the great cannon is brought
to standstill. Like flash a cadet throws
an outlying pully into place. It is used to
lift the heavy shot to the muzzle.
Then comes the command LOAD from
the officer in charge. There is renewed ac-
tivity on the part of the cadets. Some dash
to the magazine on the left of the battery.
The tompion is removed from the muzzle
Of each gun and the sponge and rammer
are passed to those on the platform. The
cadets seize it and swab the gun. They are
hardly through with the job before their
comrades begin. to pour from the maga-
zine: The pointed projectiles are
1hro,Tgnt: ho,ge out IN long tin pals, while the
ike chunks of ice. In breath the pulleys
are at work. They creak as the cadets
1raW the missiles up to the muzzles of the
guns. Here they are seized, turned into the
guns and rammed home. There is no CON
Fusion, Everything moves like clockwork.
each cadet knows his place and performs
Fls duty silently and alertly.
When the guns are loaded the command
In battery" is heard. The wheels revolye
IS by magic, and the snout of each piece
beers over the parapet. All are thrown out
ecoil. At the order ''Arm," they are
aised and lowered by rachel at the
reech, and thrown to the right or left on
he chassis, according to the command of
he gunner. The gunner himself sights the
iece.
The friction primer is inserted in the
ent. and everything made ready. Then
ONES the order: Detachment to the rear
march As precautionary measure
gainst the bursting of gun, the cadets
bandon the battery while the guns are be-
pg fred. One cadet to each gun. however,
is gun, lanyard in hand, facing to the rear,
ght foot forward.
The battery is now ready for work. In a
fre.'
Flame streams from the mouth of the
reat smooth-bore on the right. The report
deafening, and the gun is hidden in q
oud of smoke. It was aimed at target
Rinted upon rock on Crows Nest, 2.1OO
ards away. As the smoke rolls to the right
loee III llAe with the gun see the nuR6
bund shot weighing $50 pounds sailing
yer deep cut made by the West Shore
(ilroad.
A second later it strikes some feet above
e huge white target, chipping the rock
hd throwing up clond of dust.
At the same moment West Shore ex-
ess train rounds the point of the noun
in and dashes along the shore of the upper
~. She is lost in the cut this side of the
rget, when the order mo. 2, fire. is given.
shot of the same size and weight as its
edecessor speeds over the bay and the cut
id lands upon the target hundreds of feet
ove them.
The dust caused by this shot has hardly
Fen when the officer in command orders
}. to fire. 1t is the eight-inch rifle gun.
pc cadet at her lanyard shuts his ewes,
COWS his weight forward and pulls the
ing. The gun cracks like a huge rifle.
g sends over the water a solid conicai
ot weighing $50 pounds. As it hurtles
er the railroad embankment the shrili
istie of locomotive is heard. The ex-
ass train emerges from the out and
bots along the shsre a. though racing for |