The morning call., 1892-08-26
Big BETSY'S NATE.
The Armament for the Cruiser Monterey
Ready for Shipment.

WASHINGTON. Aug. 25.-A 12-inch can
non, the mate TO Big Betsy, shipped to the
coast several months ago and which at
tracted much attention. was being loaded
to-day on car specially prepared for the
purpose, together with two other cannon of
smaller caliber. Tie ear will leave Wash
ington for San Francisco tomorrow via the
Pennsylvania Railroad. Hundreds of peo-
pie have sted the Yards of the Pennsyl-
vania Company to view these monster can
mons.
THIS train will rival In interest the .'gnld
train" lately arrived in New York. II will
be OF seven cars, starting from the navy
yard. and will carry the three great guns
that 20 TO complete the armament Of the
United States steamship Monterey, now
lying at Mare Island
The guns are a triumph OF mechanical
skill, aud Captain ONeil, Inspector Of ord
nance, is proud Of the work which passes
through his hands. The guns, while packed
for shipment, are not ia particularly good
shape to show off their delcacy OF adjust
ment and their general beauty of mechan-
ism, but the care with which they ale sent
gives some Idea OF the value that is attached
TO the huge mass of steel.
There are two l0-inch guns in the ship
ment and one l2-inch. The former are 81
feet long and the latter 36 feet Q inches. A
special Hat car is appropriated 10 each of
them, and on each car has been built a sort
OF wooden cradle, in which the gun lies like
ship on the ways. Wooden plugs close
the orifices at the breeeh and muzZle, and
are held In place by an iron rod running
through the barrel Every bolt and screw
hole Is hled with soft wooden plugs, and
the whole of the exposed metal is coated
with white paint to prevent rushing.
The larger of the guns weighs 80 tons and
the other Two 40 tons each. But this is only
small part OF the total weight of the ship
ment. The aggregate weight OF the mount
is 100000 pounds. The projectiles for the
smaller guns weigh 500 pounds each and
those Of the larger 100. The weight of the
powder In each case is about half that of
shot.
Every part of the guns and mount" as
the carriages are called. is the work OF the
nayy-yaTd shops except the original steel
tubes, of which the gun barrels and their
Jackets ara made, and these come in the
iorm oil casting from the Bethlehem Works
10 Pennsylvania. aud are turned out in the
gunshops. The work is a marvel OF ac-
curacy, being carried TO .OO01 OF an inch.
This requires the service of only the most
skilltul mechanics. working under rigid in
spection.
Postal Changes.
Tie following postoffices have been estab-
llshed: AT Westside. Santa Clara County,
Montgomery Postmaster; at Eswena. San
Bernardino County, Cal, Byrd l.. McDon-
ough Postmaster.
The following Postmasters have been COM
missioned: Charles n. Kingsbury. at Igo.
Cal. Jesse Chambers, at Bitterwater, Cal.
Lucius Ii. Ambury, at Springville. Cal.
Land Cases Decided.
The following land decisions have been
made: Central Pacific Railroad Company
VS.. State of California, involving swamp
land title. the Commissioner decision Is
modified and new hearing ordered; in the
case of George w. Wiltshire, being a n appli-
cation to make timber-culture entry in the
Burns district OF Oregon. the claim is re-
jected. In the case of James Waggoner
the same decision was made.
Pensions Granted.
Pensions have been granted as follows:
California: Origlnal-Andrew q. Th0rp,
George Vanorder, Charles A. Kirkpatrick,
Harden Shelf, Benjamin +. Wyatt, William
c. Mcmillan. Additional-John Ryan.
Oregon: Additional-George A. Smith,
Frank Rowell. Iucrease-Henry Lederer
Original widows. etc.-Minor of Moses
Barker.
Washington: Original Benjamin w.
Niies. William w. Bracken. Additional
Josh ii. Holmes. Restoration-George X.
King.
Personal Mention.
Mrs. Ye, the wife of the Korean Charge
d'Affaires, will leave this city September 2
for visit 10 her home in Korea. She will
sail from San Francisco September IL. Mr.