Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-07-08

earthworks by moat thirty feet wide,
commanded by howitzers in the galleries.
The fort proper is completely separated
from the outside defences, and in addi-
ton to the main casemate guns has flank
ing batteries raking every wall. In the
rear OF the fort and looking into big
court are he barracks and officers quar-
tiers, which are very spacious, the former
being ready for immediate occupancy,
while the only portion OF the whole works
unfinished is the latter The barracks
kitchen is equipped with tremendous
cooking apparatus and much OF the court
is undermined with cellars for supplies.
A neverf failing vein of pure water was
struck while excavating, and it flows into
a big cistern, thus nsuring an abundant
supply to the besieged. The main maya
zines are isolated granite rooms and in
the armory are stored the attac hments and
onttits of all the guns i'll the forticat ion.
In the south battery is an independent
magazine, building OF granite, and in
both outside batteries are furnaces for
heating the shot.
Access to the fort proper can be gained
only in single place, and that through
the large entrance or sally port on the
front There are said to be secret under
ground passages leading from carefully
concealed entrances some distance out
side the walls but no amateur explorers
have been able to find them, and the Off
GERS in charge stoutly deny the existence
OF such. A parade ground outside OF the
walls WAS made by clearing a large area
and leveling the ground. 1t is now
totally obliterated by growth Of bushes
and trees and its limits can hardly be
traced.
The fort is in excellent condition and it
rather surprises the visitor to be told that
the last work was done thirty years ago.
The guns, carriages and pyramids OF shot
are kept carefully painted, the grass
mown, bushes cut down and on days OF
national Importance the stars and stripes
fly from the tall staff. 1t is in no sense a
ruin but practically as strong and sub
stantial as it ever was. Although granite
foundations are laid in the earthWorks
and along the top OF the fort proper, and
port holes provided for 800 guns in all,
but sixty carriages containing fifty guns
comprise the present equipment. The
guns If the water batteries and classmates
are mostly l3inch rodmans with few
l5-inch These latter are magnificent
specimens OF their class and it Is said can
be rited without much diminution Of
strength.
Five pound howitzers in batteries OK
two to five are mounted in the bankers
and at various points of vantage to sweep
all approaches at close range.
fort Knox no doubt would be OF much
use in c,l-e Of war. 1t could be easily
faced with steel armor in the most yum
cradle points and with rapid fire guns
could make 1t very Troublesome for a hos
tile fleet Tnl, fort jtieation was included
IN the square bill for coast dcfensos, and a
battery OF long range guns with disap-
bearing carriages recommended. As the
Penobscot is very narrow below and ~tal-
low above this point, with sunken hulks,
chains and torpedoes, the river could be
most tfcctually blockaded and an enemy
to use the native expreesion-couid be
"stopped some.
Since the close Of the civil war the for
tiiication has been marked abandoned"
on the list OF coast detenses. A"garrison"
OF one man is IN charge, an officer OF the
rank of an ordnance sergeant. His duties
comprise liberal use OF paint and white
wash ON the wood aud iron work, and the
superintending OF the annual bav-mak-
ing, for the grass grows rank down the
!