Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-02-25

the same manner so that the shiI
would have use of at least n of it
largest guns during the entire battle
In Ease one or two of its propellins
engines is disabled or is injured in an!
way, it has the others, which will de
velop several thousand horse power
and be competent to maintain a higl
rate of speed and give it plenty o
steerageway. In addition to the man
ner in which the engines are located ii
separte parts of the vessel the armol
plate and other protection is SO ar
ranged that the heaviest portion art
about the machinery, while curves ans
angles and every safeguard which th'
skill and science of naval architect,
could devise have been combined IL
the construction of the Texas in ordel
to glance off and otherwise render
harmless shot from an enemy's vessel
The coal is also as a protection, the
bunkers being arranged SO that they
will form an additional rampant to the
different parts of the machinery.
The weight of the machinery ii
about 1,sO0,0 900 pounds. 1t includes
twenty-five miles of piping and 75t
valves.
Her armament consists of a MAR
battery of two 12-inch and 6-incf
breech loading rifles, and a secondary
battery of twelve 6-pounder and siz
1-pounder rapid fire guns, four 81.
millimeter Hotchkiss revolving can.
IONS and two Cuttings. Her crew con-
sists of 80 officers and 1872 men. The
thickness of her armor is twelve inch
es.
NY next letter will be written on
the train and 1 will try to make it
shorter.
BEFORE GOING INTO MEXICO.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Feb. Give
spenta day in San Antonio, n OF
the most popular towns in Texas.
There are many places of interest to
visit here, among which r the Alamo
and some old missions.
1t is not possible, in the narrow
space of a short letter, to do justice to
San Antonio's many pleasant peculi-
arities those characteristics that
place it first on the list of the warm
climate health resorts of the United
States. Its altitude, relative position
to that most balmy of inland seas, the
Gulf of Mexico; its fiat, dry, rolling
pralries to the southwest; it's mountain
ranges to the northwest; its subsection
throughout a long summer to the fam
ming of the trade winds, or as it is
styled, the Gulf breeze; the
fertility and fruitfulness of the neigh
lands; its equable winter
months-aIl this and more, backs it's
claims. 1t is not strange that such a
place should have a stirring history.
The reaso is simple. The land was
found to be worth fighting for. And
what a romantic history it has with
it's Spanish and French jealousies, its
revolutionary wars, the struggles
and the ultimate realization of liberty
of a determined Republic. The his
tory of San Antonio's early day ia the
history of all Texas. And now, bust
ling modern city that it is, its people
are not likely to forget it all, for
throughout its confines are landmarks
of those early days. Right in its
midst lie the sacred Alamo, where he
roes fell for liberty. Hard by are the
old Spanish Missions, and as If
to fulfill its ancient traditions as a
place of more than ordinary import
ance, there has grown on it's skirts one
Of the largest and most charmingly
Military Posts of the United
but more of all this anon. For
the moment, perhaps, to health and
home seekers its physical conditions
will be of greater interest. Its climate
mas long been recognized as of great