The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-03

ready been loosened. The ammunition
whips were quickly led out an- the men
standing with their hands on small
lever ready TO turn on the current OF the
electric hoists. as soon as the matches
were OF. When every thing was seen 70
be clear the endless chains Of the HOSTS
start with the whir OF the motor and
rolled their loads OF rapid-hre ammuni-
ton 10 the decks above where men were
stationed to receive 70.
Down the chute OF the S-inch gun tur-
ret, as an accompaniment 20 the deep
rumble OF the turret as IL slowly swung
from amdships 10 the port or searboard,
comes the command. "ful charges
common shot," from the officer m charge
Of the turret and tho answer quickly goes
back. aye. aye. sir" and as response
10 4 lower tone OF voice. quick lads hve-
~ now" mp comes the long powder tanks
and heavy 80 pound shell to the base or
the turret. There the shell was quickly
seized I'm the tongs by two stalwart ap-
prentlces. raised and rammed home In the
car. the tops OF the long copper powder
tanks taken Oft and the powder in two
sections placed IN the other compare
ments OF the car, the signal given ana
both cars quickly rise 20 the nreech or
most as quickly ompued
TERRIFIC HEAT.
All this preparation Of getting ready oc-
cupcd a space OF four minutes time,
after all the men went below and the
matches lowered ana secured. The heat
varies I'm this steel cage from 100 90 ii6
degrees Fahrenheit and quickly causes
the men 20 strip % the waist and settle
down 10 their work I'm an afr tight box
obeying orders, with unqucstiOuing obedi-
ence ana alacrity not knowing the cause
Of the alarm. whether target practice,
bomhardment the spanish fleet or false
alarm.
THE BATTLE on.
Suddenly the report OF the first gun was
heard. followed in quick succession hy
another. and the battle was on. Down
the hoists ana chutes comes the powder
smoke TO add 90 the already high tempe
nature Of the handling room. followed oy
the hot saitpetre water from the sponging
OF the guns making the decks slippery
and burning bIisters on tho bare bak5 or
the men underneath who. cropping ana
choking, feeling their way through the
dense smoke go silently and obedlently
about their work with but one thought
and aim In view. 20 keep those continual
~ empty cars and hoists filled with pow
ger anu pANJ'NNAli1f lNk hh'WAAn tt""
battle is raging until q cheer is nnally
heard from deck, their spirits brighten
and an old salt viii eXclaim. "l guess
they must have hit 'em that time" Then
he goes up and splits ON "a large shell Tor
good luck or as a ycll is heard "armor
piercing, quick" and The shells are quick
ly changed, he takes am old 0Ney rag ana
rubs the cap OF tho projectilo saving;
"Thatll make or bite better ana the
young boy OF tho new navy, who mas
been IN the service as many months as
the old salt has years, cxciaims 20 his
shlpmates, "Ah. what's he given ~.
A CLOSE CALL
That was tie routine OF the handling
room on TIE 20 OF July. except that once
N a while the rush was broken 10y care
tssly handled SMELL dropping. one CANA
down I'm the forward handling room
when Mr. Hancock had charge the day OK
the battle. There was The low rumble as
IL dropred the forty feet. stand GEAR
shouts Hancock. but the command IS sue
Uerfous. for If the shell had exploded n"
man I'm that place would ever nave seen
daylight again. II didn't explode ana as
the handlers grasped iu their temporary
departed breath "a prayer went up 30
Heaven and many uncomplimentary au-
iectives 10 the fellow IN the tuiIeI Dc
tween them and Heaven.
glAIE llIltFlk AlIaIANfOlt'f
There We're other heroes that day, men
vino never see the battle but do the Work
that keeps everything in the ships I'm mo-
ton and take a risk greater than COM
rnodore or captain. when tho Nizcaya
had been sunk and beachcd that day Cap-
tain Cook. having been ordered py COM
fnodore Schley 10 cease firing, called the
men from the handling room ana tne lul-
ret TO take "a breath OF orr Whlie 'ne
chase OF the Colon went 0n. But the bat~
lie was on for men not visible. Down be-
meath the protective informed only of the
eIorles of chat days fighting by Captain
Cooks bulletin. through tho speahinB
tube. men worked in q pie below tha
water I'm a temperature OF over 100 de-
eraes From the fuunels the hiack
smoke pouring forth told that stoheis
and c0ai-pagsors and fremen were work.
ing ike neudq 10 giv8 the ship more mo-
meutum. SEQ that The foe W1uid poe civ-
turod At the engines Engineer carter
and his assistant. Mr.. Patton. watched
every pulqati0u and encouraged the men
10 greater efforts 10 produce more steam.
I'm the stroke holds men toiled amid fierce
flames fhat licked ont at them each time
the doors opened for coal or tNe long
slice bars went I'm. TIE rush of air that
comes In goes out only through inc ihr-
naces creating what BIS known as "iorced
draueht"
MORE COMFORTABLE.
Curiously enough be o. more comfor.ap.e
IN the stoke hold when forced draught Is
called for than ordinarily for The extra
afr forced own helps the men os wei org
the fires. The heat however, was inc
tense on July 2d and several times tho
big steal cage opened 90 let out men who
had tainted. Yet the instant they We're
recovered back they went with as mucn
esprit De corps as anyone on deck.
Slowly The Brooklyn gained on the
colon, until the last Spanish Gag went
down. So ala the oregon. The nre and
engineers corps of the two ships had won
the day and caught the last Of The SPAN
fish fleet