Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-11
THE MEN AT THE GUNS.
Fighting from n Turret and How IL
Is Done.

Weekly)
Between the guns and the sides OF the
turrets are stationed the men who tend
the training motors, open and close the
breech, and clean out the powder cham
bers. In rear of each gun is a power
full electric fan, intended to drive the
smoke out of the turret through the bore
OF the gun, and a hydraulic hammer with
which the half-ton projectile is forced up
into the gun. At this rammer stands
the gun captain, who superintends the
loading and the first sponger, who sees
to the preparation Of the gun for reoeiv-
ing the charge. Between the platform
on which these men stand and the face
Of the breech is a light trap-door cover
ing a shaft up which the ammunition
lifts are holsted from the handling
room below. on the girders between
the guns are stationed the men opera
ting the ammunition lifts, the water SER
vice, and the various signals and tele-
phones.
There is a disposition to chatter among
the apprentices; the suspense Is great
and inaction is hard to bear, especially
as all of the light guns now seem TO be
engaged.
Train on the entrance to the harborw
The motors utter a groan and the pom
derous cylinder swings slowly round,
wheeling and rumbling. The range indi-
Gator mounts quickly to $500 yards and
stops; the telephone rings, and it's at
tendant reports.
Fire at will"
The telescopes are set with a turn OF
the wrist, while with the other hand the
guns are elevated until the cross-wires
sweep the horizon; but the smoke from
the light guns is thick, and nothing is
distinct
A SHIP APPEARS
Suddenly there Is a rift, and in It APP
pears the black hull Of a ship-a stranger,
but aft she carried a grand ensign marked
with the blood and gold of Spain. From
her sides and turrets there is a continuous
play of lightning flashes, but the din OF
nearer guns allows no sound from her to
be distinguished. One questions uncer-
tsinty for an instant: "ls she fighting?
Is she firing at us? Is this Il naval bat
tle?" And then comes the eager anxiety
10 do ones own part and to do 1t well.
The sixteen men about the guns are
now silent and expectant. The turret
turns slowly-slower-stops The ship is
rolling gently, while the enemys hull be-
tween her smokestacks Is sweeping on
TO meet the descending crosswires of the
telescope; the officer, with all his soul in
his eye, awaits the collimatiOn, and at
the instant presses the firing handle.
There is a deafening roar, binding
fash, the great gun recoils wildly Into
the turret, and then slides smoothly out
again The air is filled with smoke; two
men are already turning like mad at the
plug-crank. and, as the half-t0n block
swings aside, a third directs a stream OF
water In the chamber A turn is given The
elevator-valve and the breech swings up
high, allowing the water TO run down
the bore and out OF the muzzle. The gun
captain takes charge. and the officer
turns 10 the other gun. He glances at
the range indicator-twenty-six hundred
yards-sets the sight. and a moment later
the smoke lifts again.
A DOZEN HEAVY GUNS.
Two Spanish ships are now out and
third is i'm the entrance; the first one
seems on fire. Was II from his snotf
Who can tell? For a dozen heavy guns
are firing at her second later and the
trainer swings the nearest ship into his
field. and he fires again. Another pair
OF men swing open the breech and the
hose is pointed down the bore.
In the mean time the first gun has been
lowered into its loading position, the am
munition car has been hOisted in rear OF
a. and the hammer has forced home the
she'll. Twice more II enters the breech.
each time pressing before ii 20 pounds OF
powder. With its last withdrawal the
empty ammunition-car drops out Of sight.
the breech plug is swung into place, the
gun captain steps forward, slips In the
primer and connects the plugs OF the
firing wires.
Ready, leftp' he reports.
And so 1t goes, first one gun and then
the other. II is hard and hot work. The
firing IS 30 fast and continuous that the
fans cannot keep the turret clear OK
smoke. The men cough and gag; down
On the handling room they are fainting.
The smoke has deposited a gray scurf on
skin and clothes; its alkali has attacked
the paintwork and turned it to Shiny
soap: the black dripplngs from inc gun
,,rssbin0 has fallen in foul splotches down
the turret walls, and lies In puddles on
the floors.