The Portland daily press., 1898-05-10

and the bugler blows Silence Wits
the men, at fearful tension, the moso
difficult, nerve testing period OF bne Whol0
situation, await orders.
What has occurred during the three
minutes consumed in putting this pig en-,
CINE of war in shape to hurl aeaOn anu
destruction Is marvellous In Its immenslty
Cook and his corps of officers. 1t Is hard
ly possible to recite it's details. put mere
are some of it's features as noticed by me
as an eye witness: AT the note OF warn
ing 800 men have, in perfect oroer, uaken
their various stations and begun the
work of clearing ship for action. IN
the Ia minutes consumed they nave
closed over 200 water-tight doors, tnus
making compartments imperyious.
They have coupled ali the hose to the
fire-plugs, covered the small boats with
wet canvas to keep them from Tying
spllnters If hit; put up splinter nets Of
rope about the pilot-house gun sponsors,
and other exposed places; taken down
davis, hand-rails and anchor-davits, and
la1d them on deck 80 as to give the guns
clear swsep; removed everything NOV
all matches with steel covers; lowered all
Interfering ventilating pipes; dropped
overheard small boats, gang ways, paint
tubs and other deck furniture; filed all
division tubs with fresh water; dashed the
anchors more securely, and furnished all
the extra mechanical devices necessary
for the service of the guns.
In the heart of the vessel the engineers
have coupled the four big engines and
turned steam on in the rs auxiliary en-
gines. All Of the big boilers have been
fired up and the stokers are pouring in
coal the dynamos have been put in SER
vice to work battle circuits; the turret
turning engines tried: the ammunition
hoist engines and steering engines, fire
pumps and ventilating and forced
draught blowers made ready. Two-thirds
OF the engineer corps stay in the main
engine and fire rooms and one-third 20 te
the auxiliary enignes.
Magazines have been opened and prep
aration made for ammunition shipment
to each of the 40 guns by the hoists and
cars prepared for fast delivery. In the
fighting tops Of the military mast the
men have hoisted up ammunition for the
one-pounders, and are ready with theil
guns On the bridges the signal men,
range finders, and search light men have
made ready and are at work. In the pi.
lot house or coming tower the men are
| at the wheel, and others at the apeaking
tubes and other devices controlling the
ship by signal.
In the sick bay the surgeons have got
| ten out cases OF glltCer1n8 Instruments,
rolls of lint, splints, bandages and other
prewsome suggestions Of possible disaster
and death to some. In the torpedo rooms
gratings have been removed, air pressure
turned ON for the purpose of charging air
TASKS; the heavy torpedoes rolled In ana
the tubes prepared. And lastly, the
American flag, Old Glory, that has floated
from the flagstaff at the stern of the
ship, comes down with the staff. while
two Old Glorys take it's place at the truck
of each Of the military masts, the breeze
whistling through their folds defiance to
an enemy.
Three minutes have elapsed. On tina
| forward bridge Commodore Schley and
Capt. Cook stand watching the enemy s
pproach.
''Silence" blows the bugle. and there
is death-like stiffness.
LOAD II comes another signal, ar
there is a seconds Lustle as the charg 8
are rammed home in the big guns.
Then "Silenoep' again comes the Or
der. ana the guns are ready for use at the
word "Firel'
But there is no firing and no enemy.
Commodore Sohley has tested his feet
and found it ready. Upon eachxship ex
actly similar work has been done--a prae-
tical demonstration of the discipline IL
the United States navy.