davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13

The most perilous position on board q
man n-of-war when in action Is that oc-
cupied by the captain. On battleships
and cruisers his place 10 In the cylin-
drical box of steel placed just under the
bridge. well forward. 1t Is known as
the coming tower. The armor surround
ing this box is ordinarily thick enough
to resist the penetration Of heavy pro-
jectiles. II contains speaking tubes and
electrical wires, whereby he commrni-
Gates with the gunness. engineers and
helmsmen. Sometimes also wires are
laid 80 that he is able to fire the guns
when they have been sighted on the en-.
emy.
The field OF vision from the coming
tower Is limited to what can be seen
through a little horizontal slit on a
level with the eyes In point of re-
sponsibility there is no position In the
world to compare with that occupied by
the man who stands In this tower and
directs every movement of the vessel.
After the conflict once begins much
Of the fire OF the enemy Is concentrated
on him, and there is constant hail Of
iron and steel on the little box in which
he Is Gagged. Shells burst In every de
rection around him. and TO this are add
ed the roar Of the forced blast under the
engines. the tremendous reports Of the
heavy pieces and the shrill chorus OF
the rapid fire and machine guns.
Amid all this internal din the captain
must keep his nerve and control the tre-
mendous forces under his command, and
his decisions must be made on the In
slant
There is no place for the admiral on
the modern man-of-war and no rigging
| in which he may place himself as In
olden days. 1t has been proposed to
build separate tower for him or tako
him off the flagship during action and
place him on a small, swift vessel.
which could run among the ships com-
posing the feet and conveniently CONF
muncate his orders by short distance
| signals.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13

that monitors are indispensable auxh-
iaries 10 the torpedo boats eunboats,
cruisere and battleships OF their own
fotiilat For hard, heavy bombardlng
and close-to- shore fighting against bat
teries and forts they are particularly
valuable. as they are almost impervious
TO the shells which may be thrown at
them and which usually rebound and
ricochet from their decks. For coast
and harbor defense they are absolutely
uneQualed and can only be disturbed IL
at all, by the crafty torpedo boat wnen
the opportunity is given the latter 10
hurl its death dealing missiles at them.
But torpedo boat can be crippled with
as small a shot as a Mauser bullet, ana
single projectile from the guns OF
monitor could blow one OF them out or
the water into inhnitesimal fragments.
The torpedo boat is only an agent IL
Is the missile, the torpedo. IL sends that
Is dangerous.
Those monitors that are I'm the navy
representing the ideas of 30 years ago
sre more interesting as possible factors
IN coast defense. supplemented by ter
pedoes. forts and fortlfcatioas. than
they are usefub in actual battle. The
Eahant. for instance. manned by the
New York naval reserves. carrying two
Is inch smoothbore guns and several
rapid firers, is stationed Mt the entrarce
OF New York harbor. Just what pro-
portlonal destructive strength Is insn
smoothbore can have in comparison
with an inch or even inch rifled
cannon is yet question of conjecture
| The smoothbores were very efficient in
| their day, but the rified gun long ago
demonstrated it's signal superiority
| The length OF the gun also adds TO the
penetrative power of the projectile.
The Ajax is another of the single turA
ret monitors built So years ago that in
stead OF being allowed to rest in mud
was used by the naval militia OF CAM
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13

which would allow a shot or shell from
the enemy to be dropped upon the gun
from above, that IL was decided TO put
a glacial turrct over them-that Is,
sloping steel roof-which now affords
ample protection.
There is an, armored covering, the
equivalent of the coming tower, placed
abaft the forward barbette to protect
the steering gear, telegraph. telephones
and speaking tubes. The commander
and navigator. the third officer in COM
mand, are stationed here, with possibly
one or two others. when the monitor Is
In action. Her military mast has two
tops, in one OF which is n powerful elec-
trio searchlight and in the other her
secondary battery of rapid fire guns.
Her complement includes accommoda-
tions for IL officers and 15o men.
The Monterey's trip 10 the Philip
pines is an unprecedented voyage for a
monitor No lronclad Of her type has
ever undertaken such journey, and the
greatest interest is naturally manifest
ed in naval circles over her progress.
BY way OF Honolulu IL is 100 miles TO
her destination. She carries only 200
tons OF coal, and at eight knots an hour,
although she is capable OF making
about 1ik for short run, Will be out
of fuel 900 miles this side OF the Sand
wich Islands. Her escorts are a collier
and the ocean going tug froduois. The
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13

den, N. J. Her armament at present.
for she is In commission. is similar to
that OF the Nahant.
Boston harbor is defended by the old
time monitors Lehigh and Catskill. The
latter was taken Go the Massachusetts,
capital by naval reserves. and both OF
them, with the usual armament or
smoothbores and rapid fire guns, are
manned by the naval militia. The Le-
high. built by John Ericsson in 1882 saw
considerable Service during the follow
ing three years, and the Catskill I'm the
attack on Fort Wagner during the civil
war was struck nearly 60 times by can
non balls from the fort.
The Montauk, armed with two old
smoothbore guns. has been assigned TO
the defense OF Portland. Me. A relic OF
1866, she still presents valiant appear
ance. The Jason. another OF Ericsson's
pets. has been I'm ordinary" since the
civil. war, but will probably prove OF
great service as a coast defense ship.
though two smoothbore guns comprise
her main armament. Larger than many
OF her companions. she has displace-
ment OF 1875 tons and develops $40
horsepower.
But Il ls In the modern fighting moni-
tors, the aggressive ships and not pure
ly defensive ones like those guarding
our harbors. that the public interest
centers. With the Cuban fleets are the
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13
TARANTULAS o. OUR NAVY.

Miantonomoh. the Terror. the Puritan
and tue Amphitrite. The Puritan Is a
remodeled vessel. her keel having been
laid in 1875, out with her powerful arna-
ment Of four ~ inch and two inch
guns in her main battery and six O
Founders. four Gatlings and two 81 mil
limeters in her secondary battery she 10
foeman worthy the respect VI any en-
emy.
The Mantcnomoh Is another remod-
eled Ericsson monitor. though practical
ly "A new ship. Her construction was
begun In iSe2. but before she was finish
ed she was towed TO Annapolis. There
she rested In the mud OF the Severn
river for several years her boilers rust
ing, until she WAS taken away and re-
built OF steel
The Amphtrite is a modern double
turreted monitor. ostensibly intended
for coast defense only. She carries four
10 inch rifles mounted in pairs and two
4 inch guns, besides a very heavy Sec
ondary battery
The Terror is OF the same class,
though her keel was laid "a years ago
She also carries four 10 inch guns and
has an exceptionally low freeboard that
gives her an exceedingly formidable ap-
pearance.
The Monadnock is another powerful
monitor, with an armament almost
Identical with that OF the Puritan, ex'
| cept that she has four 10 inch instead oi
four IL inch guns. These fire steel pro-
jectiles weighing more than 500 pounds
are effective at a. distance OF more thar
six miles and will carry several miles
| farther even than that.
| Though they are the sailors bugaboc
because OF their unwieldlness. the NOR,
| than usual possibility or their engine!
becoming disarranged in a heavy sea
] their comparatively slow rate OF speed
and their voracious appetite for coal
they are machines OF great destructi
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13

including the steam machinery and the
magazines. She was also to be of the
low freebcard type thus presenting the
minimum OF surface 10 an enemy a
curved steel deck of suitable thickness
was to give further protection.
All these details were carried out,
though the Monterey now has what Is
called 13 inch armor belt and from s
to Ii inch steel plates to protect her
barbettes and coming tower. The bids
for her, invited in December. 1883, were
opened on April 3, 1889, the Cramps. the
Quintard Iron works and the Union
Iron works of San Francisco being the
competitors. The latter firm was award
ed the contract on n bid or si,62S,9J0
The old form OF contract was adopted
by which the contractor receives 500
premium for every unit of horsepower
in excess OF the stipulation and forfeits
500 for every unit in default. The ma
chinery of the Monterey has an inter-
cstin1 feature in the fact that II en-
ploys coil boilers. which are supposed
to show economy In weight, space occu-
pied and use OF fuel
As originally designed her battery
was to include a 16 inch 10 ton rife in
her forward barbette. a IL inch 46h ton
rife In her after turret and at her bows
a Is inch pneumatic tube for throwing
gun cotton. but the vesuvius had not
yet fired her pneumatic guns with high
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13

latter goes to give tow or any other
assistance 10 the Monterey i'm case OF
emergency. The former viii furnish the
monitors engines with food when her
bunkers are empty. and the three ves-
sells will take on a supply OF coal AZ
Honolulu and Hongkong AS Manila
IN de facto an American port at present,
there cannot be any objection from the
authorities to furnishing coal TO a ves-
sci en- route.
or our feet at Manila now the Olym-
MIA alone has turrets When the Mon
terey arrives there, the hero of May
will have eight strong fighting ships un-
der HE command, including the Charles
ton and not including the ex-revenne
cutter McCulloch. which is being used
as a dispatch boat. or the auxiliary
cruiser Zafiro.
Later his fiotilla Will be increased by
the Philadelphia from San Francisco,
making total OF one monitor six
cruisers, two protected eunboats. one
armed revenue cutter, one auxiliary
cruiser and the unprotected miniature
steel gunboat Callao, captured after the
| great battle of Manila. IL Spain sends
the battleship Pelayo. her most formi-
dable naval representative, and three or
four other armored craft to the Philip
pines, the American admiral would be
confronted by powerful squadron, but
! A Is said that "the administration has
/ no fear OF the result" And neither.
4 surely, has the Green mountain boy.
/ who would only repeat his May day pa
rade over the waters of Manila bay.
But more armored ships are TO be sent
him as soon as the exigencies of the
Cuban question will permit, not because
he really needs them. but simply to
make assurance doubly sure.
The Charleston is protected cruiser
like the Baltimore. Boston and Raleigh
carrying eight guns In her main battery
she has an indicated horsepower Of C.66t
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13

and consequently is a valuable addition
to the feet In those eastern seas, but
1t is that powerful engine OF death, the
Monterey. that insures rapid, deci-
slve victory in case the Castilian bravos
desire to attempt the release OF the cap
ital city of her Philippine possessions.
The Monterey will practically vindi-
cate the theory of the inventor OF this
type os vessel. Ericsson. that they are
the best I'm the world not only for coast
defense but for any inshore f1ghting.
They are so low In the water that
little more than their decks is exposed
to the enemy's fire. and serious injury
10 them is almost impossible, while the
machinery so far beneath the waves
renders ii unlikely that that portion
of the vessel can be crippled.
The crews and officers OF SIMPSONS
feet complained loudly because the
monitors Terror and Puritan, that were
with them, delayed the rate of speed on
the run to San Juan and return, as they
could only steam an average OF seven
knots to the cruisers IA. and then. as
they required proportlonately greater
auantity OF coal. they were at times
taken i'm tow. SO 20 them has been ap-
piled the term "tarantulas Of the navy"
but they are also scourges like the ven-
omous creatures from which they take
their pseudonym.
All naval authorities are now agreed
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13

The warship Monterey Is described in
naval phraseology as "a barbette tur-
ret low freeboard monitor" She has
twin screws, with a horsepower OF 5'244,
and carries only four guns, two IL inch
and two 10 inch, in her main or primary
battery.
Only four guns indeed. but they have
al the relative power and destructibii-
ity OF Is inch cannon. which throw an
l.100 pound projectile. When that shot
strikes. Y crumbles into atoms or DASH
es into fragments the object hit. whether
II be a stone and iron wall or fortress
or the steel casing of a battleship. She
can lio at anchor and allow a flee; OF
ordinary men-of-war and a string Of
forts to rain thousand shells upon her
with every prospect of remaining prac-
tically unscathcd. In short. the Monte
rey is almost invulnerable, and there
can be little else to do than sing an an
ticipatory requiem for the antagonist
who ventures to. enter the lists OF con-
fiict with lHer. To further illustrate her
powers Of destruction, IL is we'll known
that the heaviest armor on the Spanish
vessels Is IL inches thick. The Mon
serey's shells can penetrate 23 inch ar
NOR at 1.5o0 yards. To express IL va
riantly. the projectiles fired from the
Montercys guns will penetrate the ar
nor Of any Spanish ship afioat. They
are nearly as effective as the ~ inch
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13


Whether OF not Spain contemplates
sny attempt to retrieve her i'll fortunes
by an attack on Admiral Deweys neet
at Manila, 1t liz certain that the presence
of the Charleston and the Monterey,
now on their way to join the American
notilla, will be sufficient bar to any ef-
fort she may make in that direction.
II she offers battle or gives the Amerl-
cans the opportunity to fight her. IL
means virtual annihilation TO her ships
and the practical extinction OF her ma
val force.
The dons may send their combined
fleets to the Philippines. bur with the
Monterey there George Dewey may
laugh confidently at the failing power
and futile efforts of an effete monarchy.
The Monterey, according to the almost
universal testimony OF naval experts, Is
the greatest lighting machine on earth.
The Puritan is OF q similar type. but Is
really an old time monitor remodeled
to appear as IA sister ship OF the Monte
rey. -
Monterey Is a glorious name, recall
Ing the scene Of the victory achieved by
General Zachary Taylor in Mexico on
Sept. "a. 1S46. and II was also the desg-
nation of the capital of upper California
the first spot occupied by our army
and navy on the Pacific coast In the
Mexican war. 1t is the latter which Is
honored in the name of this great war
ship. General Sherman In his book
gave a spirited description OF the ap-
pearance of Monterey bay and the town
on his arrival there as a lieutenant OF
artillery in January. ls47.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13
Uncle Sans Monitors Are Slow Going, "Creepy"
Monsters but Their Sting Means Practical
Annihilation TO the Enemy's Ships.

explosives, and the wisdom OF uniting
l6 inch and II inch guns with pneu-
matte tube on the same ship was soon
questioned. The experience or Great
Britain with. 10 ton guns has not been
encouraging, and reflection suggested
that il was an overambitious project TO
carry ordnance of that caliber on a 4OOo
ton ship. The Massachusetts,. Indiana
and Oregon have no guns heavier than
the Is inch. IL was therefore settled
that with two 12 inch guns In her for
ward turret and two 10 inch guns In her
after one the Monterey would have as
powerful battery as her displacement
would warrant.
The Miantonomoh, OF $3.50 tons. car
ries four 10 inch guns on her main bat
terry and Is considered TO be heavily
armed. The 10 inch gun, with charge
of $50 pounds and a protectile or 900
pounds, effects a penetration OF over Is
inches In wrought iron. and the IL inch
guns, with powder charge OF 800
pounds, will penetrate more than ~
inches. The Monterey was launched in
the spring OF 1891, Mrs. Caroline Scott
Harrison. the wife of the then presi-
dent, touching the electric button which
set the monitor in motion down the
ways into the water, and she has since
been regarded as the great defender or
the cities on the Pacific coast.
In further detail IL may be stated that
the Monterey was constructed on the
bracket system. having a double bot
tom nearly her entire length and eA-
tending up to the armor plating. The
bow is ram shaped and will be pro-
tected for ramming when the occasion
! requires. The interior OF the hull Is al
vided into numerous water tight com
partments. The light superstructure al
ready mentioned extends from barbette
to barbette. while the armored deck
over the magazines, engines and ma
chinery for working the big guns IL
three inches thick The boilers are
placed in two independent firerooms
The barbettes were intended. as their
name implies. to be open at the top. but
so much objection was raised by nava
J constructors and officers to the plan
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13
The Powerful Monterey, Which Will Re-
;. enforce Admiral Dewey's Fleet
In the Philippines.

shell. which will pass through IL feet of
solid oak. four feet OF granite and seven
feet of concrete.
There is in addition, on the Monterey
a superstructurc from which some rapid
fire guns. six 6 Founders, two Gatlings
and four l Founders can help TO make
an engagement interesting and take
care of any torpedo boat or destroyer
that may come within range. but IL Is
upon those four awful guns that she
depends to annihilate any enemy that
may dar, to oppose her.
il would be sublime spectacle to see
the Monterey lowering off Corregidor
island In the harbor OF Manila COM
batting an entire Spanish fleet. while our
American fiotilla remained In the back
ground near Cavite. merely interested
spectators of what was known to be a
predestined result. The possible fear of
the dons bringing overwhelming odds
against our sailor boys in those waters
of the Pacific may be dispelled since
this monster protector Is on the way to
them.
The idea OF building the Monterey had
its inception during the session OF the
Forty ninth congress. which made a
| general appropriation OF $2,000,000 for
floating batteries. rams or other naval
structures for coast and harbor defense.
After much discussion by the board ap-
| pointed for the purpose IL was decided
to call for bids for the construction OF
| a vessel $50 feet long. with 80 feet beam
and mean draft of 1415 feet. She was
| TO have 16 inches of steel armor amid
ships, diminishing to less than half that
| at bow and stern. but the maximum
thickness was to cove. the vital parts.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13
Mules In War.

War pictures OF battles usually show
dashing horses pulling heavy pieces OF
artillery across the field, but they are
not true to life. An ugly set Of mules
is usually attached 10 the cannon. and
each one can do tho work OF two horses.
The mule Is necessity In modern
warfare and will outlast any horse on
earth. with the possible exception OF the
Texan and Mexican bronchos. which
are universally recognized as the tough
est creatures extant-
During the civil war many officers
discarded their fine stepping horses and
rode on mules during many an engage
ment. much preferring them In the heat
OF n battle.
The government has expended some
thing like 100000 on mules since the
war began. and purchases OF these USE
ful animals arc still being made by
agents.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13

Russia maintains larger army than
any ether nation i'm the world. II con-
sisting of l.69S.O0O men always under
arms and 5,f24,O00 reserves. total OF
6,s22, 900 men. Austria Hungary sup
ports an active army of $4,000 and a
reserve of 1.156.00o, a total of z.0slsO
men. France has an active army OF
l.o2i. 600 and reserve of 100000. total
OF 4.12i.000 men. Germany maintains An
active army Of $4,000 and reserve OF
2.loo. 900. a total of 100000 men.
Enaland's active army at home ana
abroad is 144,123. with reserve of 6ss.-
sT7. a total Of 714,00o men. In addition ia
which there is large army maintaineo
In India composed of native troops om-
cered by Europeans. The active (reg1-
Iar) army of the United states IN nomi-
nally $4,000 men. without reserves. sx.
cept the volunteer militia OF The ssvsra,
states.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13

this 5000 was in the salaries Of the
faculty.
a Chinese gentleman always sends a
pair OF geese TO the lady or his choice,
and they are looked upon as the en-
blems OF conjugal fidelity.
A medical nuthority on the virtues of
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13

various kinds OF foods declares that the
herring gives the muscles elasticity. the
body strength and the brain vigor and
is not flesh forming.
The Greek Archaeological society viii
begin a campaign Of excavations before
long at Chalels. IN EubGa, on the site
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13

Auslrc ms from the time honored tyr
amy OF the silk hat"
IL r. a curious fact thai the honeyoeo
was never known In the United states
until imported from england.
During the La. ntury 100 lakes ~
the Tyrol have subsldcd or disappcayoD
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13

II fs probably not generally known g
readers Of English that the word "daA.S
used by many children in place Of ~fA-
.her." is the purest Welsh. The open-
~ -rords Of the Lords Prayer In Wslsd
Fin Dad"
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13
BITS OF INFORMATION.

the memory OF Major George @. White
over his grave In 81. Paul.
The University OF Chicago expended
more than $1,000. 900 In the year 1897 OF
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13

bility. veritable floating fortresses that
are superior under certain conditions
in death dealing energy TO any other
class OF warships I'm existence.
ROGER II. BARNUM.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13

All the towns of Sweden are connect
ed by telephones owned by the govern
ment.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13

States gave more than $4,000. 900 to va
rious benevolent and chnritabie insti-
tn 80 c-e'fH I Lee being
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-13

In Japan coins are generally Of iron.
and In Siam they are chiefly of porce-
lain.
a., 4. lnGpupept has been dedicated 20 Q.
The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1898-01-29

En- raison de la f~requcnte question
de validitG do titre lie colonel porte
par les citoyens de la Virginie, ct
youlant bonner satisfaction 4 leur
envie, la Legislature de Get Fiat est
en- train d'ttudier un projet de loi
sur les imp6ts, dacrdtant que tout
citoyen ayant une position honorable
CANS Ia vile on il reside pourra
fare application pour lie tltre de
colonel devant nn JUICE de PARK, en-
prctant ie serment d'usage, ct en-
payant Ia somme de $l.00. Ii rece-
vra alors le titre lie colonel avec
touteS les prerogatives attaches a
&c grade pour toute ga vie.