The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-08-10
WORKING A SHIP
In A BATTLE
How the Brooklyn Was Managed
on July 5.


Captain Cock, keep your men below
the protective deck informed OF any
advantage we may gain" said Com
modore Schley, speaking loudly to
overcome the noise of the frightful
guns. The gallant captain of the
Brooklyn said with a smile al always
do that, sir. l consider it necessary
for the esprit de corps" and stepping
into the coming tower he called down
the tubes: "Tell the men below that
the Maria Teresa is running ashore"
At the same time Executive Officer
Mason rushes to the firing turrets and
calls into the men the same joyful |
news. 1t was the 81 of July and the |
excitement Of the first call to battle |
had hardly subsidized on the Brooklyn
when the foregoing incident occurred.
Commodore Schley stood upon a small
temporary bridge running about the
coming tower, while Captain Cook
spent his time between the interior Of
the tower, where he directed the ma
chinery, and the platform where he
could see the enemy. The Brooklyn
was one mass of flame and smoke as
she spit out defiance tinged with death,
and yet but one-third of the entire
crew could see the enemy or any part
of the fight. In the big turrets, half
naked men worked behind the steel
walls with no knowledge Of how the
battle went until they were informed
by Mr.. Mason, and below the protect
i've deck fully 800 or more men worked
under the glare of electric light, keep
ing this great engine of destruction
mechanically and rapidly at work.
WORKING THE BIG GUNS.
The men in the turrets Of five-ineh
steel see as little as the men below
deck, except that once in while hey
get glimpse of the object fired al.
When the ships of Spain were sighted
coming out, the eight and five-inch
guns were all loaded and in each turret
within two minutes after the summons,
eleven men stood half-naked awaiting
the word to fire. The chief of the tur-
ret, lieutenant, is in the hood, his eye
to the telescope, gets the line of his gun
on the harbor, and awaits the signal
'Five thousand yards" sings out an /
orderly in the turret opening, and the {
gun goes up TO the proper elevation os
the lieutenant in the hood orders the
elevating gear turned. The number
one man at the guns connects the cleo
trio wire to the primer with the hoods
hand-firing apparatus, and all is wait
ing. Commence firing" comes the
order, and quickly the answer comes
The turret lieutenant's hand closes ON
the electric apparatus and the gun
jumps back foot or more as 10
pounds of exploding powder drives a
2jO-pound shell from the muzzle Of the /
great piece at rate Of 200 feet per
second. Then, before the roar has s
ceased, the hand of the man in charge 4
of that turret touched the electric lever,
and the great 700 tons of steel moved /
quickly and almost noiselessly around
until the mother gun of the twins was 4
in the same position as the first one
had been. Slowly the muzzle comes
up to the right elevation, once more ths \
fingers close on the electric handle and
another $50 pounds Of steel shoot away I
on its death errand.
CLEANING AND LOADING.
Then, if you could have looked i'm
this particular turret you would have
seen picture of activity that would
have amazed you. Hardly had gun
number one been fired before the five
men behind it, until this minute
statues of inactivity, sprang into life-
No. opens the breach, washes OFF the
mushroom and gas check with sponge,
oils the breeeh plug, extracts the ex-
pIC ded primer, and sees the vent clear
No. seizes the long bristle sponge, wet
with water, and assisted by No. 3
sponges the gun, lays aside the SPONGE
and seizes the rammer, ready to drive
home the new charge.
While they have been working there
has appeared at the top of the ammu-
milton hoist new shells and new ammu-
milton, and the officer in command Of /
the turret cries "lOadr' No. raises
the ammunition corner Of the hoist
with the assistance of No. Of the other
gun, grasps the handle npOn the car
riage and swings it to the rear of the
gun. The projeetile IS first upon thes
left, and No. 3 adjusts the primer while
No. 4, assisted by No. 6. rams home the
25O-pound projectile. Then, in quick ]
succession, No. 5, No. 4, and No. 6
ram in the two charges Of powder, in
packages Of So pounds, each done up
in serge or muslin, and in grains
weighing an ounce and quarter each
No. closes the breech, No. ! again
connects the wire aud the gun is ready
to fire. All this has taken just four
minutes and, with two guns, the big
turret is shooting once every two min
utes.
THE POWDER DIVISION.
Down below the water line Of tie
ship, beneath the protective deck, is a
naked, prespiring crowd Of heroes,
their eyes effectually closed to tine
changing scene of battle, but their
senses keenIy alive to the fact that tor
pedo or shell below, or through the
armor belt may mean DEATH These
men work with an energy that proves
their patriotism and devotion to the
flag. On this day they sent up to the
various turrets and guns over 10000
pounds of ammunition, taking il care
fully out Of the big magazine without
accident.
The men detailed ia the handling
rooms OF the Brooklyn are from the
fifth or powder division, composed OF
those not detailed as guns crews, such
as carpenters and gunner's mates, ser
wants, idIers Of all kinds and the relief
watch OF the engineers division. This