The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-05-25


which are mounted fore and aft and
protected by heavy steel turrets. In
these turrets are stationed the crew
that operate these big pieces.
With the precision of machine,
these men during the terrible hours of
an engagement bend to their work,
loading, sighting, aiming and firing
again and again. The roar of the guns
and the crash of the enemy's shells on
the steel walls of the turret do not in
terfere in the slightest with the busi-
ness in hand, as with clock-like regu-
larity they get those death-dealing ter
rors into shape 10 tear hole in the
enemy's hull.
Like the awakening of some angry
monster striving only to lay waste, the
guns pour shot after shot from the re-
volving turret, and the half-stripped
mea peer through the portfolios as the
steel projeetiles of death sereech across
on the mission of death.
As an example of magnificent disci-
pline and machine-like obedience to
duty in the face of death, there is
nothing to compare with the men be-
hind the guns in a modern fight be
tween ironclads, such rs the historic
battle OF Manila Bay.
When an ironclad like the Olympia
goes into action the order comes sharp
and barking: Muster the crew."
The gunners on the Olympia, twelve
in each turret, six for each gun, fall in
position in response to their Numbers,
called out by the captain of each crew,
| and stand rigid and ready for whatever
order may come.
Each man knows his place, knows
what is expected of him, fully compre-
hends his responsibility, and, perhaps,
his eyes sweep the deck in farewell.
There are five chances in ten that he
will enter the turret to die. But
death like that makes history. His
( passing will be under the flag, honora-
ble and on duty, and he waits tie next
command.
At each gun there is captain, plug
man, loader, a sponger, liftman
and shellman. Their separate duties
are clearly defined. They have been
drilled TO fight, if necessary to die. If
one of them drops at his post, another,
without mnrmur, takes his place.
Toe twelve men in the turret are like
SO many automatons.
At the battle of Manila that forward
turret on Admiral Dewey's flagship
olympia, smoking and cleaning with
the glare of war, demolished the IRON
clads of Spain and sent them found
ering and on fire into the sea.
1t was the hour of retributiOn, the
day for which the men in the turret
had waited patiently. The order TO
',Master the crew. came TO these men
like benediction, and the reckoning
with Spain was at hand.
1.-Two, three, four, five, six, seven,
eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve" sang
out the turret captain, who is No. of
tn crew, and in less than minute the
two guns of the Olympia's forward tur-
ret were manned.
"Silence," rang out the command
through the still morning air, and the
crew faced the guns voieeless and at
tentive.
For second or two the men, strip
ped to the waist, stood mute, straining
to catch the next order.
''Cast loose and provide" command
the division officer, and in an instant
the captains of the gun crews on the
starboard and port guns began rapid
inspection of the mechanism of the
guns. Skilful fingers opened the
breech, the loader and sponger hasten
ed to see that the elevator gear for hoist
ing ammunition out of the magazines
was clear. to cast off the lashings. place