, 1898-10-21
THE MAN BEHIND THE GUN.
WHY OUR NAVY, SHIP FOR SHIP, CAN
BEAT THE WORLD.
A Shooting Match With a Thirteer.Incher.
Trained Marksmen on the Warships-As.
tonished Spaniard-Pet Names Tor Guns.

Washington Evening Star.
There is an old g%unner's mate on the
battleship Oregon who has been in the
service for over thirty years. He pol
ished and cared for the 9-ineh smooth
bore guns of the old navy, transferred
his affections to the wicked 6o-pounders
when they we're in vogue, and has finally
adopted as his pet and pride one of the
monster 13-inch beauties of the Oregon.
He cannot read a word, and signs the
paymaster's rolls with a cross, yet he
knows the intricate hanism of
breechloader as q scholar does the al
phabet, and he can hit a canvas bullseye
1000 yards away with an 1,l00 pound
projectile as easily as an expert pool
player can makes pocket.
When the Inflated ships of Admiral
Cervera's feet poked their noses past
MORO Castle in their desperate and
theatrical attempt to escape from San
tiago harbor, this grizzled old %gunner's
mate was engaged in his usual task, that
of lovingly shining up the glossy coat OF
his 13-ineh pride. When the cry went
up that the enemy was escaping and the
drums and bugles and gongs hastily
sounded general quarters, he gave a few
finishing touches TO the muzzle, then
quietly took his station in the turret.
Presently turning to a young seaman
gunner mex to him he said:
Charley, I'll bet you a months pay
that / make a better Shot at the Dago
OOSSdis biidn Out W nat u y q
'Done," was the prompt reply. Ten
minutes later the old gunner's mate
squinted his eye along the sight, sig
nailed the man at the training lever TO
ease off a little, took the range from the
officer in charge of the division, then
gave the firing lanyard a quick jerk.
When the smoke lifted the eager watch
ers saw a great yawning hole in the port
bow of the Almirante Oquendo.
A cheer came from the men in the
turret, and the old veteran glanced tri-
umphantly toward the seaman gunner.
The l~atter's turn soon came. The Oquen-
do, battered and helpless, drlfted ashore
in flames. The Oregon, accompanied by
the Brooklyn, sped on after the feet
footed Colon. The rapld-hre batteries
of both American ships ratified and
shrieked after the fugitive. The S-lnch
guns rumbled an unceasing chorus as
they belehed forth their steel shells,
and occasionally a deeper roar from the
13-inch monsters would give a mightler
volume to the din.
A BULBS EYE.
1t was after one of the latter shots that
the forward turret of the Oregon echoed
with a r%ousing cheer. Charley, the
young seaman gunner, had just dropped
the firing lanyard from his hand, and it
was seen tina the Colon's coming tower
was in ruins.
HE told me before he pulled the Ian
yard that he would fetch it," exclaimed
one of the guns crew admiringly, and
he did"
These shots, absolutely marvellous I'M
der the circumstances, were fired by
men representing the two extremes of
the service. The old %gunner's mate
gained his skill through years of eX-
perienee; the seaman gunner, scarcely of
age, was the product of a mode ON system
of training. But both were American
gunners, and that term means something
these days.
E~ighty-six years ago Great britain,
then as now one Of the great powers of
the eaRhx lkesSI Chat hat hm e +