Arizona republican., 1898-08-14

senses keenly alive to the fact that tol pedO or shell below, or through the al1ror belt may mean death. These men work with an energy thaN proves their patriotism and devotion to the flag On this day they sent up to the various tI1rrets and guns over 10000 pounds Of ammunition, taking it carefully out of he big magazines without accident
 Tie men detailed in the handling rooms of the Brooklyn are from the fifth or powder division, composed of these not detailed as guns crews, such Das carpenters and gunner's mates, ser wants. idlers of all kinds and the relief watch of the engineers division. This medley of men is of many nationali- ties and is known on board the Brook 'yn as "CoXey's Army and is con- handed by the senior deck officer, Dr. Griffin, with four or five other officers as assistants, each assistant having charge of a section of about forty or
 fifty men. the whole division taking charge of all magazine holds and all space between decks during action.
 At the clang of the alarm for gen eral quarters the men rushed for their stations, struggling through a small steel hatch in the protective deck, and down a narrow and almost vertical ladder to the magazines and shell rooms below. The officer in charge, Dr. Griffin, hurried to the cabin for the magazine keys, grabbed the small leather bag containing them, from the hand Of the marine orderly on duty at the door of the captains cabin, and rushed after his men distributing the keys as rapidly as possible to those all ready standing at the box-like tops of the magazines. the bolts of which had already been loosened. The ammuni- tion whips were quickly led out, and the men stood with their hands on small lever ready to turn on the cur rent of the electric hoists. as soon as the matches were off. When every thing was seen to be clear the endless chains of the hoists started with the whlrr of the motor and rolled their loads of rapid-fire ammunition to the decks above. where men were stationed to receive it. Down the chute of the 8-lnch gun turret. as an accompani- ment to the deep rumble of the turrets as it slowly swung from amidships to the port or starboard, comes the con- 'dchu. IulI ShdI SSS, COIuuOu SIlOl,
 from the officer in charge of the turret and the answer quickly goes back, Aye, aye. sir" and as a response to lower tone of voice. Quick, lads. lively now" up comes the long powder talks and heavy 250 pound shell to the base of the turret. There the shell was quickly seized in the tongs by two stalwart apprentices. raised and ram med home in the car: the tops of the long copper powder tanks were taken off and the powder in two sections placed in the other comDartments O. the car. the signal given and both cars quickly rise to the breech of the turret guns and are sent back, almost as quickly, emptied
 All this preparation Of getting ready occupied a space of four minutes time after all the men had gone below and the hatches had been lowered and se- cured. The heat varies in this steel cage from 120 to 146 degrees Fahrenheit and quickly causes the men to strip to the waist and settle down to their work in an ail-tight box filled with sNeltering humanity bIindly obeyirg oI 6ers. with unquestioning obedience and alacrity, not knowing the caI1se nf