The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-27
that division provides box OF spare ac-
ceesories and a tool box.

that division provides box of spare ac-
ceesor1es and a tool box.
THE FINAL ORDERS.
Everything being provided, the next
command for the men in the big turret is
open breech;' and respond and the
breech plug is moved back and out of the
way.
Then sponge" is the order / turns on
the hose. washes out the shell space of
the gun, and helps: cleans the face of
the breech ri1yg, and then, with 2, places
the loading ray which guides the shell and
powder charges from the carriages of the
ammunition hoist to the gun. While this
has been going on, the men in the maya
zines below have supplied the ammunition
10 the hoist and now. at the order up
lift, 4 works the lever and the annnuni-
ton hoist comes up behind the gun. The
and is ready
At the order Toad SHELF extends the
hydraulic rammer and pushes the projectie
home.
Place first cartridge" drops the hoist
down until the first of the two powder cart
ridges is opposite the gun breecn.
Load first cartridge" l extends the n.y.
draulic rammeI again and half the powder
charge THAI will drive the big 1,1O0-pound
projectile towards the enemy's ship is
showed home In the chamber of the big rifle.
Place second cartridge" and the lift
drops again until the second charge is level
with the gun breech
Load second cartridge" The hydraulic
Iarnmer works the third time and the Sec
6nd charge is pushed home.
Down lift" lowers the ammunition
MOIST back to the supply gang In the maya
zines, who promptly fill it again. takes out
the loading tray and wipes off the ,breech
plug.
close breech,' 2 and 3 return the breech
Prime" / inserts the primer and con-
meets it up with the electric firing button in
the hood. Then he calls out Ready" and
the men stand clear of the gun Their work
for that load is over, except for of the left
gun, who stands by to set the sights as the
gun pointer orders, and of the right gun,
who moves the turret as the officer COM
mands
Then. with the guns loaded, the gun point
er in the hood keeps them trained on the
approaching enemy until suddenly the cap
tain in the coming tower receives from his
range finders a signal that shows that the
enemy Is not two miles away. The hull of
the antagonist looms up big and clear in the
AFTERNOON sun, fine mark The distance
is signaled to the forward turret by the
electric indicator, there is an instant's wait
for the train of the guns, and then the cap
tain gives the last ORDER
The action is on. The huge projectiles go
plunging toward the enemy, but strike the
water a little short He responds in kind,
but neither ship Stacks speed. The gun
crews in the forward turret rush through
their work again, but now no man COM
mands: The drill they have had makes
tnSm IdHlllldr enough with all tne1r work,
and speed is the greatest consideration
now. The men at the other guns wait
eagerly the moment when they, too, can
get into the fight. 1t comes with small de-
lay.
Now the Oregon is near enough to the
enemy to give her broadsde The after
turret swings around and its big guns
trained with those of the forward turret.
The four eight-inch rifles in the amidships
turrets join in the assault and all together
they hurl their murderous bolts at the
enemy. This time they do not miss, for
they are fired by expert men who do not
waste ammunition in finding an enemy's
distance.
But now the Oregon is under the enemy's
fire as we'll and storm of shot from his
rapid-fire guns is playing havoc with the
battle ships superstructure. The, range
finders were long ago silenced and the sur
geons in the sick bay have their hands full
Our fellows stick calamity to their work,
and if we are hurt what must be the state
of affairs on that big fellow in the other
corner of the ring? The Oregon must dem
onstrate in her first action that she can
take as we'll as give hard knocks.