The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-20

boat, We have two, one on each side, you
see. They are hoisted out by che der
rick on che mast and n we had to aban-
don ship they would take seventeen men
each, and provisions for ihem as well.
you see the deck Is covered with a kind
Of linoleum, IL Is found TO answer much
better than wood in this class of ships,
as also ia torpedo boats. Here are two g.
FOUNDER Elitchhss guns; these and the
l2-pounder up there constitute our bow
fire. Pretty strong for so small ship,
isntit2 You see, our object Is TO oYertake
and destroy by our superior gun fire an
enemy's torpedo boats; consequently, when
chasing, bow fire would be of great inn
portance. and | think that chap up there
would give a pretty good account of him
self" He pointed az the gun on the fore
bridge as he spoke.
%The ship seems very long" ! said; and,
being rather curious on this point, ! adj
ded what length II she?"
"oh, about two hundred feet, he ans
wered.
"And her beam?"
THAT is about nineteen and half feet,
and she draws about six. See here, this IL
the coming tower, With our haif-inch OF
arrnor on ia Isn't II a lot2 We can steer
from here, and in bad weather we have
70, as one would be washed away on the
bridge
II looked inside. There was just room
for two people to stand up inside and II
was fitted with compass, steering wheel
telegraph to the engine room, and voice
pipes TO the torpedo tubes and various 9th
or parts OF the ship
you say this is only half an inch
thick?" | queried. Flow thick, then, l.
the ships side?"
"Oh." said he laughing, about an
s.,11 nd bnfora 4 cOfflI
quite grasp how mitch an eighth Of an inch
of steel really Is IN thickness he had dig
appeared down LADDER at my feet.
Come down here" he said, looking up
and smiling az my evident blank dismay at
MS last piece OF Information. This Is the
mess deck for the Observation-Disclosures the
turtie-backed forecastle, you see"
one long table stood IN the center, and
two rows of lockers ran along the ships
Side. few men were down mere, one
stitching canvas another mending his
clothes. one reading book, another writ
ing letter, and one stretched right for
ward fast asleep, utterly Obvious OF
everything going on beside him.
about twenty men live down here" said
the SUBJ These are their hammocks,
ana that IS the capstan engine--we have a
steam caustan."
He pointed above his head as he spoke.
More storerooms under our feet, too,
ne continued 1--WE keep the explosive war
heads for the torpedoes down below here.
We have two eighteen-inch Uorpedoes, car
ried. without the heads, In the tubes them
selves. Now, let US go up on the fore
bridge"
1 followed him up the little iron ladders
iii beside the twelve-pounder
we had increased speed, and now we
we're well out Of the Midway and gliding
along through the water so smoothly that
could hardly believe the statement that
our speed was over twenty-four miles an
bour. Slipping through the water with no
yibratlo at all. the only indications Of
speed were the ripples on the water flying
past us, and the fountain Of spray rising at
iour sharp straight stem, sparkling with
all the colors OF the rainbow as the SUMS
rays flashed upon Il,
'Well, how do you Ike it?' queries my
chhm ''Midships, steady" STEADY, sir, :"
replied the head.
II wish were In your place" said /.
You have made new man Of me al
ready"
.'Oh," replied he, laughing come out
on a cold wet night, IN January, when a
heavy sea Is running, and you have 10
hang on 20 the rails or the 12-pounder
here to prevent yourself being carrier off
your feet, when the seas rise dashing on