davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04

passage Of the projectile. the kind Of powder
and weight of projectile. All these things
have to be taken into account, and they
each vary under all sorts Of conditions, so
that they can only be figured out for each
particular shot at the time the gun Is fired.
But they are not such difficult problems
to the officer who lives In an atmosphere of
such things.
1'Most Of this information must be worked
out from data obtained from firing tests,
and must be thoroughly assimilated by the
expert artillerist. Then, by taking obser-
vations at the time Of firing. data is OBJ
tanned from which results can be computed,
1.-THE most important part of the opera
ton is, of course, to locate the target. The
invention which hfls enabled us to do this
Is something wholly Americana devel-
opment of our regular army, which in GER
tain localities 1t Is SO much the fashion
these days to run down.
"This invention is the range finder 1t
looks a simple affair. A tall modern tower,
with q substantial foundation, built on a
commanding height, and connected with the
guns-perhaps half a mile distant-by tele-
phone. At the top Is q large telescope,
adjusted on a polished steel circular table.
A dial on the telescope frame is cogged
with the edge of1sthe circular table and
gives at any instant the direct reading in
azimuth. Another dial is so arranged that
elevation or depression Of the telescope
gives it's indicator corresponding move
ment. This is like the ordinary transit fit
ted to read vertical angles. But in this
CASE instead of reading angles Of depres-
sion, distances are indicated in yards to
the point where the line of sight pierces
the water. An adjustment corrects for
height of tide.
TT is only necessary then to point our
telescope at the water line Of the ship and
read directly azimuth and distance These
are rapidly transmitted by telephone to the
guns and plotted on a piece of drawing
paper. Three or four of these observations,
twenty seconds apart, are plotted, and the
gun has to be fired eighty seconds after the
two minutes total time. We have the loca-
ton of tn target at three different times.
1t is now necessary to compute where it
will be at the end of the eighty seconds.
win pass over ZOO feet In one minute. or
1000 feet In eighty seconds so that If we
fred at the point where she was at the
last observation we might miss her LOCO
feet or some fraction Of that. depending
on her direction Of sailing with references
! to US. II ~ fred point blank 4 e., Ginning
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04
NO CHILD'S PLAY.
The Firing OF Big Gun Involves
Many Things.

The Firing of Big Gun Involves
Many Things.
From the New York Herald
You think you could manage one of these
guns off-hand, do your" inquired an officer
Of the regular army of a reporter recently
as he patted one of the monster modern
guns in place at Fort Hamilton.
"Well, If your ordinary enlisted men can,
I think could, with a few days training.
of course replied the civilian who had
been favored with view of the new ord
nance.
THAT Is one of the most modest speeches
I've heard" was the ironical rejoinder.
I've spent four years at West Point, two
at the artillery school at Fort Monroe, and
/ was Just congratulating myself on my be-
And yet my nervous system hasn't been
tried and 1 may tumble my logarithms
when I'm under fire."
The civilian stared What are you talk
ing about?''
'Firing these guns. Did you suppose we
sighted along the top the way Long Tom
Coffin used to do in Cooper's story, and.
pulling lanyard, landed our shot ten
miles away just on the point where we
wanted it to go? That was the old way,
but today more science Is required. and we
can tell to an inch where the projectile we
fire will strike.
But it is no child's play. you may be
sure, and. not only one gunner must be
steady, but every man who has anything to
do with the transmission or computation
Of Information connected with the laying
(or sighting) of that gun has to be abso-
lutely steady. prompt and reliable. If you
will Just imagine how much of an error a
surveyor would make If he ran a line eight
miles long. having set his bearing one min
ute right or left at starting, you can ap-
preciate what must be accomplished in the
laying Of our modern ordnance
I'm the days Of the civil war ranges were
so very short that the gunner had no diff
Guilty in seeing his target and laying his
gun directly upon It, Wind and speed of
target cut no figure, because the projectile
had such short distance to pass over
that neither had enough time to act to
make any appreciable difference. But now.
when firing at target eight miles away,
all of these things make themselves felt.
There is the rifiing in the bore which
gives the projectile the rotation necessary
to keep 1T from tumbling, and which will
in our service carry the projectile to the
right. Then tho direction and force of the
wind, the direction and speed of target. the
temperature and barometric pressure of the
air. which ansot the resistance Of afr to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04

The sea entrance to the bay of Santiago
de Cuba Is protected by four forts, the
most redorbtable being Moro Castle. This
fort has the advantage of being situated
upon a very high elevation.
The channel at its outer entrance Is
about 300 feet wide, and only one ship can
erter or leave the harbor at time. 1t Is
said that the entrance to the harbor has
been made narrower .by distractions in
the channel. 50 that now the safe channel
is not more than 100 feet wide. 1t is also
said that new Krupp guns have been
mounted on each side of the entrance to
the harbor, and that the entire channel
had been carefully mined.
Horatio Rubens of the Cuban junta in
New York makes the following statement:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04

right at her-we would miss as much as
she would pass over In the time of flight
Of the projectile. This for 10OOO-yard
range might be twenty seconds.
I'VE have now the position of the target
at given future instant, but it Is referred
to the position Of the range tower. We
must now correct our data to refer
to the guns position. Then we are ready
to make corrections for drift due to rifiing,
effect of wind, condition of atmosphere and
abnormal powder and projectile. The gun
is laid with the resulting data by means of
degrees and minutes marked on the ira
verse circle of the gun platform and eleva-
ton arc on the side Of the carriage, and
we are ready to fire. 1t is necessary to
projectile to reach the target at the end
of the eighty seconds, SO the guns must
be fired that long ahead of time.
when you consider that all of this work
must be done in eighty seconds. yeu see
that one has to count his time by fractions
of seconds to work like an automaton. No
longer time can be allowed for computa-
lions, ETC., as uncertainties increase as about
the discipline OF the soldier comes in, and
it can be acquired only by years of train
ing
1.-THE aiming of the gun is all science now
and needs experts. The firing and loading
are the only things which the unframed
mind can find to work at. And even in
these things, you understand, there is need
Of GOODNESS and experience, for these big
IellOWS are delicate machines after all, and
are worked by levers. have electrical applj-
ances and are in other ways too precious
to trust to unframed hands.
This may not sound SO dreadful here in
the calm of a peaceful spring afternoon;
but imagine looking up sines and cosines,
plotting accurate curves from mathemati-
cal data, under hail of projectiles, with
shells and bombs bursting around you!
Fancy placidly sighting your telescope in
the range tower, which q well-directed shot
may cut away from beneath you! And
your hand must not tremble your mind
must not be distractedy'
The civilian seemed rather impressed He
could only venture, timidly. that it did
seem as IL there were great odds against
the ships.
80 there are. But they have advantages,
too In the Japanese-Chinese war the Japs,
being clever. got ahead of the Chinese pre-
dictions of their position by running ahead
full speed and then suddenly Stacking up,
20 that the Chinese missiles tell far shcad.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04
CITY OF SANTIAGO.

When the Chinese gunners began to grasp
that ruse they changed their tactics and
would advance slowly at first, then sudden
ly crowd on all steam and speed away,
leaving the gunners far behind
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04

THE approach to Santiago is a very diff
cult one. 1t is through a channel naturally
narrow, but made more SO by the Span
iards, who have sunk block houses and
distractions and have planted mines liber-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04

1t matters little what IT is that Won want.
whether a situation or q servant-a wants
ad- In The Star win reach the person wha
can I'LL your need.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04

The meeting was called to order by the
president, Mr.. John Marbury, jr., who &C.
cupied seat on the platform, which was
decorated in patriotic style. Over the stage
We're the words For justice and humanity
our flag will be there and there were flags
and bunting which expressed not only the
significance of the day but also the special
war events which distinguish this INDIE
pendence day. By the side of the president
sat the recording secretary, Mr.. 7. F. Ma
guire, who read the minutes of the previous
meeting. The treasurer, Mr.. Joseph
Prather, did not take place on the plat
form, but was stationed at table directly
in front, where the members who wanted
to pay their dues could easily reach him.
Mr.. J. A. Wineberger, the marshal, was
also on the floor looking after the various
details connected with his office. The ora
| tor of the day and the reader of the Decla-
ration of Independence had places on the
| platform.
There was good attendance of the men,
| bers, and when President Marbury raped
| for order he looked upon about the usual
| number that attend on such occasions al
| though it was thought the weather was
| rather warmer than usual.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04
OLDEST INHABITANTS
Public Meeting, Patriotic Addresses
and a COLLATION..
CELEBRATION OF INDEPENDENCE DAY
Officers Chosen and Other Routine
Business Transacted.
Mr.. SIMON VOLTS THEME

The Association of the Oldest Inhabi-
tants celebrated the day, as has been their
invariable custom. by public meeting. To-
Cay they met in the hall of Masonic Tenn
PIE. and after transacting SOME business,
the members and others who attended the
meeting listened to the reading of the
Declaration of Independence by Mr.. Allison
Nailor, jr., and an Grafton by Mr.. Simon
Wolf. The singing of patriotic hymns was
also a feature Of the gathering. After the
exercises collation. was served in the adj
Joining hall.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04
Address of Welcome.

AS Is customary President Marbury made
an address of welcome, which was deliv-
cred in the cordial manner which charac-
terizes his utterances. He said it gave him
special pleasure to attend the celebrations
this year, because of the war news. He
wanted to congratulate those present, In
view of the Intelligence from our forces at
Santiago, that they were American cftt-
zens. He went on to say that the war was
r,eking this country known in a way that
Il was nevsr before known. He quoted the
words of Senator Hoar, to the effect that
this was a war of humanity, waged by
those who are free, on behalf of those who
do not enjoy liberty. He spoke of the sad
ness with which the news of bravery must
be received, owing to the list of those who
had been killed.
He said that the record made by our
brave men made one proud Of his coun-
try. In this patriotic strain President Mar
bury spoke, evidently arousing by his stir
ring words responsive chord in the hearts
of those present.
The Declaration OF Independence was
read by Mr.. Allison Nailor, and, while he
announced that he did not profess to be a
good reader, yet he gave to the words of
that document the emphasis which brought
out clearly the meaning.
America was sung, and amid applause,
Mr.. Simon Wolf was introduced.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04
Read bedWear

As by 36-inch lockwood pillow casing
the material Of which costs 10c. yard
will be sold for. size. each
"a by eO-inch Mohawk sheets-the
material of which would cost DC
alone 32c.-to 20 for. ........ @CSs
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04

And thus we are confronted today by
questions of the highest Importance. The
future, no matter how much our pride may
suffer by the admission. is by no means
assured unless we continue on the lines
on which our country was founded and
through which it has been possible to
reach this unexampled prosperity and
greatness
The various countries of the world have
contributed to our physical, mental and
moral advance, and the emigrant, coming
as he did with the habits and traditions Of
his native land. had to be taught as a
child the needs of his new environments
1t required high order of intelligence on
the one side and patience on the other to
bring about an assimilation Of forces such
as a republic must at all times have to
harmonic differences. And this emigra-
ton has changed vitality the framework
created by the colonial fathers, for none Of
the signers of the Declaration of indie
pendence in their widest flights of imagi-
nation dreamed that this country was. in
the space of a hundred years. to be the
greatest republic known to history, and
that 1t should have been materially caused
by the influx from other lands. The thir-
teen colonies have grown into forty-five
imperial states, with several territories rip
ening to assume statehood. and this great
federal District, and the limited vision, en-
gendered by colonial conditions and state
pride, have almost entirely disappeared UNI
der the grander sweep of the onward ten
denotes characteristic of the close of the
nineteenth century.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04

Mr.. VOLTS Address.
Mr.. Simon Wolf then said: One hundred
and twenty-five years ago the state house
bell in Philadelphia rang out the gladstone
tidings that the states of this western con-
tinent were united and proclaimed freedom
and independence throughout it's borders
and also sent the message to the outside
world that man had again assumed those
franchises from which he had been denied
and deprived for ages.
The thousand and one thoughts that
flash through the brain in connection with
the Fourth of July and all that the day
signifies have been time and again pro-
nounced, and by some of the ablest and
most profound thinkers of our country.
But at no time since 177G has the day
brought to our recollections more wildly
the import and gravity of what the Fourth
of July historically means than today.
A nation is like an individual-when
prosperity and success have showered their
choicest blessings one is apt to forget the
past, Indifferent to the teachings that pro-
duced this result, and looking to the fu
ture only as a solution of all problems and
dangers. But the teachings of history con-
vey a different lesson. We find that pa
tons that have stood the very pima
Gle of prosperity and renown have gone
down with the same velocity that they
assembled, owing to the violation and ig-
noring of fundamental principles, which
sooner or later. If persisted in, are bound
to make themselves felt.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04

2i-inch printed India silk. in all the
newest designs for sumner wear inclnd-
ing new blue, gleen, brown tan. hello
trope, old rose ard white grounds, with
corded figures-the eiade that
sells all over town at 75c.-re- An,
ouced to-. .....--....... TSGs
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04
less than material cos

- be s0-inch "Peqrot'' sheets
| the material alone would cost 2E.
| 81 by e0-inch Pequot sheets
| material OF which costs alone pm,
| Ooc-to go Tor. ........... OT&e
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04
4 so muslin skirts, $50

A daring thing to do. A lot of fine
muslin undersk1rts to go at nearly half.
They are trimmed with deep cambria en-
broidery-the very handsomest and most
expensive sort you ever laid eyes on
They are spenddly made and finished
garments-full in width and of splendid
quality-and not enc of them should be
sold for less than 81 % and SI.5O. We
offer them for So cents.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04
Acquisition of Territory.

The acquisition Of territory Is not a new
or novel experience for this country. JEFF
ferson, who in many respects was the great
est American who ever lived, knew the
value and Importance Of acquiring outlying
land necessary and essential to the repub-
lie. And under this inspiration Louisiana.
Florida, California and Oregon were en-
rolled in the grand galaxy of states. There
fore we must not be shocked by the advo-
cacy of principles which are claimed as
contrary to the spirit and genius of our
institutions and our national history. The
republic stands not only for its own happi-
ness, but as q text and example for all
Hberty-loving people on the face of the
earth. The sounds of the independence bell
have not yet died out. Its reverberationS
are still ringing through the dungeons
where political prisoners are languishing,
and are caught up with gladstone hearts by
the struggling patriots Of every cline. This
is the lesson of the Fourth of July.
Therefore, 1t was but natural and truly
American that when right at our door the
natives of the soil, who had been most IN
humanity and barbarously treated for CEN
turtles, and who were struggling to eman-
eipate themselves from the thraIdom which
had CALLED and fretted them, that we, the
representatives Of q higher and nobier hui
manity. should not only extend our SYM
pathy, but also intervene with the force of
arms.
And thus the present war with Spain
was engendered from no desire to enrich
ourselves with the possessions of others
but to aid in restoring to its real masters
and citizens the land of their fathers But
the evolutions incident to history, espe-
cially In times OF war, are many and nc
one can foresee with certainty the out
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04

2i-in. Black brocade tnfreta silk. in
lire Of new designs, n soft, hon -crush-
able silk, and guaranteed to
wear. the era lie that sold for Sn,
S5c.-reduced to....,..S SGs
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04
D0m1estics for less than YOU ever

60 pieces fine yard-wide
cambric-to go for. .4Nc.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04

100 pieces Androscoggin
muslin. full yard wide. to
20 Tor. ,41sc.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04

21-inch white japanese silk-a soft. fine.
lusfrous quality-the grade that
sells regularly for J0c.-rcduocd 10
~ ''---'..-. ...--.-........... ~ 70
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04

23-in. black silk grenadine. in new de.
slgns. guaranteed every thread purt
silk, the regular SIPS grade k6N/,
reuuoed to-.---.--. WV
The silver star., 1898-11-03

For R,pre.eniailNe io tie l.Nl Cor gf.-s Of
the I-ri'.i STATE FOR TIA IN / consrt>-i"n~i
piSir ct.
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-09

them to keep on until I reached the point. We had probably gone a mile when we saw our dogs feasting on the carcass of a whale which some whaler had killed and skinned. My natives were just as much delighted with this find as my dogs, and they devoured a large quantity of the putrid meat. Hungry as I was this carcass was too gamey for me.
 After the Indians had eaten all they wanted we took our dogs back to camp, harnessed them, came back to the car cass, cut off sufficient meat to last the dogs several days and proceeded on our trip.
 A little distance from the whale we came upon flock of ducks.
 I manage, by crawling over the ice carefully, to get near enough to kill three of them and my native killed four, but we only succeeded in landing one and had to fish a long time before we secured this one. A fire was built, the duck skinned and boiled in salt water. ate the entire duck.
 We started again, but the road was terrific, and we had to unload the sled twice that afternoon. A heavy wind came up about 4 D. m., with snow squalls, but we kept on, travelling close to the bank until it got so dark we could not see. This was about D. m. It began clearing off, and the indica- tions all pointed to a pleasant night,
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-09

but at midnight we were awakened by out the best we could and got into our skin clothing behind a snow bank. It was the hardest blizzard we had yet struck. We dug a hole in the snow bank large enough to get our sleeping bags stretched out, pulled some Of the dogs in and managed to keep warm the balance of the night.
 As Point Hope was only twenty miles away from us, and as we had nothing to eat, I slung the mail sack over my shoulder, took my natives and started for the point. The wind blew in squalls and SO heavy at times that we had to lie down until it would sub side somewhat, when we would march on.
 We succeeded in reaching Point Hope in about twelve hours, stopping at the first house we came to, which we found to be that of MT. Anderson, who is engaged in shore whaling. He cooked self and gave us change of skin clothing.
 found that my natives had their cheeks and ears frozen pretty badly and I had one toe and both ears frozen.
 The blizzard kept up without inter- I hired a couple of natives to assist me
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-09
halers and their condition.

whalers and their condition.
 After walking a couple of miles we found a suitable spot for the camp, Dr. Call getting the dinner ready and Lieu tenant Jarvis and myself conversing. It was a very fortunate thing for me that Mrs. Hickey lost her pipe, as I should not have met these officers but for that circumstance.
 Lieutenant Jarvis recognized the wo- man, while she was running back to rejoin us after finding her pipe, and stopped her. asking what she was do- ing in this part of the country. He knew she was from Point Hope. She managed to make him understand that she had come down with a white man from the whalers,and Jarvis dispatched his runners after me.
 Jarvis gave me several letters of in- troduction and one especially to Col onel G. M. Randall, commanding at Fort St. Michael, and advised me that from now on put myself in the hands of the Government until I reached San Francisco. He also said that I would in all probability be the mail carrier, and for me not to hurry, as both my natives and my dogs were tired
 We then parted, he to go to the bleak, dark and frozen north and I to go to the land of sunshine and flowers.
 We remained In camp all that day. We travelled easily the next three days, reaching Fort St. Michael on the even ing of the 9th. I presented my ere dentials to Colonel Randall.
 I had expected to leave St. Michael on January 10, but Cannuanwar caught a severe dose of the grip which, I un- derstand, is very prevalent in that re- zion this winter, and so was delayed until she had sufficiently recovered for her to continue the journey.
 St. Michael is a good place for the workingmen and mechanics this win ter. The North American Trading Company is building new wharf and new warehouses and putting the finish ing touches on new hotel that would accommodate 200 guests. It is also put ting in a new training wall so as to