The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-13

How the Big Guns Are Manned Ia =
Naval Engagement.
Between the guns and the sides OF
the turrets are stationed the men who
tend the training motors. open and
close the breech, and cleanRi opt the
powder chambers. In the reW vf ,each
gun IL a powerful electric fant INTENDED
to drive the smoke out of the turret
through the bore OF the gun. and hy-
draulic rammer with which the half
ton projectile Is forced up ino the gun
A this rammer stands the gun captain,
who superintends the loading, and the
first sponger. who sees to the prepara-
ton OF the gun for receiving the
charge. Between the platform on
which these men stand and the face OF
the breech is light trap-door covering
a shaft up which the ammunition
lifts are hoisted from the handling
room below. On the girders between
the guns are stationed the men operat-
ing the ammunition lifts,. the water
service, and the various signals and
telephones.
There is disposition 10 chatter
among the apprentices; the suspense
is great and inaction Is hard to bear.
especially as all of the light guns
Train on the entrance to the har-
bort
The motors utter a groan and the
ponderous cylinder swings slowly
round, wheezing and rumbling. The
range indicator mounts quickly to
twenty nine hundreds yards and stops;
the telephone rings and it's attendant
reports ttfft rf,.
Fire at WILL
The telescopes are set with turn OF
the wrist, while with the other hand
the guns are elevated until the cross
wires sweep the horizon; but the smoke
from the light guns Is thick and moth.
ing Is distinct.
Suddenly there Is a rift. and in IL APP
pears the black hull OF ship-a
stranger, but aft she carries grand
ensign marked with the blood and gold
Of Spain. From her sides and turrets
there is a continuous play of lightning
flashes. but the din OF nearer guns al
lows no sound from her TO be distin-
guished. One questions certainly for an
instant: us she lighting? IL she firing
at us? Is this naval battle? And then
comes the eager anxiety TO do ones
own part and To do IL well.
The sixteen men about the guns are
now silent and expectant. The turret
turns slowly-slower- stops. The ship
is rolling gently, while the enemy's
ing on to meet the descending cross
wires of the telescope: the officer with
all his soul i'm his eye. awaits the col
| limation, and at the instant presses
| the firing handle There Is deafen-
| ing roar, binding fash. the great
gun recoils wildly into the turret. and
| then slides smoothly out again. The
already turning like mad at the plug
crank. and. as the half-ton block
swings aside, a third directs a stream
| OF water into the chamber. A turn Is
| given the elevator-valve and the
| breech swings up high, allowing the
water To run down the bore and out Of
| the muzzle. The gun captain takes
charge. and the officer turns to the
other gun. He glances at the range in
| dicator-twenty-si hundred yards
sets the sight. and moment later the
smoke lifts again.
| Two Spanish ships are now out and
third is in the entrance: the first one
seems on fire. Was IT. from his shot?
| Who can tell? For a dozen heavy guns
are firing at her. A second later and
| the trainer swings the nearest ship in
TO his field. and be flres again. Another
! pair Of men. swing open the breech and
the hose is pointed down the bore.
In the meantime the first gun has
been lowered into its loading position.
l fnt dihiUu'ltiou tStI fitS Dttf noiStcu
| in rear of II and the rammer has fore
| ed home the shell. Twice more IL en-
| ters the breech. each time pressing be-
| fore IL two hundred md seventy five
| mounds of powder. With jts last with
| drawal. the empty ammunition car
| drops out of sight, the breech-plug is
swung into place. the gun captain
| stems forward. Sins IN The primer and
| connects the plugs Of the firing wires.
| Ready. leftH he reports.
| And go il goes. first one gun and then
! the other. II is hard and hot work The
| firing is so fast ana continuous that the
| fans CANNOT keep the turret clear Of
| smoke. The men cough and gag: down
| in the handling-room they are faint
| ing. The smoke has deposited a vrav
scurf on skin and clothes. its alI<aIi
has attacked the paintwork and turned
| II to p Shiny SOAP: the black drippings
from the gun-washire has fallen in
foul splotches down the turret walls
and lies in puddles on the floors.--Iieut.
| A. A. Ackerman in Golfers Weekly.
| -----