Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1898-12-30

Uncle Sans mail sacks containing news
from home.
The writer and Major Pease-our reg
mental physician - visited the great
cruiser H. M. S. Powerful and received
most courteous treatment from the Of
ficers of that wonderful ship. The day
we went aboard was extremely
rough and to cap the climax the only
thing we could secure in the shape of a
boat was a native dug-out-very much
the shape of an old fashioned watering
trough. When we reached the wharf and
inquired rs to the safety of going far out
in one of these crude ~crafts-the water
being so rough-we were advised by
several not to attempt it, but
as the Powerful was to leave
the next day for Hong Kong
to go into dry dock and from
there proceed to Australian waters, and
hence our last opportunity of seeing her,
we decided to go and take our chance.
We found the water in an angry mood
and our little craft was handled rather
rudely by the waves, but the Powerful
was reached in due time and with the
exception of our white linen trousers
being soaked by the splashing of the
waves, we were none the worse for wear.
The Powerful is 4S0 feet in length, dis
placement 1890 tons. Her principal gun
is a 8 inch wire gun, something we
do not have in our navy. This gun of
tremendous weight may be moved and
sighted in any direction by simply turn
ing a small crank. Tho powder and pro-
jectiles are raised in appliances run by
electric power and are discharged by the
same means. In addition to this mon
strous gun, she carries several 6 and
S-inch, besides a great number of rapid
fire guns. 1t seemed almost impossible
to turn around without seeing two or
three guns of the above variety. From
the coming tower to the boilcr-room of
this wonderful vessel was like waX-im-
possible to find a bit Of dust anywhere.
Her crew consists of $50 men, and after
going through the ship it is hard to con
vince a person there was over a hundred
ON board. The young l%cftcnant' who
showed us the vessel remarked 1--WE were
waiting patiently for the bloody Ger
and French to interfere with the
'.Admiral'"-as they term Dewey-and
concluded by saying it would have Of
fered them great pleasure to have lined
up side and side with Uncle Sans ships
and taught the above nations Il forcible
lesson. We were shown everything on
the vessel, but the range-finder, this
they refuse to show anyone. After lock-
ing the ship over thoroughly we were
invited to the officers room and enjoyed
4 o'clock lunch. Told us to send II
"bloody dug-out" home, stay and visit
awhile and they would take us ashore,
which they did in grand style by means
of II of their torpedo boats and we
went a flying. The little craft is capable
of making twenty-five knots an hour.
Since the Powerful has been here 1
dare say two-thirds of our troops have
been aboard of her and officers and men
alike report receiving most courteous
treatment. Her sister ship, the Terrible,
is nov o her way to Great Britain's
Asiatic station. l expect, in the near
future, to visit our fleet here.
North Dakota has received her share of
appointments to military positions here.
Capt. Motfct mas charge of the civil pris-
ons and is giving the best Of satisfaction.
Major Potter says his business is kept in
better shape than any department. in The
city. He is much mere ut home in a 20
sition of this kind than in the handling
of men. Major White is provost mar
shall for his district and hence the clean
illness. of the streets, sewers, etc. Capt
Chas. F. Mudgett holds a prominent 30.
sition as does Chas. w. Getchell. Lieut.
NJ. A.. Hildreth ably represents his state
in the capacity OF judge advocate OF q
general court martial board, and is with.
out doubt one of the ablest ATTORNEYS il
this city. He is now prosecuting q
Spanish soldier for numbering a poo.
Filipino and it is almost Il certainty tina,
the Spaniard will be convicted. The ev
idence against him is strong and Mr.
Hildreth is hard after him.
W. j. MCLEAN.