The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-25

order "cast loose and provide" his
crew have done a lot OF work. There
are six of them for each gun, and each
has manifold duties. They are num-
berei from 1 to 6, and the first four
have had most careful training in
pointing the guns. They are proficient
marksmen, and is captain of the crew;
the others will succeed to the COM
mand OF the gun in order, as the cap
tain is wounded or taken out Of the
action for any cause. AS they take
their stations, l stands by the hydraulic
rammer that is used in loading the
gun; and 8 are called pluGmen and
spongers, and stand on the platform
at the breech of the gun; is the li2t-
man, and operates the hydraulic am
munItion hoist that lifts the great pro-
jectiles and their powder charges up
from the magazine deck; Is the re-
turn lever man. He operates the ma
chinery that runs the gun in and out
of the turret, as it is loaded and fired,
and s is the trainer who works the
training lever.
IN THE TURRETS.
Cast loose and provide" means an
immense amount of work to these men,
but so expert are they at it's perform
ance that in action they will keep their
giant rifle hurting it's tremendous pro-
jectiles at the enemys ship once every
three minutes. After they have "cast
loose their rifle, they begin to provide.
One connects the electric smoke fan
in the turret and starts it going. No
smoke must hinder the work of the
crew after the fight begins. He tests
| the hydraulic loading rammer and
makes sure it will work. Then he pre-
pares the electric firing wire and gets
| the primers and firing apparatus ready;
| gets the hose and the sponges ready
for washing out the big rifle after fire:
turns on the lights in the turret and
| fills the gun tub with fresh water:
| tests the ammunition hoist; tries the
| guns working motive power. and 6
satisfies himself that the training gear
| is in working order. The gunner's mate
| of that division provides box OF
| spare accessories and a tool hox.
| 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. 1 turns
|
space Of the gun, and helps; cleans
the face of the breech plug, and then,
with 2, places the loading tray 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 magazines be-
low have supplied the. ammunition TO
the hoist, and now. at the order ''up
| a. A laVaP
nlunttion. hoist comes up behind the
gun The gun has been run to the
loading position, and is ready.
At the order "load SHELF l extends
the hydraulic rammer and pushes the
| projectile home.
"PIace first cartridge" drops the
hoist down until the first of the two
powder cartridges is opposite the gun
| breach.
Load first cartridge" / extends the
hydraulic rammer again, and half the
| powder charge that VIII drive the big
| l.1OC pound projectne towards the enc
| my's shin is showed home in the cham
Der 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 hy-
draulic rammer works the third time
and the second charge is pushed home
Down lift" lowers the ammuni-
ton hoist back to the supply gang In
the magazines, who promptly fill il
again. 2 takes out the loading tray
and wipes off the breech plug.
''Close breech" Q and return the
breech plug to its place.
| Dali,
connects 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, whC
stands by to set the sights as the guT
pointer orders, and 6 of the right gun
who moves the turret as the Officer
commands.
Then, with the guns loaded, the gur
pointer in the hood keeps them trained