Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-11-10
TIE CITIZEN.
UNCLE SANS WEAPONS.
Many Engines Of Destruction Ex-
hlb.ted at Omaha.
An Interesting Ezhibit At the Trnns-
z-Isaissi1pi ES2osItIon-Artis-
tic Models Of the
OEi.3UaIs.

The exhibit Of the navy department.
in the government building is attract
inc q coed deal of attention from all
classes OF visitors. Among the most
interesting OF the exhibits are the
models OF naval vessels, including bat
tlcships. armored and unarmored
cruisers. gulGuats. monitors, rams,
disratcl bo4,s. and the terrible dyna-
mitcr. Ve.-vils. These models are
all built exactly 10 scale and cost an
AVERAGE oil $1,000 each. One OF the
finest OF these models tLat OF the new
tyne OF Gatt.usLP. the Illinois, is
exaiUijed To connection with model
drv dock. such as is used in repairing
ships. This dry dock was built es-
peciaIly fer the Trans-Aississipp eX-
position. and cost Sa.0o0. 1t Is per-
feet in every detail. and exhibitions
Of docking the Illinois are given
daily.
In the exhibit Of ordnance for fight
ing these ships is a oue-half model of
a l3-inch gun, 80 feet long. \ view Of
this monster and consideration OF
the fact that baJtleships carry four
OF these guns. each weighing IS tons
and hurting prcjectiles weighing l,l0O
pounds each, gives one some idea OF
the massive strength Of a frst-clasS
war vessel. The breech and breech
/ mechanism Of this gun are the most
wonderful parts Of it. Although the
breech plug is subjected to a pressure
I OF Is tons 20 the square inch when the
4 gun is fred, it is loosened and opened
| by single motion of the crank, which
visitors are free to operate. There is
| also one OF those wicked rapid-fre
guns which drove the Spanish from
| their guns and swept their ships to
! destruction at Manila and Santiago.
| On this gun are shown the telescope
sight and range finder, as well as the
pointing mechanism. by which 35
aimed shots per minute may be made.
| This, however, seems slow when com
pared with the automatic rapid-fre
gun. which throws ESQ one-pound shells
| per minute-the terror of torpedo
boats Projectiles Of all sizes for the
various guns are exhibited, from the
| monster 13-inch she'll to the small but
terribly penetrating bullet fred from
| the rifle used by the marines when
| ever they are called upon to make q
| landing and do military duty. Some
| very convincing evidences of the
| penetrating power of these bullets
| are shown.
There is 4 full-sized Whitehead tor
pedo, with its ''war-head" and ready
| for business, which cost the govern
ment about $4,000 to produce. AL
| though torpedoes were not much used
| in the late war, owing to the watch
| fulness of the lookouts and the power
of the searchlight, they are still much
to be dreaded for the work they can
| do under certain circumstances.
Resting near the big 13-inch guI ard
forming a fitting companion for it is
o model Of a 14,0OO-pound anchor. Its
simplicity does not prevent it from
attracting much attention.
Near by is a complete divers outfit,
| including an air pump and a telephone.
| At first glance it seems little strange
| that q man needs heavily weighted
shoes and heavy belt of lead to en-
able him to sink in the water, but they
are very necessary parts of a divers
| outfit
A striking example of the COMPACT
ness Of 4 naval vessel is shown in q
| completely furnished stateroom, as ac-
| cupied by a commissioned officer on
one of the larger vessels. While it
is only 4 few feet each way, il con-
tains everything necessary, from
tub to a fair-sized writing desk, and
| there is room to spare.
The pinnacle compass seems Chi
nese puzzle to the uninitiated. but
when explained by one of the attend
ants, it appears very simple indeed
| and is most interesting.
Samples of the signal code flags
hang from the ceiling. and visitors al
ways wonder at the simple but perfect
| means by which ships communicate
and orders are given at sea. There
| is also shown the distinctive flag OF
the president of the United States
interesting because so rarely seen. It
is carried on all ships but is hoisted
only when the president is on boar'l.
] The uniforms worn by the lack
les" attract much attention as per-
tanning exclusively to the men who
! have done such valiant service during
| the past few months.
! Besides these more notable exhibits
! there G-0 countless smaller but no less
/ interc y objects which are worthy
. ~ gssnr rsf. ..|