The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-03-15
PREPARING FOR WAR.
Great Activity at the Different Forts and
Navy Yards.
The MiantOnOmah, Katahdin, Minneapolis
and Columbia About Ready for Bush
ness-Pushing the Work on Big Guns
and Steel Notwithstanding.

PENSACOLA, Fla, March 14-Fort
Pickens, which guards the entrance to
the harbOr on the east side is the scene
of great activity just now. 1t is con-
sidered one of the strongest of the old
style of forts in the country. New si5
and eight-inch rife guns will be mount
ed on it and if a lot of vessels should
succeed in passing the heavy batteries
of disappearing guns and mortarS or
Santa Rosa island, the fort will be able
to do effective work when they reach
the channel. The big disappearing
guns are now in position and it i
learned that the troops at For
Barrancas are under orders to prepare
for practice with them, which is ex
pected to begin within the next ter
days. Large quantities of ammuni
ton have been received at the fort and
more is on the way. The Pensacola
| division of the naval militia have jus;
received from the government splen
did Hotchkiss rapid-fire gun and full
| outfit of cutlaSses, ammunition, ETC.
and they are ready to begin practice.
| TALLAHASSEE, Fla. March 14.-Fron
all reports coming into the adjutan'
! generals office here and letters from
commanders of companies, it is learned
that the Florida state troops are now
recruited up to the full legal standard
with offers of enough men to put 8, 00t
more in the field in week. In Tampa
and Jacksonville especially the wal
fever is strong and the commander:
of com panies there, both infantry and
artillery, report offers of hundreds
beyond their needs.
SAN ANTONIO, Tex, March 14.-Ligh
Battery X, First artillery, was Sunday
recalled from the target range at Kerr
vile and ordered to Galveston. The
battery had just reached the range
after a march of three days, and with
out giving the men or horses more
than a days rest, has started on the
return. The order was issued by Gen
Graham, commander of the depart
ment, on instructions received from
Washington Sunday.
SAN ANTONIO, Tex, March 14.-J. w
Greer, a mechanical engineer of this
city, is now negotiating with the war
department for the purchase of an au.
tomato machine gun for Notifications
and floating batteries which he has in
vented and patented. The depart
ment is now making test
with gun constructed on the
lines of Mr.. Greer's patent which will
shoot 500 three-inch projectiles per
minute, the fastest machine gun here
tOfore mountaineering but IL three
inch shots per minute. The Greer au.
tomato machine gun can be construct
ed for still heavier ammunition and
will shoot four-inch projectiles, at the
rate of $50 per minute.
A feature of the gun which recon-
mends it at this time is that the inven-
ton can be employed on the guns now
in use by the department and can be
manufactured in a very short time.
READING, Pa, March 14-The prom
Use of a contract for prOjectiles
amounting to. 81, 900, 900 to. the Carpen-
ter steel works, kept the entire plant
in unusual activity Sunday Work
was pushed all along the line on pro-
jectiles in the main plant; on the cree
tion of the three new buildings be-
gun Saturday, and in getting
the Diamond Steel Co.'S works,
(Which have been re-leasedl into rum
ming order. Masons, carpenters, ma
chinists, steel meters and makers and
a score of other classes of workmen
were on duty and in two weeks the
company will have an increased plant
to double the present capacity and will
probably employ ESQ men, More ship
ments will be made Monday by order
of government officials.
PHILADELPHIA, March 14-There was
a general absence at League Island
navy yard Sunday of the unusual ac-
tivity which prevailed last Sunday and
the Sunday previous. A few workmen
were busy about the yard and aboard
the ships, but their work was of finish
ing up character. The Miantonomah,
Katahdin, Minneapolis and Columbia
are now all but ready to sail within a
day or two if so ordered, and what
ever additional repairs may be neces-
sary can be attended to en- route. A
few more men are needed for the
Katahdin and Minneapolis, and a de-
tachment of marines under Lieut.
Fuller are expected shortly to
complete the Columbia'S compile
ment All the warships are now
coaled and have most of their
stores aboard, and about all that
remains to be done now is to replenish
their stock of ammunition. This will
be done at the government magazine
a short distance below the navy yard,
and all the vessels will then be ready
for sailing at moments notice. The
Columbia is anchored in the river and
as soon as her marines arrive will
steam to the magazine.
WILMINGTON, Del, March 14-The
powder works of the E. L Dupont
De Memours Co. is now working day
and night on a government order for
hexagOnal powder for the big guns.
Until day or two ago only the day
force was az work, but it is said that
orders from Washington necessitated
the employment of a night force
In addition some of the build
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