Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1898-08-05

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had been. Slowly the muzzle comes up
to the right elevation, once more the
nervous fingers close on the electric
handle and another $50 pounds of steel
shoot away on its death errand. Then,
if you could have looked in this particu-
lar turret, on that memorable and
glorious morning of the 3rd, you would
have seen picture Of activity that
would have amazed you. Hardly had
gun number one belched forth it's de-
fance to the group of Spanish ships,
than the five men behind it, until this
moment statues of inactivity, sprang
into life. No. 2 and No. opened the
breech. No. 2 washes off the mush-
room and gas check with sponge, oils
the breech plug, extracts the exploded
primer, and sees the vent clears. No.
4 seizes the long bristle sponge wet
with water and assisted by No. 3
sponges the gun, lays aside the sponge
and seizes the rammer ready to drive
home the new charge.
While they have been working there
has appeared at the top of the ammuni-
tion hoist new shells and new ammuni-
tion, and the officer in charge of the
turret cries, "load.
No. raises the ammunition corner
of the hoist and with the assistance of
No. of the other gun, grasps the
handles upon the carriage and swings
it to the rear of the gun. The projectile
is first on the left, and No. 3adjusts the
primer, while No. 4, assisted by No. g.,
rams the $50 pound projectile.
Then in quick successio4 b. 5, No. 4
and No. 6 ram in the twd harges of
powder in packages of IS p Pds, each
done up in serge or muslin d i'm grains
weighing an ounce and quarter each.
No. 2 closes the breech, No. again
connects the wire and the gun is ready
to fire. All this has taken just four
minutes and with two guns, the big
turret is shooting once every two
minutes.
But where are the mysterious hands
that send up these thdealing charges
to the guns in such ghostly ways? Down
below the waterline Of the ship. beneath
the protective deck that in too many
battles has proved the lid to the steel
coffin of hundreds of brave men, is q
naked, perspiring crowd of heroes, their
eyes effectually closed to the changing
scene of battle, but their senses keenly
alive to the fact that torpedo or shell
below, or through the armor belt, may
mean death, these men work with an
energy that proves their patriotism and
devotion to the flag. On this day they
sent up to the various turrets and guns
over 70, 900 pounds of ammunition, tax
ing it carefully out of the big magaz ines
without accident.
The men detailed in the handling
rooms of the Brooklyn are of the fifth,
or powder division, composed of those
not detailed as gun crews, such as car
penter's and gunner's mates, servants,
idlers of all kinds and the relief watch
of the engineers division. This medley
of men is of many nationalities and is
known on board the Brooklyn as Cox
ey's army" and is commanded by the
senior deck officer, DR.. Griffin, with
four or five other officers as assistants
each assistant having charge of a Sec
ton of about forty or fifty men. the
whole division taking charge of all mag
azine holds and all space between decks
during action.
At the clang Of the alarm for general
quarters, the men rushed for their sta
tions, struggling through small steel
hatch in the protective deck, and down
a narrow and almost vertical ladder to
the magazines and shell rooms below.
The officer in charge, DR.. Griffin, hur-
ried to the cabin for the magazine keys,
grabbed the small leather bag contain
ing them from the hand of the marine
orderly on duty at the door of the cap
tain's cabin, and rushed after his men,