The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-08-09

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 10000 pounds of ammunition. taking
it carefully out Of the big magazines
without accident.
The men detailed in the handling
rooms of the Brooklyn are from the
fifth or powder division. composed of
these not detailed as guns crew. such
as carpenters and gUnner'S mates. ser
wants. idlerS Of all kinds and the relief
watch Of the engineers division. This
medley Of men is Of many n~ationalitieS
and is known on board the Brooklyn as
"CoXey's Army and is commanded by
the senior deck officer. Drs. 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 maya
zine holds and al spaces between decks
during action.
At the clang Of the alarm for general
quarters the men rushed for their sta
tons. struggling through a small steel
hatch in the protective deck. and down
Il narrow and almost vertical ladder to
the magazines and shell rooms below.
i'N ihN - - III htl
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
tainS cabin. and rushed after his men.
distributing the keys rs rapidly as posi-
BILE to those already standing ut the
b~oX-liic tops of the magazines. the bolts
Of which had already been loosened. The
ammunition whips We're quickly laid out.
the men standing with their hands
on a small lever ready 10 turn on the
current Of the electric hoiSts, as soon as
the matches were off. When everything
was seen to be clear the endless chains
of the hoists start with the whir Of the
motor and roll their loads of rapid
fire ammunition to the decks above where
men are stationed to receive it. Down
the chute of the S-inch gun turret. az
an accompaniment to the deep rumble
Of the turret as it slowly swung from
amldShlDS to the post or Starboard.
comes the command. Full charges. com
mon shot" from the officer in change
Of the turret and the answer quickly
goes back AYE. aye. sir and as .
reSponse to a lower tone Of voice. Quick
lads lively now up comes the long pow
der tanks and heavy go pound shell to
the base of the turret. There the shell
DIS Nultk1A StlLtt Ill tllt lbllSS DN TWO
stalwart apprentices. raised and rammed
home in the car: the tops of the long
copper powder tanks taken off and the
powder in two sections placed in the
other compartments of the car. the sig
nal given and both ears quickly rise to
the breech of the turret gun and are
sent back. almost as quickly emptied.
All this preparation of getting ready oc-
cUpied !; space of four minutes time.
After that all the men went below and the
matches We're lowered anG secured. The
heat varies in this steel cage from 100 to
146 degrees. Fahrenheit. and quickly
causes the men to strip to the waist
and settle down to their work in an air
tight box filed with sweltering humanity.
blindly obeying orders. with unquestion-
ing obedience and alacrity. not knowing
! the cause of the alarm. whether target
practice. bombardment of the Spa.ish
fleet or 4 false alarm.
Suddenly the report of the first gun
was heard. followed in quick succession
by another. and the battle was on. Down
the hOiStS and chutes comes the powder
smoke to add 10 the already high temper
allure of the handling room, followed by
the hot ~Saltpetre water from the Spong-
ing Of the guns. making the decks slip
perry and burning blisterS on the bare
backs Of the men underneath, who. crop
ing and choking, feeling their way
through the dense smoke. 90 silently
and ohcdiently about their work with
but one thought and aim i'll view: to
keep those continually empty cars and
hoiSts filled with powder and proiectiles.
not knowing how the battle is raging un-
til Il cheer is finally heard from deck,
their spirits brighten and an old salt viii
eXclaim: Il guess they must have hit
en- that time Then he goes up and
splits on a large shell FOR good luck. or
as Il yell is heard 'Armor piercing. quick"
and the shells are quickly changed. ne
takes an old oiley rag and ruhs the
cap of the prOjectile. saying: "Thatll
make 'er bite BETTER and the youn.
boy Of the new navy. who has been in
the service rs many months rs the old
salt has years, eXclaims to his shipmatcs
All. what's he giving us"
That was the routine Of The handling
room on the third of July. except that
once III Il while the rush was broken by
Il carelessly handled shell dropping. One
came down in the forward handling room
when Mr.. Hancock had charge the day
of the battle. There was the low rumble
as it dropped the forty feet. Stand
clear shouts Hancock. but the command
- IL IlttoitS - IL tht Slltit Al IN
ploded no man in that place would ever
have seen daylight again. 1t didn't cx-
plode and as the handlers gaSped in
their temporarily departed breath q
prayer went up to Heaven and many
nncomplimcntary adjectives to the fellow
in the turret between them and Heaven.
SOME OTHERS HEROES.
There were other heroes that day. men
who never see the battle. but do the work
that keeps everything in the ships in mo
| ton and take Il risk greater than con:
modore of captain. When the Nizcaya
had been sunk and beached that day
Captain Cook having been ordered by
Commodore -Schley to cease firing. called
the men from the handling rooms and
the turret to take Il breath of air while
the chase Of the Colon went on. Bat
| tho lnftln WnS ON fn1. mon not NiSlhln