The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1900-10-11
FIRST USED IN THE STATES.
Armorea Trsine Were Enpisyea
Orisiaaiiy Dvrisg the civil war
In This Cssstry.

As with n great many other u.ili-
tartan devices, the Americans were the
frst to construct an actual armor-
plated train. During the civil war
in the states n mob destroyed the
bridges on the Philadelphia. Whining
ton d. baltimore railway, and In order
to prevent a recurrence OF the disor-
aers and 10 protect the linc generally.
she government hit upon the expedient
of converting "a long, fiat baggage car
nto a small movable battery. The car
vas built up and covered In with thick
heet iron, Ia which were pierced a
| ,uirber of loopholes for musketry.
Port holes were arranged at the center
and at each end, and cannon on n
traversing turntable was mounted for
duty ut each or either of the port holes.
The projectilcs used were of some.
what extraordinary character, being
nothing more or less than disks cut
from boiler plates.
Perhaps the most effective use of the
armored trains, upto recent years, says
the Chicago Chronicle, was made by
the French during the siege of Paris.
In these trains both engines and car
riages were bullet proof. and contained
number of Ioopholcs. Each train car
rying four small cannon which could
bc readily and cxpcditiousl mancu-
vcred from the train. was capable
Of holding 500 men. Considerable use
was made of these trains in bringing
In provisions To the belcuguered
Frcnchmcn, aud they were turned to
account by the communists afterward
against the government troops until
their position was outfankcd by heavy
naval guns.
In the year 1882 an nrmorcd train,
which was only partially protected by
boiler plates and sandbags, was used
against the Egyptian rebels under
Arab Pasha. A similar contrivancc
was also employed ut Knssasin preyi-
Gus TO the British advance on Tcl-ei.
kebir. Ono operating In Chill during
the ciril war. and sandbag protected,
or armed" train. equipped with n field
gun. was utilized with age in the
Soudan quite recently. In Cuba n To-
comotivc and truck. protected with
threc.eighths-inch boiler plates, was
sent in advance to pilot and protect
from the rebels the trains between II
Colon and Santa Clara.
The South African armored trains
now being employed by the authori.
ties consist Of nothing iaore or less
than ordinary ears covered with from
half to three-quarters of an inch OF
common steel, the locomotives being
similarly protected. and ear placed
In front with gun In advance. These
trains are. Of course. Of little or no
use IL the line falls into the hands of
the encmy-.a few dynamite cartridges
or the removal OF rail or two las wns
painfully demonstrated In the recent
disaster To the Mafcking train) would
render them source more of danger
than service.
The German emperor has nn idea
that war cars" can he constructed ON
plan which he has devised. which
viii enable tnem 10 traverse at will
over battlefield or territory which
does not present Impossible grogra nh.
lea! difficulties. lie proposes that each
ear shall he complete in itself and in
size about that Of u Pullman. The
sides are tn b- constructed to fall Just
above the level Of the ground. in order
tn protect the wheels. These plated
sides will consist Of steel Of great re-
Sisting force. and will he pierced with
requisite number Of port ar loop
holes for quick firing and machine
guns and rifles. In order that n pos.
sible enemy may not be- able To get
on top Of the ear. II is to he made
with sharp bayonet spikes prosruding
from the sides and roof. The whcl.
idea seems very chimcricai. but ms the
world-famed krupp is responsible and
has now an experimental ear in prog
ress. II would scarcely be safe to ray
that there is nothing in the idea.