The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-16
DISARMING THE OLD FORTS.
GUNS, SHOT AND SHELL FROM PU-
LASIGI AND OGLETHORPtS
HAVE BEEN SOLD.

Shot and Shell. Embracing Projec-
tiIeS of Many Kinds, Bought by
Isaac Joseph Iron COmpany-Pur-
chase Is of More Than S14 Tons of
Iron-Guns bought by Miller Bros
of BoSton-RemovaI of Warlike
Landmarks VIII Take Place This
Week-Forts VIII BE Thoroughly
Northumberland They VIII
BE Used by Ordnance Department
of the Army.
The old cannon and shot and shell that
have been lusting for more than half
century on the ramparts and in the mag
azines of Fort Pulaski and Fort Osie-
thorpe have been sOld by the government,
and, melted into more convenient form
viii serve a more peaceful purpose than
that for which they were originally de-
stined.
The shot and shell have been purchased
by the Isaac Joseph Iron Company OF
Cincinnati and Savannah. of which cor
poration Mr.. Joe Wolf is the local repre-
sentative The weight of the old projec
tiles that the company purchased exceeds
5l4 tons, of 22iO pounds The shells range
in weight from Is 70 $50 pounds each, and
the shot from 20 10 200 pounds. They are
designed 20 suit guns and mortars of every
description. from the smell twenty-pounder
to the massive columDiad. firing a pro-
jectile weighing $50 pounds and weighing
itself % tons.
There were a number of guns at the two
forts that were sold by the government,
but these were not purchased by the Isaac
Joseph Iron Company, the difficulty of
melting the old weapons and 20 putting
them to practical use being so great that
the company that bid successfully for the
shot and shell was unwilling TO make
very tempting offer for the guns. The
guns included six 10-inch Rodmans weigh
ing 1900 pounds each, two l5-inch Rod
mans weighing 1900 pounds each. and
four 1O0-pounder parrots. each weighing
800 pounds. The carriages for the guns
were sold at the same time.
The Isaac Joseph Company now has
three linghters in course of construction
which will be used to transport the cid
ordnance it has purchased from the forts
TO the company's wharves. As soon as
the lighters are finished. which will be
during the present week, they viii make
their initial trips with the horses and
wagons necessary TO convey the shot and
shell from the forts 10 the river front
After the completion of the present task
the lighters viii be employed permanently
by the company along the river front in
transporting cargoes of iron from the
yards to vessels lying al distant docks.
The old guns and ordnance stores of eV-
cry description that have recently been
sold We're disposed of by the government
for the purpose of aiding the general
cleaning and overhauling that will be in
augurated at Fort Pulaski and Fort Og-
lethrope, 10 which their presence was a Sc
rious impeachment. il is understood that
the forts are intended for use by the
ordnance department of the army ard
that ordnance stores for the forts and gar
risons along the South Atlantic coast
Will be kept in these magazines. This
understanding of the departments inten-
ton, however, has not been verified by any
positive stateemnt or announcements
The advertisements for the sale of the
guns and projecules and other stores were
signed by Lieut. John L. Hayden. until
recently commandant Of the garrison at
Fort ScreVen on Tybee Island. The con-
tracts were awarded the successful bid
deTs last week
The removal OF the old guns and the
shot and shell of former age will de-
stroy some of the picturesque features in
connection with the forts. that have in
the recent past attracted the attention of
sighseers and curiosity lovers The old
guns were so patiently behind the times
and in their cumbersome maseiveness.
so unfit to cope with modern instruments
Of warfare, that they had in them some
thing of the Fe4aaHtic-fii1e old servants
who have outiived their usefulness and
their time.
Just how long they have ornamental
the walls and ramparts of the forts is
not definitely known but certainly half
a century has elapsed since the greater
part of them were placed in position.
Those on Pulaski did valiant service dur
dng the Civil War when they were fought
until necessity compelled the surrender OF
The garrison.
For many years spiked and worthless
they have scowled from the ramDarts
menacing, or seeming 10 menace, che YES
sells approaching the city They were
very worthless indeed, for most of them
mad lost the ability to bark and were not
IN shape even for the firing of a salute.
Now, with the projectiles that have been
rusting in the magazines they will be
melted and recast, and in another cline
Will be fitted for a more useful. if less
romantic office than that which has been
theirs in the past