Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1903-10-31
Told by old Soldiers.

officer, that the man who finally
solved the steering problem on the
monitors and other war vessels was
an old soldier and that he lives IN
Chicago? He does, and l saw him
yesterday When the Miantonomoh
returned from the George Peabody
obseauies at Portland in January,
1870, she was ordered to Boston When
Mr. Peabody died in London, you will
remember, the British government
sent the remains across the Atlantic
on the warship Monarch, and Ad-
miral Farragut with his fleet met the
Monarch at sea, escorted her to Port
land, and participated in the funeral
exercises.
Then, as l have said, the Mianto-
nomoh proceeded to Boston, where we
expected to remain for some weeks.
Scarcely had we dropped anchor, how
ever when Mr.. S. w. Murray, quiet
gentleman from the West, came
aboard with an order from Admiral
Porter instructing the officers to give
the bearer every facility for applying
and testing new steering gear which
he had invented.
1.-The admiral, assuming that Mr.
Murray would reach the vessel before
we anchored, directed Capt K W.
Shufeldt to give the Miantonomoh
turn or two to show the working of
her machinery. AS the officers were
dressed for shore this order was not
regarded favorably, but Mr.. Murray
said it was not necessary for him to
see the machinery in motion, as he
was familiar with the usual steering
apparatus. What he wanted was to
look over the engines and decide
where the new ones should be located.
1T this Mr.. Zeigler, the chief en-
gineer, smiled and took Mr.. Murray
below, where the latter admitted that
he could see no place for machinery.
But d place was found, two new en-
gines to work the steering gear were
put in, and in a few weeks there was
a test of the new apparatus very sur
prising and gratifying to the naval
engineers. The new gearing worked
smoothly and whereas with the old
gearing it required a minute and
half 10 turn the rudder, with the new
it required only six seconds.
''This steering gear was afterward
applied to all the monitors and other
heavy vessels, and is in use today.
My recollection is that the Mianto-
nomoh was the first war vessel to use
the improved gear. If l am wrong
some one can correct me. This new
steering gear enabled vessels to turn
more rapidly, to maneuver to better
advantage, and by it's use vessel
could be steered in case of fire from
any part of the ship.
1T surprised us, however, that such
an importaE improvement should be
made by a man who served in the in
fantry during the war and not by
man bred to the sea. l learned later
that Murray had been steamboat
man on the lakes and had contrived
his apparatus on Lake Michigan, and
when it was perfected had gone to
Admiral Porter, who ordered the test
at Boston. You can't tell what an old
soldier will do"
THAT is true" said the major "Sev-
era1 wears ago 1 was travelling in Next
CO and went on a long prospecting
tour over the mountains west from
Chihuahua. Out in the wilderness
our guides and guards came in con-
flict with other guides and guards and
there was danger of serious trouble.
/ went among the strangers hoping to
make myself understood in explana-
ton, and said to a friend: 4 don't
suppose one of these greasers can I'M
derstand a word of English
Instantly came from the comman-
der of the hostile squad: Not sim
gle word, Cap. Not a single word
How do you do?' For a moment 1
was embarrassed. but caught twin
king look Of recognition in the eyes
of the speaker. and, after a few min
uteS, placed him as n teamster in our
regiment who at Chickamauga drove
an ammunition wagon at a gallop to
our line of battle, retiring because of
empty cartridge boxes.
His mules were shot in ten min
utes, but he distributed the ammuni-
ton so rapidly that when the rebels
got the wagon there was little in it.
When the mules went down Jack took
a rife from his wagon and Joined
the men in line. He remained with
the company all through the siege of
Chattanooga, saying that teaming was
too burned risky for him, and l came
to know him quite well. Here he was
now N charge of a pack train loaded
with silver, and, as he remarked. too
suspicious to see straight A word
from him cleared the atmosphere and
our party went on unmolested'
Speaking of teamsters,' said the
captain. did any of the boys of the
Fifth Michigan ever tell you of Mike
IN the Wilderness? Onue day Capt
Blackman received orders to send two
wagons to the front for wounded
Mike was the driver of one of the
wagons, and he didn't want to CO. He