The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-06-06

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! ,::> e. Knocked own Auction. :yt,sl
From thesa Boston Post: s5S
I: The old lld guns that 50 many
years protected Boston rom heir van
tage point on Castle island are: to he
sold at auction. s xz.,;s
|. Most Of them rev pf obsolete. type,
and though useless In case Of war
would nevertheless have been valuable
historical relics for Bostons:toz possess
The park commission.h had an option: on
the purchase of these relics and re-
fused it for lack Of funds. Consequent
ly, though the city OF Boston placed
their trust in them, next after God,
during the days Of the Civil war, they
will be- knocked off to the highest bid
der. ~H::*:@%'7:: 7=Ss
The order for: the disposal of the
guns was recently issued by General
Crozier, chief of ordnance of the United
States. For a long time the guns have
been past all military: use, but have
BEEN allowed to remain in the positions
that they held so creditably during the
dark days of the rebellion, and when
the island was turned over to the city
of Boston to be used in times of peace
as public park, they became the most
interesting of the attractions at Castle
island. :.
Though cid, some rusty, and all use
less on account Of being obsolete, these
guns once babe defiance to the first
ironclad warships that ever sailed the
ocean, and tho citizens of Boston were
confident that no vessel of any descrip-
ton could pass the line Of fire which
would have issued from the loopholes
of Fort Independence
In those days this was considered
one of the most impregnable of any of
the forts that protected the. Atlantic
seacoast. The fort itself was built of
blocks of solid granite, protected and
strengthened by outlying earthworks,
and was garrisoned by a large force OF
well provisioned men. All were trained
marksmen,a and the weapons at their dis
posal could not have been rivaled any,
where in the world.
. Since those days many Of the guns
have been taken from the island and
broken up and others have been dis
mounted and lie rusting in the salt
grass. PROSTATE giants, shorn of all
martial glory. But some have hitherto
remained intact as in the days when
they were the city's watchdogs. Still
others have been thrown from their
carriages and lie on the ground close
at hand.
Near the magazines Is long line of
gun carriages, and near them, on the
ground, are nine or ten 10-inch guns,
and just beyond are three more Of the
mute monsters, pointing their muzzles
seward. - ~ ~ - =. =. To-
There are more gun carriages near
the guardhouse, eand seven or, eight Of
the 8-inch guns lie prone beside them,
while up near the end: Of the bridge,
commanding the channel between
Castle and Governors island, is another
mounted battery of four pieces and a
number of carriages and unmounted
guns. There are also two mortars.
Though useless now, they would have
made very interesting ornaments.
boasting besides real historical asso-
ciation. A hundred years from now
they would be-. regard ia with even
greater veneratio1. q 81
This has been the thought of many
people, and sttS is: expected that when:
they are r placed #und er$a: ne Il hammer
there Nv some 81 lively BIZ ding.;
Many j. Of the hist i: socie cites of
Boston and Massachuset It's, too, for that
matter, have signif1ed the intention Of
having representative on the ground,
and, if possible, preserve toSthe city the
relics which the latter has declined
With thanks. 80. %. 49,: :"i@, ~ =. = -