The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-09-04
Historic Relics at
Norfolk Navy ard
ONE PoiftT of efSE ~ INTEREST
10 JAMEsTo ~ TX oslTIoE
VISITORS N
.lfBy fWIllard Homan.l D

at the strategic center OF the Atlantic
coastlfne Of the United States, the
Norfolk Navy Yard has gathered move
historical associations recalling the
naval glory of the past century than
any Of Uncle SANS famous naval! sta
tons. For more than a hundred years
the nations great sea captains have
gone forth from this yard on5the decks
Of ships now as famous as themselves
to almost lnyariable victory. England
itself with a thousand years of proud
sea history to her credit, cannot boast
OF as large percentage Of victories
as the navy whose past is recalled at
every step through the Norfolk Navy
Yard During the life of the james
town TERI Centennial Exposition, to be
held ON the nearby shore Of Hampton
Roads in 1907, the yard will be open
daily to visitors, except Sundays, tror1
0 a. m. to p. m.
Although the greater part Of the
yards area is on the right bank of the
Southern Branch of the Elizabeth riv-
er, in Porthmouth, and only a small
portion of it lies in Norfolk, the yard
lis known as the Norfolk Navy Yard to-
distinguish it from the Navy Yard at
Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The
yartl proper consists of 359 lilo acres
lin Portsmouth and 81 acres in Nor
folk.
The chief feature of interest to Wis
itors is the trophy park just inside the
navy yard gate. Here are gathered
relics from every part of the world.
There are cannon from China, Mexico,
South America, Spain, SEngland and
from French fonnderfes. The largest
as well as most Interesting trophy is
IA centimetre rapid gre rife, COM
plete with shield and carriage, &hich
was taken from Admiral Cevera's flag
ship Almirante Oquendo after the bat
Itle OF July 8, 1898. A lever twisted
out of shape here or a rod broken
there shows all too plainly the damage
done by American projectiles. Group
ed about the Flagstaff in the center OF
the park are speciments or armor from
the Confederate ram Texas and the
A1bemarle. The latter ship was de-
stroyed by n torpedo fired by Lieu
tenant Cushing. About the staff are
also grouped captured brass cannon
and stands of grape shot. At one side
of the park are the torpedo tubes and
two torpedoes taken from the captur-
ed Spanish Cruiser Reina Mercedes
Turing the Spanish War.
Nearby are two guns from the fa-
nous frigate United States and
cannon recovered from the United
States Ship Huron. wrecked on No
yember "a. off the North Carolina
coast. Farther along is Chinese
field gun captured at Tien-Tsin during
the Boxer troubles of 1900. 1t is of
crudest design and is covered with a
wooden shield to protect its gunners
from return fire. Beside this nrtmi-
tive weapon is an old Spanish cannon
captured during the Spanish war on
Cayo del Toro, (Bull's Key in Guam
tanamo Bay. The gun is of bronze
and was cast at Seville in 1901. 1t is
numbered $50. On the breech are
engraved the Spanish Royal Arms and
on ribband near the muzle the words
OF an old Moorish proverb. 'Vitzfl
Ypnlti." The words are said to he a
prophecy Of victory.
Equally Interesting Is the large
stone cannon ball brougt from Con-
stantine. 1t is of perfect contour and
would fill the muzzle of the largest
gun now in existence. These Turkish
cannon balls are the first projecties
ever used in cannon.
Nearby are four carronades captur-
ed in the war with Mexico, which be r
on their muzzles the words "Republlca
de Yucatnn." There are four larger
cannon, captured from the British dur
ing the battles on Lake Erie and Lake
Champlain. Side by side with them
Is gun from the British ship Java
after her battle with the Constitution
DIT the coast of Brazil. On the hreech
is carved the British Royal Coat of
Arms.
Three Spanish contact mines picked
lip by the Marblehead during the Span
ish war, now happily shorn of all their
former terrors adorn the park. OF
historic interest is the propeller shaft
Of the Inflated Cumberland and a
broken cannon which once stoon on
the gun deck Of the United States
Line of Battle Ship PENNSYLVANIA.
burned to the waters edge when the
Federal troops evacuated the yard, in
1861.
The United States Navy now carries
on it's official list seven ships built in
the Norfolk yard and one ship which
was partially built there. The bat