Evening star., 1909-06-13

you notice the word painted. in white let
ters: Museum" 1t is an unpretentious
establishment. in charge Of a janitnr by
the name of ]. Mundon. Yet, upon inves-
tigaticn, both the jan;or and the misccl-
laneous aggregation of objects which en-
cages his daily care and attention will be
found to contain no small amount Of in
tereSt
The curious visitor will do we'll not to
come upon the scene during Mr.. Mundell's
luncheon hour. for he locks up the mu-
scum on this occasion, and the visitor
cannot enter. But at other times the
doors are wide open. and a stroll around
the heteroGeneously filled apartment
which comprises the lower floor OF the
building will. III all likelihood, reveal Mr.
Mundell seated behind one of the glass
cases industriously tinkering away at
some relic, sword. tirearm. ship model. or
whatnot. Mr. Mundell is a veteran, haV-
ing been soldier and sailor. The visitor
vii do we'll to engage his friendly serv-
Ices in calculating the various objects of
attraction in the museum, for most OF
these are without labels, and their CLAIMS
10 distinction are left wholly 10 the lmagI-
nation of the spectator.
Thus. an old-fashioned she'll. lmbedded
in a huge block of wood which it has split
asunder. might claim little attention from
TIE uninit lated despite the fact that
brass label indicates it as a portion of
the stern-post of the U.SS. kearsarge,
and the she'll as having been fired into 1t
during the memorable engagement OF the
historic ship with the Confederate man
of-war Alabama off the French coast.
LAS a matter of fact" remarks Mr.. Mum
dell. lit is the rudder-post. and not the
stern-post. of the kearsarge. The she'll.
as you see, did not explode. Had II done
So the result of the battle would un-
= hoe 10
then recalls the fact that it was the su-
perier maneuvering of the Union ship to
which the victory was ascribed. the
kearsarge went around the Alabama. at
tong range and in circles. as it were. The
FIRE of the Alabama was therefore direct
ed principally with view to GRIPPING
The kearsarge'S steering gear, with what
success is shown by this relic in the navy
yard museum. Had the shell exploded. II
would have blown the rudder-post away.
and tie kearsarge would have been al
the mercy of the Confederate boat. Mr..
Mundell points out the curve in the block
which indicates where the rudder worked.
This is indeed. a most significant and
unique memento of the fortune of war
Mr.. Mundel says he carefully removed
the powder from this shell. a dangerous
proceeding, IN which the old adage that
caution is the better part OF valor'' ap-
phes IN run force. Inc operation was
conducted in bucket OF water, and even
then. the old veteran observes, il was not
an attractive Job. Here. for instance. is
rusty shell which was dug up at Great
Falls few years ago. seventeen feet be-
low the surface II is, IN al likelihood,
loaded. and moreover, the cautious jani-
tor says II may stay loaded. far lie
is concerned. for at the point IF this shell.
which is supposed to be relic of the civil
war, is a brass tip which MIR. Mundcil
explains. may be the top OF a plunger TO
which is affixed percussion cap, in
which event careless handling is not at all
advisable. Lying alongside of this still