The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-10-17

ammunition. on the floor above were
the officers quarters and on the third
barracks for the men On the sea
ward sides OF the galleries OF all three
floors there are semicircu1ar iron
tracks in the pavement. on which the
guns were rolled around from the
embrasures TO be loaded. then swung
swiftly into place and fred. Similar
tracks are 10 be seen on the roof, from
which ~ Founders sent their contri-
buttons OF iron rain and leaden hail'
out over the water.
An idea OF the differences between
the methods OF warfare fifty or sixty
years ago and those OF today can be
gained from the illustrations OF the
cannon ball furnaces, in which hot
shot" was prepared for the enemy.
These little brick houses. each topped
by a chimney and boIted securely to-
gether with iron rods ending IN star
shaped nuts, stand at opposite corners
OF the court. The balls were put into
the ovenlike openings and left until
they had reached a red heat. then they
were rushed TO the guns and fred or.
IN the hope that they would set the
enemy's wooden ships IN blaze. The
invention OF armorclads OF course put
an end to this practice.
When the new fort was built. instead
OF following the Spanish custom OF
placing II on a hill where IL would
made a good target against the sl<v
line. 1t was built close to the waters
edge under shelter OF the blum. and
the headland was cut down and in
creased In area to make room for II.
short ridge connects the top OF the
present fort with the hill upon which
San Joaquin formerly stood. Only a
few ruins OF one OF its exterior adobe
walls remain TO mark the site OF the
old fort
For several years after its compile
tion the new fertilization was left with
out a name, being simply known as
the fort" at Fort point, but at the
commencement OF the civil war. when
IN 1851 the fort was occupied by two
companies OF artillery. under orders
from General Scott. the name Fort
Winfield Scott was given TO the build
ing, and by this name II has been
known ever since.
OF later years Fort Winfield Scott
has appeared to be even more peace
able and harmless IN disposition than
his predecessor. old Fort San JOAQUIN
There are no guns looking out over the
waters of the Pacific from any OF the
embrasures, the tramp OF soldiers feet
is no longer heard through the empty
corridors; only at certain intervals the
sistants passes along to his post in
the lantern tower For a lighthouse
at this point was found TO be a far
more pressing necessity than a fort in
these times OF peace. both on account
of submerged rocks lying at little
distance. and also as a nightly warn
ing OF the promOntory itself Accord
fngly a tower was built into the struc-
ture In 1856 and a powerful fog ST gnal
apparatus was also installed, 50 that
now, instead OF trying to sink the yes
sells that pass in through the Golden
gate or set them on fire. the fort has
turned TO the more enlightened Occu-
patton OF warning them OF hidden
dangers also guiding them safely into
port
But although the fort down BY tbs
waters edge has turned 20 peaceful
occupations. concealed earthwOrks in
the hill behind II are equipped with
all the deadly engines OF modern war.
which effectually protect the entrance
to the harbor. and II occasion should
arise these are able to make good the
threat OF hostility for which the brick
fort stands.