davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1926-10-17

lowering, adding additional sections
on concrete wall, and again digging
and lowering until eventually mon
olithic walls 100 feet high were an
chored in the ground as boundaries
Of the shrinkage pit. The bottom was
then cast of concrete 10 feet thick.
This upside-down system of build
ing the shrinkage pit is typically illus
trative Of the mechanical and engi-
neering ingenuity constantly on tap
at the navy yard. There is an eff
cient way to do everything" seems
to be the slogan at this ordnance
efficient methods. as well as short
cuts, of performing complicated jobs,
keep science. skill and practice busy.
X X \
THE shrinkage pit at the western
= end of the gun shop is As feet
wide and 70 feet in length. 1t is sub
divided into 10 wells or gun pits, each
of which Is IL feet square and 80
feet deep. In each of these wells
is an elevating table so constructed
that it can be placed at any desired
depth to accommodate the guns which
range in size from the relatively small
3-inch specimens to the Goliath 16-
inch guns.
The enormous guns are lifted into
and out of the shrinkage pit by a
travelling crane of 3S5 tons capacity.
This crane has a clear lift of 81 feet
above the shop floor. Running
through the bottom Of the pit is a
pool into which is drained the water
which is used in cooling the guns
after being heated. Two motor-driven
centrifugal pumps are employed to
pump away this surplus water.
The guns. great and small, are
heated to expansion temperature-20
hours exposure from 500 to 800 de-
grees F.. in the various wells of the
shrinkage pit. Electricity is used as
the source Of heat. The equipment
Evening star., 1926-10-17

way. Confusion and chaos would re-
suit If human labor were employed.
Electrical power works silently and
efficiently and is a modern Ajax in
its ability to lift and move mighty
loads. The activities of the cranes
are governed from central stations,
where pilots operate control levers
and make electricity do their bidding.
Great guns which weigh enough to
crush the average Washington dwell
ing to smitherens are moved from
specially constructed cars to lathe or
from lathe to furnace as though
guided by magical power When
these guns are repaired travelling
cranes place them on special gun
trucks for transportation outside the
shop to other cranes. which carry
them to the water front. There they
are deposited on special barges and
conveyed down the Potomac to Dahl
gren, the ordnance proving ground of
the United States Navy.
The mammoth guns are tested
under the widest possible range Of
firing conditions. The service condi-
tions to which they Will be exposed
on shipboard are simulated. Eventu-
ally. If the guns pass all the inspec-
| ton tests, they are returned to the
ships where they belong. If flaws
or defects are found the guns are re-
turned Immediately to the Navy Yard,
so that these errors of construction,
repair or adjustment may be righted.
Subsequently occur more firing tests
at Dahlgren. The ordnance, as final
| ly mounted again on the vessel
where it belongs, is in as perfect con-
dition as human and mechanical
skill can place it.
The 14.inch naval guns made a,
the Washington Navy Yard and ship
ped to France during the World War
proved superior to any weapons ir
| the allied armies Admiral G. p
Evening star., 1926-10-17

Bureau Of Engraving and Printing
or repair parts for mail-carrying air
planes, you may be sure that these
articles when completed will be sub
jected to as rigorous inspection and
service tests as though they came
from commercial shops. The navy
yard has to satisfy specification re-
quirements just as though it were
performing work for a professional
project instead of for a sister depart
ment of the United States Govern
ment.
The machinery installation in the
huge gun shop-it was built as a
wartime need-consiSts of 10 enOr-
nous lathes ranging in size from 102
inches swing by 120 feet long to 120
inches swing by 204 feet long. These
machines are driven by electric mo-
tors of varying capacity, running up
as high as 100 horsepower. One of
the gun factory lathes is extra ordi-
nary in that it has a feed screw which
is five inches in diameter and 202 feet
long. The screw is made in two Sec
tions that are joined together with
such neatness that the joint is hard
to find.
There are also two rif1ing ma
chimes of amazing efficiency adapted
for handling the heaviest rifles made.
Other smaller equipment is employed
In making secondary battery guns.
X X X
| BEARERS Of tremendous loads
~ seven electric cranes-which can
handle, respectively, from 1111 to $50
tons-expedite transportation in the
gun shop. Three of the largest
cranes carry loads as great as the
capacity of small freight train.
These electrical wizards replace untold
millions of manpower muscles. In fact.
it would take so many men to lift
and move one Of the large guns that
the workmen would be in each other's 8
Evening star., 1926-10-17

ture it contracts and grips the forg-
enormous pressure. In this novel
manner the 10 or a dozen forgings
which are required to build a modern
gun are assembled, one upon the
other. overlapping the points of the
preceding units:
L X Y X
THE gun factory is kept busy at
L present repairing and renewing
the ordnance of our national fleet.
You can fully appreciate that this is
considerable of a task when you un-
derstand that Uncle Sans naval
strength now includes IS battleships,
s armored cruisers, II scout cruisers,
more than 800 destroyers and in ex
cess of 80 submarines. Then there
are scores of auXiliaries, all of which
carry modern ordnance which must
be kept in serviceable shape.
Whenever the ordnance of a certain
ship requires repair, the worn guns
are shipped to Washington. either by
rail or water, from the dry dock or
navy yard where that particular YES
sci ports for maintenance service,
and newly repaired guns are imme-
diately installed. The old guns may
need to be rerifed or provided with
new liners. The repair work at the
Washington Navy Yard must be per-
formed on definite schedule. Some
other ship will require these guns in
them.
The facilities Of the navy yard are
harnessed for the aid of other Gov
ernment departments when ordnance
work is slack enough so that some
outside job can he accepted. The
ambition of the United States Navy is
to keep it's wonderful ordnance plant
engaged constantly in productive
work When the gun factory manu-
features mail boxes for the Post Of
flee Department. money plates for the
Evening star., 1926-10-17

cars and auxilliaries. The gun
weighed 96 tons, had a muzzle ve-
locity of $500 feet per second, and
maximum range of $4,000 yards. 1t
was so supported in it's mount that it
could be elevated from a horizontal
position to an angle of As degrees.
The gun cars and mounts used for
the transportation and anchorage of
this huge armament were also de-
signed, evolved and perfected at the
Washington Navy Yard. Nothing
like them had ever previously been
contrived by mind of man.
Something which you have doubtless
never seen before, and hence navy
yard equipment which will intrigue
your interest, is the remarkable
shrinking pit where multitudinous
masses of metal are literally cooked
at high temperatures. The metal ex-
pands as heated and thereafter con-
tracts when cooled. Expansion and
contraction are used instead of the
most powerful bands or bolts ever pro-
duced to merge the various parts of
the guns together.
Construction had to be topsy-turvied
when the great concrete chamber for
ordnance shrinkage operations was
built. On account of unstable soil
conditions, the concrete walls of the
cavernous pit were begun at the
surface and built downward instead
of starting at the bottom and work.
ing upward. In place of digging the
pit to a depth of 100 feet, supporting
with timbers and then laying the
foundation, this mighty mass of con.
crete, with walls about feet thick
and each section about feet high,
was cast. After it had set and hard.
ened. the digging was begun again.
This wall was undermined and low
cred. Then another section was cast
like the first and bedded solidly upon
it. This plan involved excavating
Evening star., 1926-10-17

%HF. row Of brick dwellings on
the east side Of First, between
East Capitol and A streets
northeast, was made mill
tary prison in the Spring or
Summer of 1861. Before that 1t had
the name. "Old Capitol" | do not
know when the property was taken
for military use, and from Whom IL
was taken, but l hope to come on
those facts as get on with this story.
] find mention Of the new" prison
in issues Of The Evening Star late in
July, 1861. The following item is
from The Star. July "a, 1857
prisoners of War: Ten prisoners
of war were brought in by our return
ing cavalry yesterday afternoon. They
were marched to Capitol Hill, where
they were lodged in the new prison
One of them is Lieut.. Col. b. Is.
Boone, a splendid officer in appear
ance, though clad in rough gray cloth,
trimmed with faded cotton velvet rae
ings" One feels sorry that the ap-
pearance of that officer was marred
by a poor uniform. 1t had been worn
in the Manassas campaign and was
n little travel-soiled But otherwise
he was a goodlooking officer Boone
was of a Mississippi regiment. An
other prisoner was Clayborn Langley
of the lSt Virginia Infantry.
The following is from The Star.
July 25. 1861:
The prison AT the Old Capitol is
intended for prisoners of war only.
and no deserters or soldiers charged
with other offenSes are to be confined
there. Yesterday 10 more prisoners
were brought over. About dusk
five of them were escorted from Gen
Mansfield's headquarters to the prison
by a guard of United States marines
under Sergt. Mix. Passing along the
Avenue an excited crowd gathered
around. composed of soldiers who had
been in the battle of Sunday (F1rst
Bull Run, July 2D and some citizens.
The cry of Kill them was raised
and the marines had hard work by
tobbing with their bayonets and
threatening the crowd to keep them
from the prisoners. Stones were
thrown and one of the prisoners.
Louisiana zouave, was struck. AT the
Capitol. the sergeant. finding his men
so hard pressed, made halt ana
prepared for extreme measures be-
fore proceeding to the prison. Inc
crowd, perceiving that the marines
were loading their muskets. began
10 keep at a more respectful distance
and the prisoners were safely Gagged.
1t Is probable that no more Will De
carried through the city so openly.
The prisoners may thank their guards
for the determination they exhibited,
for O less resolute squad might have
to the wounded Federal troops at Bull
Evening star., 1926-10-17

John S. Emerson, Thomas Hitch
COCK, James Conner, James A. Don
nelly, James A. Goldsmith, Joseph T.
Ellicott, Rose ON. Greenhow, w. J.
Walker. Frank Rennehan, Mrs. A
Phillips and two daughters, Miss
Levy, Mrs. Betty n. Hassler, James
G. Berret, Nine. Tochman. Samuel
p. Wilson, George A. Shehan. George
r. Harbin. Charles A. Worthington,
Rudolph Watkins, George S. Wat
kins, William F.. Getty, Samuel G.
Acton, Thomas A. Jones, f. B. Gray,
son, George Minor, Summerfield Ball.
3. jackson Cross. w. F. Moore
James w. Offutt. Mrs. NJ. Z. Onder-
donk, Hugh Adams. George w. Gun
nell, A. B. Williams, Joseph McCann.
r. 3. Posey. Mrs. Posey, Miss Posey.
Julian Lee. Alfred Beach. William
Oswald Dundas. Withers Smith.
Samuel F.. Anderson, Isaac Ballinger.
Philip II. Linton. DR. James Hunter.
Rutson Maury. ". X. y. Breckin
ridge. Mrs. Eliza Low. John Mcdaniel
Miss Ellis NJ. Poole. Riley Nash, John
T. Day. John r. Farr. o. Allen Scan
Ian. William Eaton. Hosea II. II. vii
liams. George q. Coleman. Richard
Coleman, Thomas Il. Poole, James
II. Poole. Bernard r. Poole. William
Fields. Charles Digges. James T. Mon
roe. Henry A. Stewart. Tench Schley.
Charles F'ollen. jeremiah Moore, Rich
ard Walzl, F. NJ. Ellis, Michael
Thompson. Lewis J.. Macarthur, Dr.
Aaron Van Camp. James p. Ioker.
Capt. William Cox of the schooner
Lucretia, A. J. Hoffman, Jacob M
Rollman. James w Farr. Samuel
Hunter. William II. Simmons, Albert
McCune. Mrs. Catherine Virginia
Baxley, Henry j. Carroll, James W
McCurdy. A. J. Michael, William J.
Fleece. George H. Johnson, George
ID. Mckinney, Jesse B. Wharton.
Lemuel Van Arsdale. Richard Nevitt,
James McGraw. Richard r. Lee, VII
liam L. Lee. d. G.. Lee, John Har,
rover, George r. III. Hughes. Patrick
McCafferty. Benjamin Jackson, Capt
W. L. Fisher Of the schooner Bloom.
ing Youth, Thomas B. Hewett, Clar
ence Mills, J. Ignatius Ford. Richard
Hurst, Robert n. Read, James A.
Johnson, Alexander Watt, Richard
McMullen. William Isaacs, James c.
Phillips. Moses p. Donaldson, Francis
x. Lacross. James w. Savage, John
Regan. BENJAMIN F. Gwynn, Judah
Barrett Cohen. William T. Smithson.
Thomas p. Fowler. George w
Hutchins. Henry G. Brown. Rev. Ben.
nett Smedes. John f. Rea. George
NJ. Gormley. G.. l.. Dulaney, John w
Crawford. Henry Simpson, Richard
II. Bayliss. Bushrod w. Bayliss
Thomas Crsggs. Matthew Piaskett.
a. G. LAndstrsst, John Hslslip. u: J.
tceotinuaA ea 3tHh Yagsl
Evening star., 1926-10-17

ening their guard, nut drawing off
when the marines loaded their mus
kets. That was a fragment of the
rabble of Washington. All cities at
all times have rabble. That rabble
was using patriotism as a mask for
it's meanness. Some men profess that
the Washington of their youth was
perfect and that all it's .people were
virtuous. Another glimpse you get
from the quotation is that after the
Union rout at Bull Run stories of
barbarity by the enemy were current.
An enemy that beats us is often
barbaric.
On the north house of the Old
| Capitol is a bronze tablet, inscribed:
Congress convened here, 1S15-1819,
while the Capitol was being rebuilt
and here also the Inauguration of
President Monroe took place in 1917.
Later the building became known as
the Brick Capitol and was the home
of many congressman. including
! John c. Calhoun, who died within it's
walls, March 81, 1850. During the
Civil War the building was used as
prison and called the Old Capitol
Prison."
The Rambler believes that in tell
| ing you the story of the Old Capitol
Prison, or so much of it as he can
read in records, he will stir the men,
ory of many persons and perhaps en-
| large the understanding of others.
| Many families of the District and
| near counties of Maryland and Vir-
ginia were represented" in that
| prison. The charges against nearly
! all the prisoners were political or
sectional. Men were charged with
| being spies, with giving aid to the
enemy, and with numbering United
States pickets.
| A housekeeping man who was
never out of bed later than o'clock
and who would jump at the sound Of
a firecracker might be charged with
being a Confederate spy and have
marked opposite his name on the
prison register. "A very desperate
character" Men might be charged
pickets because Mosby's Partisan
Rangers or Whites Independent Cav.
airy attacked a Union picket post
and some malevolent neighbor would
| tell the Union commander at Falls
Church. Tysons Cross Roads or
Lewinsville, that John Smith was one
| Of Mosby's men. John Smith might
| then be sent to the Old Capitol
Prison, charged with the murder of
Union pickets. In the Federal view.
| Mosbys and Whites rangers were
| outlaws. In the Confederate view
| they were soldiers. am not in.
! formed as to the ethics of shooting
! pickets. Here is an account of one
of these cases:
Another Picket Murdered
Albany Roache's), Alexandria County,
July rs (1SsU. Editor Of The Star:
Evening star., 1926-10-17

Yesterday afternoon a member of
the New York regiment doing picket
duty a mile this side of Falls Church
was shot at Galpin's we'll for water.
The spot is just where the 1st Connec-
ticut Regiment was encamped previ-
Gus to it's march for Bull Run. He
was shot from the woods nearby and
received one ball in the abdomen that
passed through his body and another
through his arm. He was promptly
brought down to this point and died
at 4 o'clock this morning. His MUIR
derers were, Of course, secession pick
cts or scouts concealed in the woods"
Another account of this case in The
Star follows: "A picket of Company
K, Path New York Volunteers, named
George w. Fox, was shot at his post,
Baileys Cross Roads, about 5 o'clock
yesterday afternoon. He had gone
across the road to get drink Of
water and mounted trooper of the
secessionists rode up and shot him
through the arm and abdomen. He
was brought to Fort Runyon, where
he died this morning. The deceased
was a native of Jefferson County. n.
y; was a school teacher and yolun.
teered for the war
MOST of the men jailed at the Old
Capitol on the charge of mur-
dering United States pickets were of
Mosby's or Whites cavalry and, so
far as my record shows, they were
released on taking the oath Of al
legiance or engaging, on honor. not to
give aid to the enemy. These men,
uniformed. made quick attacks, often
at night, on parties of Union troops.
One exploit Of Mosbys command was
In passing the Union lines at night
and making prisoner of a general
(Stoughton) and part of his staff at
that generals headquarters at Fair
fax Court House. If you insist,
will tell you that story though
wrote 1t when 1 used to tramp the
roads and trails from Fairfax village,
Centerville, OK Hill and Chantilly on
to Stone Bridge. Henry Hill, Groveton
Corners-where my old friends. the
Dogans. lived-the Abandoned railroad
cut at Sudley and GAINESVILLE.
In the course of the rambles many
persons have said to me: Il was in
the Old Capitol prison." or MY IA
ther was dragged off to the Old Cap
itol prison." or MY gra ndfather was
put in the Old Capitol prison" The
speakers felt that moral turpitude
was not implied by term in that pris
on. The old man seemed proud to
tell that he had been in the Old Capt.
tol prison; the daughter was proud to
tell that her father had been drag
ged off" to the Old Capitol, though it
was plain she would never forgive
them that dragged him. and the
granddaughter thought It Q family
Evening star., 1926-10-17

Plunkett, who was then in charge of
the operation Of our large naval guns,
reported subsequently to the House
committee on naval affairs that the
work done by the local navy yard in
the construction Of these batteries
was the greatest triumph of that pro-
duction department.
While these powerful guns were in
use, the enemy were unable to move
troops or transport supplies. The guns
had a range of 200 yards, and
could be fired from any desired point
AS soon as these 14-inch scatter
ruins" went into action the enemy
had to seek shelter holes. The Ave
guns fired total Of 1872 shells, weigh
ing 1,400 pounds each. The French
were astounded at the accuracy Of
the fire.
ONE of the greatest difficulties en-
~ countered in using these giant
guns was that Of transporting them
over the railroads. They were so
heavy that the French engineers at
first refused permission for their
transportation. When the lOng-range
German guns began firing on Paris,
and it was realized that the American
guns alone could stop it, official con-
sent for the movement of Uncle Sam s
"big Berthas' was granted. The guns
were moved over scanty bridges,
which shivered under the mighty load
and almost collapsed. The train ne
gotiated curves which the guns were
never made to go around. Steep
grades were climbed at a snails pace.
And when the destination was finally
reached the bird had flown. Germans
fitting about on high had seen the
approach of the ordnance train. They
warned their artillery compatriots,
who fed.
Each of these 14.inch guns was
carried on a special railroad mount,
together with suitable ammunition
Evening star., 1926-10-17

distinction that her ancestor had q
barred chamber in that place. Other
wise the Rambler would not take up
details Of the history Of the famous
prison. In the Records of the Rebel
lion" I find what follows:
Headquarters City Guard ONCE of
the Provost Marshal.
Washington, D. c.. February IA. 1862.
Brig. Gen. A. Porter.
Provost Marshal.
"General: In accordance with the
request of the Hon. William A. Sc.
ward. Secretary of State, I have the
honor to submit to you the following
report-The request Of the Honorable
Secretary Of 0tAts enquiries only IN re-
l2tion TO pESsopers con0ned n the ol6
Evening star., 1926-10-17

Capitol Prison. I give q list Of prison
ers arrested by your command or sent
to you for safe-keeping. The prisoners
arrested by command Of Gen. Mans
field I have no record Of except the
few found in custody at the time you
assumed the duties Of Provost Mar
shall. These are embodied in this re-
port.
Very respectfully" your obedient
servant.
"E. j. ALLEN
y
THE list Of persons received at the
Old Capitol Prison. other than
prisoners of war. between March J..
1854. and February -, lisa. SolioWD;
Evening star., 1926-10-17

Run, the remembrance of which
seemed to excite the ire of the crowd"
The point which 1 emphasize in
the above paragraph is that the
prison at Old Capitol is intended
for prisoners of war" Taken in con-
nection with the quotation from The
Star. of the day before, that "ten
Evening star., 1926-10-17

prisoners Of war were taken to the
new prison." you cannot doubt that
the Old Capitol Prison was a young
institution. In the quotation from
The Star of July 25 you will get
glimpse of conditions. Soldiers and
citizens were stoning prisoners of
war, crying Kill themr and threat.
Evening star., 1926-10-17
Echoes From WASHINGTON Guns Have Reverberated Arou
BY GEORGE III. DACY.

w YHAT purpose a naval gun
M factory in peacetime? Why
wv build munitions of war
when the dogs Of conflict
Milford chronicle., 1926-10-15
Redden

Last Saturday evening the many
friends and relatives of Mr.. and Mrs,
Ralph Chaffins gave them a variety
shower at the home of the brides
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. George Jes-
ter. Ice cream and cake were served
in abundance and many useful and
beautiful presents were received.
Miss Levina Dutton of ClaymOnt
spent the weekend with her mother,
Mrs. Belle Dutton.
Harvey Penuel purchased a fine
pair of mules the past week.
The Ladies Aid was entertained at
the home of Mr.. and Mrs. Rufus
Rust last Thursday evening, with a
large attendance. The evening was
very socially spent.
Mr.. and Mrs. Jacob Smith were
Sunday guests of her mother, Mrs.
Theopolis Swain, near Georgetown.
Mrs. Fred Davis with Theodore
Jester and family of Georgetown
visited John Watson and wife of
near Glendale Sunday last.
Mrs. Ines Roach and Mr.. and Mrs.
Fred Chafins and little daughter, of
Philadelphia, were Sunday guests of
Mr.. and Mrs. Reid Boyer.
Harry Sharpe and family of near
Georgetown were guests of Edward
Brake and mother Sunday last.
Mrs. Patrick Sullivan is spending
some time in Philadelphia as the
guest of her daughter, Mrs. Leroy
Dennis.
VIM. Jefferies of Philadelphia
spent the weekend with his family
near here.
Mrs. Lawrence sipple and little