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About Capital city courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1885-1893 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 23, 1892)
if afp" fwm&w"vv.?w?fm,i CAPITAL CITY COURIER, SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 1892 ! - j'"'',' ?, V; IE- 1 r UNCLE SAM'S SHU'S. WALTER WELLMAN WRITES THC NEW- AND IMPROVED AOOUt NAVY. Ilrimllrnl MimIoIh Ttnil Am Altruilliij; (lunxml Alloiilhm Whnt II Cli I" II11II1I Hint Mhii u Mntli'Mi Wur Vemct. Oiiiih mill Armor I'liitr. tSH't'lltl (-'in rcslKllllllMKO.I Wasiiinoton. Jan. 21. Now tlml there 1110 nuiiorn of war with Chill, I would like to Imvo you step into tlit navy tluiuirtmuiit with mo utul take a look at tlio tnnilels of tho now ships. Or these there aio wivett or elnht, ntnnil lily in their kIus cmes alwayH mir .rountletl by visitors. Hitch is n nutster piece of workiiiuniliip, every 011011 tiling of lieauty. No woiuler wo hear from all shies Hiiuh o.xelninntlons us "wonderful," "gratul," "majeHtii!." Each inoilel is an oxaot duplicate in mliilattiro or thu ship which it represents. Tho sinallust do tail is reproduced, and everything is in preciso proportion. Tho people who come to look at these beautiful models gain from thorn a Iwt ter idea of what a modern naval vessel is than thoy could by a visit to a man-of- war itself. Here tho entire craft is un der inspection at ono glanco of tho oyo; hero all details and proportions are brought into easy comparison. And it is a satisfaction to note with what prido tho visitors behold those miniature dupli cates of our now naval vessels, with what enthusiasm they speak of tho now found ability of Undo Sam to protect his subjects and his honor in tho utter most quarters of tho earth. Theso mod els kindlo tho enthusiasm and tho patri otism of a people who don't want to fight, but by jingo, etc., in a remarkable manner. 1 was looking at tho models the other day when Secretary Tracy camo up with a young woman. She had not seen tho models. When her eyes behold them she lilted up hor gloved hands and exclaimed, with just a trace of bitterness in her tone: "Oh, 1 wish I were a man how t would liko to bo a 1111111!" "Why?" asked Seciotary Tracy. "So I might boa sailor on ono of tho-o beautiful, those majestic ships." was the renlv. "1 would rather bo a sailor on tho Now York than than" "Secretary of tho navy, you wero go ing to say," interrupted General Tracy with a smilo. "Yes. or prosldentof tho United States either." added the enthusiastic young woman. "This only goes to show tho value of those models as object lessons," com mented Secretary Tracy. "I liavo been advised to send tho models to all tho largo cities of tho country for exhibi tion. Senators and congressmen tell mo if 1 would do so a public sentiment could bo created which would demand the expenditure of a hundred millions of dollars a year for tho now navy. But 1 have no author''' to send the models out for hucIi pn.poso: they will, how ever, all be exhibited at tho World's fair." Visitors to tliis hall of models seo the very ships on which wo depend for tho humbling of tho arrogant Chilians. They learn at a glance that the old navy is a thing of tho past. Tho day of wooden walls and smoothbore guns, lired by loose powder and using spherical projec tiles, is gone forever. Tho old tir.10 sailor has disappeared, too, and tho ro mance of navigation, of jack tars strung along tho yardarms in peaceful roviow. or cutting away thu rigging in storm or battle, belongs to tho past. Tho man-of-war of tho present is a big steel and iron machine, and the men on board aro ma chinists rather than siillots. With don bio sots of great engines, twin screws, steam pumps, elevators and hoists, power tackle, electric lights and signals, steam and hydraulic hoists for shot, and hy draulic apparatus for turning turrets mid shifting guns, tho modern man-of-war is simply a series of machines. Tho ship itself is a lloatiug machine, tho high power gun is a machino, tho crow is organized and disciplined into a machino which moves liko clockwork, without much sentiment or display of bravery until some part of tho physical machino gives way: then the man con km to the I rout. In this multiplication and elaboration of machinery we see what u perfect and costly pieco of mechanism, what a triumph of human skill and in genuity the modern lighting ship has becomo. It is said there nro in a com- flote now ship, liko tho Now York or 'hiladolphia. thirty distinct machines. No ono fact could better illustrate the idea that war at sea is now mechanical rather than heroic. It is oven thought by Bomo critics that tho development of the mechanism of lighting lias gouo too far: that tho offensive machines aio too com plicated and too liable to derangement in wliolo or in part, which will render them useless. As 1 looked at tho models I was struck with tho fact that shipbuilding ingenui ty has not yot dovised protection lor tho ship's boats. Everything else is pro tected. Tho coal bunkers, containing when full BOO to 850 tons, aro ranged alongside tho boilers and engines, so that a shot to reach a vital part of the ship must pass through thick walls of coal besides tho eight to twelve inches of atool plates. Tho decks aro all curved anil of steel from two to fivo Incite? thick thickest whoro tho most protec tion is needed. Along tho hull on either side runs a broad belt of steel, from ton to fifteen incites thick, adding addi tional protection to thu boilers and en gines. Theso protected crnisors for, mind, thoy aro not battleships aro built on tho theory that wherever a shot can got through them not much damage would be done, and where tho d, imago can bo dono the shot can't get in. The groat guns aro protected by enormous turrets in the Monterey and Miantouomah, and by heavy barbettes or hoods of armor in the other ships. Tho magazmo is away down in tho hold of the ship, so far be low tho wator lino that a shot could scarcely reach it, und the wall through which tho oblong projectiles and powder bags with powder liko lump sugur- uro hoisted to tho breech of tho gun In armor protected, There Is protection in tho speed also. Ten years ago a speed of twelve knots was considered very fast. Now v hulld for nineteen or twenty and get It in a spurt, with ability to maintain hI.v tt-en or seventeen knots hours at a time. In the Haltiiuoro, Sail Francisco and Philadelphia wo have thico of tho fast est cruiser allo.it. Speed is itection. because the uuarmoied naval vessel Is expected to bo licet enough to run away from tho enemy which sho dare not tlitht. Tho battle shins, thick with ar mor, tbrriblo in their offensive iwwer, aro not built for speed, being expected to coim! with anything that comes along. Such aro the Miautonomali and Monte rey, tho former Just put into commis sion ut Now York and tho latter now ready to receive hor great guns, whose transiiortatioii by rail across tho conti nent recently attracted much attention. Theso fighting ships aro only one-half as speedy as tho unnoted cruisers, There is safety in tho twin sciows, for thoy enablo tho vessel to lo maneuvered l so much more easily. Even tho com manding ofllcer is protected. No Far ragut in tho rigging, trumpet in hand, shouting through tho darkness, "D u the torpedoes go ahead!" in model n naval warfaro, By looking carefully at tho models you will see "the bridge," which is tho elevated platform well for ward 011 which the captain stands to give his orders by word of mouth or by manipulation of tho many signal luvoivt by his hand. Underneath is n sott r blockhouse with walls of solid metal lifteon to twenty inches thick, and run ning horizontally around it n small open ing much liko a crack. It is into this steel wall, called the "conning tower, that the commanding ntlicer goes in an engagement. Hero aro more lovers ami signals, and here, almost as safe as if in his favoiito nook In tho army and navy clubhouse in Washington, ho may look through tho crack, see what is going on and givo his orders accordingly. Everything appears to be protected, I say, oxcept tho boats. There aro many of them-yawls. pinnaces, lifeboats, gigs. 1 even steam launches but all aro hung ' above tho deck., fair marks for the , enemy's big guns and his innumerable I rapid llro Hotchkisses anil (Jatllngs. "Would not theso boats bo shot to j pieces in a severe engagoinontV" I usked a naval oxpeit. "Ceitninly; wo expect that. Iiuttliciv is no way of protecting them." 1 "Then, how could you escape in case of 1 disaster to the shipV" ! ! " Wo couldn't. We'd Imvo to go down j with tho ship." So it appears modem ingenuity has (protected everything but tho human j part of tho machine, which, after all. i the cheapest pait of it. , Do those great fighting machine.! cost , much money? For an nnswor look at 11 fow figures: Tho San Francisco, now on ' her way to Chilian waters, cost n little tnoro than $2,000,000 construction, arm I anient and equipment. She is tho most I costly of our now vessels now in com linission. Tho Philadelphia, Baltimoro and Newark each cost about $1, 800,000. 1 complete. Tho Atlanta and Boston cost ifl, 000,000 apiece and tho Yorktown $700,000. Theso aro vory small figures j compared to tho cost of some of the 1 ships which wo are now building. Tho most costly vessel now oil tho stocks in I this country Is the'Oregon, which is to bo a monster floating fortress of 10,'JOO tons, with 2,700 tons of armor plato pro tecting her hull, and to cost, complete, the enormous sum of fi.GOO.tiO,-,. Hor two sister ships, of tho samo slzo, arma ment and armor thoughont, will each cost about $170,000 less, owing to a dif tereuco in tho contracts. Tho hull of tho mighty Orogon is to cost more than $J,r00,000, her on glues will tuko );?;iy,000 more, tho armor for hor hull $000,000, tho nr inor for protection of hor guns $1)00, 000, hor guns $7811.000 and her equip ment $101,000. Theso figures show that building theso mammoth modern men-of-war is a luxury which only the richest of nations can afford to indulge in on a largo scalo. Secretary Tracy tells mo tho United State now has under way warships which will co-st to com plete, arm and oiptlp $").000,000. Great fleets come high, but tho United States must have them. It is gratilying to know that wo n.e building all of our now ships at home. Tho plans of all but threo or four were mado in this country too. Another in spiring fact is that tho United States is now turning out armor faster than the factories of Europe could do it, and that it is tho best armor in tho world a motal which acts as a sort of snowbank, and takes tho projectiles hurled at il witli Titauliko force and smothers them without cracking or serious injury to it self. Moreover, wo aro making all our own high power gnus, and aro makin bettor guns than tho English, who have been longor in tho business, and as good guns as ICrupp or thu Fronch can make, who had beaten tho world till wo started up our factories. It costs inoiioy to man a big bhlp after it is ready for sea. Tho first class ships liko tlto Chicago, Ualtimoro and Phila delphia carry about U0 ollicors, :S00 en listed men and a murine corps of from 10 to 00 men and ofllcors. Tho ofltcors of a first class bhip of tho lino nro tho following: Captain, lloutoitnnt com mander, 4 lieutenants, 1 junior lieuten ant, 3 ensigns, il naval cadets, medical inspector, surgeon, assistant surgeon, paymaster, chief engineer, assistant en gineer, chaplain, captain of tho marines, gunner and carpenter. Tho expense of maintaining a first class modern cruiser, pay of officers and men, coal, repairs and general supplies is estimated ut if 1, TOO per day. This is in time of peace. If fighting is to lw dono tlto expense will of course iw vastly increased. Repairs may run into the hundreds of thousands of dollar after an engagement, while tho cost of tiring ono b oadsido from a ship liko the Chicago, 1)00 pounds of metal at ono dis cha,ge from four gun-,, is ulxmt $000. It ii o.isy to see tli.it a day's fighting with a Heel of such ci nisei's would mako a big holu in tho pocket of even us rich a iiutgnutenf the e.irth as our Uncle Sum. WAi.nat Wkixua.v. KliYINO MUSTANGS. CHAS.MO V ,'II.D PRAIRIE V.IDWINTER. HORSES IN Httiul) III .it Hull .lliilm N0I1U iluino fur II null 1 - How tlm NluMioru (rn till on Am I.'iiiiiiIUmI Mint llrokon Tli Wllil Willi llor.e. Shm till Cirri"iKiinlriiio. Aiui.r.Ni:. Kan.. Jan. at. It in when tho wild horse wanders far enough from tlto Mexican Under to lie within roach that tho keenest pleasure comes to the ranchmen. The news that a herd of mustangs is In tlto neighborhood never fails to amuse an overwhelming enthu siasm, nnd hunting parties nro organised at once It is in winter time that these herds come wandering northward, though they seldom roach so high a latitude us to meet severe storms, and it is in win- 'tor time that tho ranchmen Imvo the lliuo to spend in capturing tliem. North .Mil Texas ami the western part of tho Indian Territory see the creatures fro- J iptently. Tho hunters, or "tuiistaiigors," ns they 1 are called, when they hear of tho up- I pnoach of a herd of wild horses, mako I their stmt vllli4uo intention of remain- I lug away for days mid v eoks if neees- 1 sury Their woi k also includes tho building of a corral in some locality near where the herd is discovered. Taking a provision wagon and tents tho ' hunting putty divides the day Into three 1 "watches" of eight hours each. Ono putty sleeps, one drives tho wagon and one "walks" the mustangs, taking turns in the different tasks. Crawling slowly over tho prairio tho hunters locate tho herds in companies of from twenty-flvo to ono hundred under I sized hut sturdy animals. Tlto ponied ' once discovered, tho hunters prepare for I action. Tho first man leaves tho wagon I and takes tho trail on foot. Ho makes lJ1M ,,nt HUmdlly and patlontly walks no attoinnt at overtaxing 1110 wim after them for eight hours, when ho is 1 relieved. All the timo tho follower keeps tho horses on tho move and as much as possible away from water courses In the scantily watered regions 1 this is not difllcult. Tho theory of tho hunt Is to keep the 1 jinnies going night and day without food or water until they aro exhausted , So far as possible thoy aro directed in a ' circle about tho corral, which is In tended for tho final goal. 1 At tho start tho gay and festive inns ' tang kicks up his joyous heels and 1 tosses shaggy mane and tail in contempt for tho slow and plodding pursuer. The solitary hunter walks on and on, and at I last tho horses realize that tho steadily 1 marching plodder is not to bo shaken I off and becomo less and less frisky. Then thoy settlo to a walk and soon are ' also plodding along over tho prairio. I When tho first "watch" is finished the wagon drives up nnd another of the I hunters begins his tramp. At its close number three stnrts in, nnd so tho day ' and night wears away. Another day and night repent tho programmo and tho 1 chase continues without intermission or rest until, without having food or wator since tho hunt began, except for the snatches seized ns thoy walk, tho starved and weary mustangs tottor along al most as tamo as house dogs. When j their gay and frivolous nature has been 1 sapped their drooping heads aro turned I toward tho corral. Soon, as unieslstlng as sheep, thoy aro driven in. With 11 I light covering of snow tho task is mo?t quickly accomplished, as starvation's pangs come 111010 quickly. Another method Is to run n wild horse down, but only an Indian can do this, u it requires tho ability to run a hundred miles or tnoro without rest or refresh ment. This no white "mustnnger" can do. Tho Indian rides toward a hold, "cuts out" or selects his choico and chases it up hill and down, over hill nnd stream, among rocks or undorbrush as rolcntleis as fate. When his own horse Is tired out he pickota hint nnd takes the chase on foot. He carries no weapons and wears tho lightest possiblo clothing. Whon the wild liorso is wearied out it is taken prisoner easily, having been worst ed in a trial of mere brute strength This method, too, is only practicable in winter, with snow on the ground, in or der that tho trail may bo easily followed if tho horse gets out of sight. Usually the animal will bo run down in tho iv-i sovonty-fivo miles, but MO miles is sure to exhaust his strength. There is still another plan which nslu glo hunter can follow. It is called "creasing," and can succeed only when a crack shot pursues it. Selecting a fa vorite wntoring placo of tho herd tho "mustaugor" puts him-elf in ambush. tttl Hrt winltr 11 tfil tltirr flin rMuttif r9 tho ll0rH,s, A"t 'length tho trampling of impatient hoofs is heard, and following tho lead of a stalwart brute tho mus tangs gather about tho refreshing pool to quench thoir thirst. Now is the huntor'sachanco, and mak ing a selection of sonio finely propoi tioued animal thu title comes to thu shoulder, and taking un refill aim at tlto curved necks that bond over tho watot course "lung" goes tho weapon and tho pony is sprawling and kicking in tho mud, while its companions go skurrying away as on wmgs of wind across the plain. "Creasing" consists in striking ac curately and exactly the spinal column of tho liorso, and requires not only mi exact knowledge of anatomy hut mi en iug skill with tho rifle. If tho bullet strikes too low tho spino is broken and tho pony is killed; if too high, only tho skin is cut and the horse goes flying away much frightened but little hurt. If placed aright the shot stuns tho animal for a moment long enough for th? hunter to run forward and buckle a pair of hobbles on its forelegs and nooso a lariat on its neck. Soon consciousness returns, but the mustnnger is master of the situation and lias added another horso to his possessions. Tho wound seldom proves injurious afterward. Once captured and in the corral the wild horse's troubles have only begun. Tho short winter days will see ninny 11 cruel experience before tho intimitis cap tured aro "bioken" and ready for saddle or harness, tiding Into thu rot nil the horsemen deftly throw their lassoes over tho hows' heads, one at a Mine, and i'l a moment tho noose comes tuut mid the choked animal is on Ills side. Without udo a heavy lit Idle, with cruel Bpaiili.li hit. Is forced on tho half unconscious steed, and then a Mexican saddlo, with high iKimmel and hack ami double bauds, is adjusted. When tho nooso Is loosened tho victim Is nearly crazed with fear of thu strange ttappings with which it Is accoutered, At the end of tho long lariat the horso circles, bucking, leaning, lolling and kicking in tho vain effort to rid itself of thnquccrhutilou. Should 11101101x0111111, a heavy "snako whip." mado of leather and handled by tho mustaiigers with the skill of an artist, cuts tho tender skin, leaving great ridges and sending the iiulmal on.vanl. A couple ol' hours or Ums Is suHloiont to completely weary the horso, which Is now In a lather of sweat, and at this stage In the gamo one of the men up pro.tehes and swings himself into thu saddle, Again tho kicking commences, and it is only an expert rider who can keep his seat Sometimes thu frightened cieatute rears so high on its liiuil legs as to fall backward, and then the rider must he quick not to be caught beneath, The long bit now comes Into play, ami tho horse feels for the llrst tlmo thu in fluence which Is to gitiilo Its steps through life. Soon thu intiupid rider throws otr tho lariat and tho perspiring mustang goes jumping and kicking away Sometimes tho bucking con sisting of putting thu feet together and humping tlto back suddenly becomes so severe as to throw tho rider, hut not often Long, sharp spurs urge on tho beast and the hit is used unmercifully, often cutting the mouth until aseusitive onlooker is shocked. Tho "breakers," however, assure one that It is tho only way to succeed, and as at tho end of an afternoon's struggle they have so tamed a wild animal that any man can ride it, or it can bo har nessed hesldu a broken horso and driven, results speak for themselves. Tho sec ond hitching up is almost hut not quite as much of a task us the first, and it is weeks before tho newly broken liorso can bo handled easily A mustang Is never trustwoithy. hut Is .dways hardy and fleet, heuco thu animals bring a fair price thirty to soventy-tlvo dollars In thomaikotsus riding ponies or driving lioises lor liveries, etc. CllAlti.r.s Mokkau IlAitur.11. lliiriiiiiii'it lllilliilui'i. .Sircliil ('nrri'HHnilmci!. Br.TiHX, Conn., Jan. '21. Uethel, in common with D.iubury, of which it is really a suburb, has long boon noted for its hatting industries. But Uutliul has another claim to distinction. In this quiet village tho great American show man first saw the light of day. The hotiso whoro ho was born stands on tho sttcet leading east from thu central square, on a high bank abovo tho road, on tho north side. It is a neat wooden houso, and sports it white cont of paint and green blinds. Directly in front of the houso, in tho middle of the street, is an imiucuso elm tree, which has stood thero since n time long antedating the memory of the oldest inhabitant. It is a grand ol 1 trc. and is apparently still good for fifty years of llfo. Though P. T. Uurnum made Bridge M)tt his home and established the winter quarters of his show thero, he til ways kept a warm spot in his heart for Bethel. Ho had a haudsomo fountain made to his ordor in Europo, and set it up at his own expense in tlto public square of the town Many of tho old timers recall his early life as storekeeper and editor. The most exciting incident was his imprison mont for sixty days in tho county jail for printing uncomplimentary notices of tho town ollicors, and otherwise freely expressing his mind, in his sheet hearing tho sounding title of Herald of Freedom. The people admired his stand, and when ho was lole.ised in Daubury thoy drew him in a coach through tho streets In triumph. What advertising iossih!IIties this incident would have hud for tho "genial showman" hud It happened at a later period In his growth! No ono over had a keener perception of the money value of publicity or was more skillful in catering to tlto curiosity of mankind. P. Moniiirli f .liimiiit l.lclc. San FitA.sciMJo, .Inn 1(1. No rich man over lived and. dying, left his mil lions lor tlto public good whoio bequest-, were in such bewildering contradiction of his whole life as wore those of .lame Lick. Ho never showed tho slightest intorest all through his long lite in educational af fairs or the progtoss of science. But his great bequest for tho founding and en dowment of tho Lick observatory wu ono of tho most magnificent contribu tions to tho weapons of science that this century lias sion. .Mr. Lick probably had no idea how im portant i; thing lie was doing. What ho wanted was to have tho biggest tele scope in the world as u monument to his grave. That his feeling about it was es sentially theatrical is proven by tho fact that he wanted to have his actual bono lie directly beneath that telescope. Ami thoy do. The machinery by which the great tube Is turned rests upon the marble monument which covors tho old man's dust. Some of his friends think that Lick had a vague idea that he wanted tho a4ronoinors to find out by means of his big toloicopa whether or not tho moon is inhabited. But I can't believe that he cared the snap of his tin ger about tho moon. His first intention was to leavo a be-que-tt for the Imil ling of a high monu incut, bigt r and higher than any utile t monument in tho world, over his grave But one of his friends, a man with some interest in astronomy, persua led him that an observatory with thu biggest tol escopo in it that had over been made would lio a greater and more enduring monument to his name than a mere pile of brick und marble, F. K. N. H. Sec Adv. "Courier Premiums" page 2. GEORGE H,n Pfl w pUoi&C DESIGNS. LARGE TYPE. A REALLY FINE EDITION WITHIN THE REACH OF ALL George Eliot Is preeminently tho woman writer of tho rtgo. Gifted with a mind almost masculine in its vigor anil power, yet iuuIiiIiir the womanlincM which, added to her literary strength, has mdo hct works worthy the hlglict place accorded toherseK in tho world of letters. "Mlddlenurcli, rhe Mill on the Flow," "Felix Holt," "Daniel Deronda,- Komola," and "Clerical Llfo"nro household words among the educated of the land, and steadily and surely aro becoming better and belter known even In the cottage of the lahorci.Theso works aro now placed before the public lit most nltractlvo form and out ipcclal offer places them within tho reach of all. This set and The Courier i year $3.25 W K 11AVK ONLY A PEW of the celebrated RED GROSS BASE BURNERS AND AMERICAN ROUND OAK, which we are closing out zzAT COST! prior to removal. Now's your chance to buy a heater at fac tory price. There are no better stoves made. Call and see prices will tell. P. S. WHITE), Successor to KRUSE & WHITE. 1210 0 STREET. G. A. RAYMER &CO. COAI CANON, ROCK SPRINGS, PERFICCl'ION, DUQUOIN, JACKSON, HICKORY BLOCK, BEST GRADE Telephone 390. w MlWWiBrfci J Hi'iuniwiniiBsno rl-lB2awii!flty en 'Mniin 1IMIHI1ME3I1 11 'VBBBnBBlBWfiMaSlBKlBBrSBii HEN YOU WANT FINE JOB PRINTING See the WESSEL PRINTING CO. ELIOT'S WORKS COMPLETE Six Handsome 1 2 mo. Volume- FINE CLOTH BINDING. COLORED INK STAMPING FROM ORIQINAL. DANIKI. Dl'HONIIA. Minm.KMAHCii, KoMOI.A, ANI TlilONIKASTllS SUCH. SCKNI.H I'ltOM C AllAM 111. UK. .I'.KICAI. 1.11 AND Mll.l. ON NKK. t iik Floss, ani Su.as Ma- l'RI.IX Iloi.r, ANIt I-10. I.K(II'.NII Of JllllAL, irtur a COLO& m. NEWCA OF HARD COAL. Office 1 134 O Street, Nebraska's Leading Hotel. THE MURRAY Cor. 13th mut Itnrney BU., 02-rvax.A.. NE33. i STRICTLY FIRST-CLASS All Mmlorn Improvement and Convenience. B. 8IU0WAY, Pro-rletor. IRA HIQBY, Principal Oler i o l J! m v"i &' I
