30
THE MOUSING ASTOIUAX, ASTOHIA, OltEGOX.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1901.
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'f 11
Harbor Defenses at the Mouth
of the Columbia River.
HE stranger, entering or leaving, the harbor of Astoria, on a
deep-sea vessel, would be entirely unconscious, so far as physical
manifestations go, that he and his vessel could b? made instantly an
cbjeet of annihilation by the concentrated fire of two score of powerful
guns from three separate, and equi-distant forts on the two shores that
flank the ship he rides, yet such is the case, despite the calm and peace
ful aspect of things down that way. ...
Fort Stevens, the greater of the group, and the headquarters of
the artillery district of the Columbia, lies behind its long, low and
impervious embankments, grass green and park-like, on the famous
Clatsop Spit, to the south of the entrance, while Fort Columbia hides
its frowning front in the venture of Point Ellis on the Washington
shore, and Fort Canby has embattled refuge on the southerly range of
Cape Hancock beneath the giant shadows of North Head; the three
forming an impregnable barrier (along with the auxiliary agencies that
usually accompany such fortifications), to the advance of any hostile
force, however great and well-maneuvered.
In times of peace (which, happily, in this land of good nature
and business acumen, is pretty much all the time), the manning of
these great forts is kept at the minimum prescribed by the military
regulations of the Government, while rtie equipment is maintained, a
to its range of appliances, at the best standards, and this, like the per
sonnel, is susceptible of immediate and adequate expansion at the hour
of necessity. Fort Stevens, at the present time, is under the command
of Lieutenant -Colonel John V. White, his authority extending to the
other posts of the district, as well; First Lieutenant Benjamin II.
Kerfoot, is adjutant of the coast artillery district; Captain Thomas B.
Lamoreux serves as artillery engineer of the district, and First Lieutant
Edward Canfield, Jr., is on duty there, as district quartermaster.
There are but three companies on service at these posts just now,
but under the concentration scheme of the Chief of Artillery for the
United States army, Fort Columbia is to be abandoned to the meagre
services of a few care-takers who will look after the armament, and
Fort Stevens will be garrisoned by five full companies of artillery regu
lars; its working detail being now covered by the 93rd Company, Coast
Artillery, commanded by First Lieutenant Edward Canfield, Jr., with
Lieutenant John P. Kieler, as second in command; and by the 34th
Company, Coast Artillery, commanded by Captain Percy Willis, with
Lieutenant Edward Cullen, as his second in command. Captain Fred
wick Phistcrer, Coast Artillery, is in full command at Fort Columbia
and of the single company serving there, the 33rd, Coast Artillery, with
Lietuenant Francis J. Behr, second in command; the staff officers of
the district being Surgeon Chester J. Stedman (with the rank of
First Lieutenant), serving at Fort Stevens; and Surgeon (Contract)
George B. Tuttle, on duty at Fort Columbia.
The company now at Fort Columbia will be transferred to Fort
Stevens, as well as one company from Fort Casey, Washington; a new
company to be organized outright at Fort Stevens, to make up the
complement to be assigned to this important post. One of the five
companies to be established at Fort Stevens later, will be assigned
exclusive to torpedo duty, tho other four doing gnu duty, as usual. This
will increase tho efficiency of this post very largely hII matters of
drill for service work,
During tho past summer thero were lively times at Fort Stevens
during the artillery maneuvers held thero ,f ruin July fith to tho 15th, in
which seven companies of the Oregon National Guard participated, and
contributed greatly to the advancement of the latter branch in the
knowledge and practice of artillery, and was a source of interest and
delight to the thousands of visitors who flocked to witness the specta
cular work of the men and officers' of the assembled garrisons daily. So
successful was this experiment, that it is generally conceded in places
lest pwtcd on mch matters, that the maneuvers will be repeated an
nually ; the object sought, lHing the proper equipment of tho guardsmen
tor serious work in the great task of joint coast defunse whenever occa
sion for it shall arise. It is known that this will occur again this
summer, and the officers are anticipating tine results and a good time.
The armament of the fortifications at the mouth of the Columbia,
at this time, consists of eight 12-ipeh mortal's; eight 10-inch breech-
oading rifles; two 8-inch broeeh-loading ritlcs; nine ti-inch breech-load
ing rifles, ami six 16-pounder, rapid-firing guns; beside a complete
mining equipment of electrically-served torpedoes, for use in the chan
nels of the Columbia at the proper time.
At this time there are extensive improvements underway at Fort
Stevens in the enlargement of the quarters of both men and officers,
Social and Fraternal
Life of Astoria. J
THE IRVING CLUB.
Stumling for the let tradition of
the city' hoiitality, culture ami
uwial expression, the Irving Club, of
Astoria, for 16 year ha kept open
house here, and welcomed tlimisuiuU
of diMiitiuihcd ttueM from nltroail,
while mitiiitainiuK' nnd di.cniiiK it
exclusive nnd compensntlng comfort
iiml pleasure for it own clientelle.
It wa founded and incorporated
In November, W2, by the following
well known gentlemen: C. W. I'ullou,
president; W.T. Chatter, first vice
president; K. W. Tallant, neeond vice-
$43,000 being engaged now, out of an appropriation of $200,000 for lreMti H. G, Smith. neeretiiry, nnd
this and correlated purposes; and when these are done it will have I i;r""k "l0"' ,r57f r; wfh
enhanced the importance and utility of the post to an extraordinary
degree.
The reservation at Fort Stevens aggregates 982.42 acres of land,
and is practically all devoted to the varied lines of use inseparable
from such an establishment, parks, parade grounds, building sites, road
ways, fortifications, including a magnificent rifle range of (100 yards;
and the last foot of the reservation will be employed as soon as the big
and comprehensive scheme of land defenses, now being perfected by a
special board of officers, shall have been fully developed, approved and
applied.
The authorities at Fort Stevens are quite proud of the fine range at
their service there, as well as of the splendid records achieved on it
last summer, when, it is reported, that one of the regular companies
there made the flattering record of 100 per cent in target work; and
the same authority is quoted for the statement that the range is at the
service of any organization of a military or naval character that may
need its use.
Fort Stevens, as well as its allied forts on the north shore of the
Columbia, is amplified, in point of general equipment, by the use of
the great mechanical plants situated nearby, at the inner end of the
immense sea jetty under course of construction at the mouth of the
river, receiving from there all the wooden and iron and steel work,
that is wrought into the improvements and repairs of the three posts, a
very practical aid when it is considered that, in default of such a
convenience, the heavy supplies of this sort would have to come from
the government plants located at transcontinental distances.
These three forts are among the most engaging and interesting of
the show places about Astoria, and are visited by thousands, season
after season and chief among the standard attractions of the forts is
the Hrfect courtesy of tho officers and men in tho handling of the great
crowds that throng the reservation during tho Minimem. All are in
easy access from Astoria, the steamer Major Guy Howard, of tho
engineering department of the Tinted States giving frequent urn) quick
daily service, besides direct rail communication to Fort Stevens twice
a day all the year round, via tho Astoria & Columbia Kiver Httilway.
the silent and methodical line of
crafthood.
There tire 40 of the leading ele
ment of this kind, notable Among
which arc the following:
Ancient, Free and Accepted Ma
sons, Temple Lodge No. 7; one of the
first group of Masonic lodge under
the Oregon jurisdiction,
Royal Arch Mnon, St. John'i
Chapter. No. 14.
Order of the Kitsterii Star, Fern
Chapter, No, JK.
Ancient Order of United Workmen,
Seaside Lodge. No, 12.
Degree of Honor, Charity Lodge
No. 5.1.
Heiievoleitt Protective Order of
F.Ik, Astoria Lodge No. IH0.
Forester uf America, Court A
loria, No, 8.
Fraternal Order of Ragle, Aerie
No. 17.
('rand Army of the Republic, dish
ing Pot, No. 3.
Woman' Relief Corp, dishing
Corp, No, 3,
Improved Order of Red Men, Con
comly Tribe, No, 7.
Degree of Cocahonta. Kalata
Council. No. I.
Independent Order of Odd Fellow
Heaver Lodge, No. 35. .
Rebekah. Gateway Lodge, No, 77
Knight of the Maecabee, Gateway
Tent, No. 33.
Indies of the Maecabee, Columbia
Hive. No. a
Knight $ of I'ythla, Ator Lodge,
No. 6.
Uniform Rank, K. of l' Astoria
Comniamlery, No, 1.
Ralhlioue Sisters. Astoria Temple
No. 25.
Modern Woodmen of America, A
lria Camp, No, ,5665,
Royal Neighbor of America, Ham
blen Camp. No, 2015,
Native Daiiuhtcr of Oregon. Naury
Dickcrson Welch Cabin. No, 6,
Order of Pernio, Clatsop Council,
No. 278,
Order of Washington, Ator Union,
No, 9.
Sons of Hermann. Teutonia Lodite
No. 5.
Parker, H. F. 1'racl and S. S. Gordon,
a director.
The club is now housed In superb
quarter on the fourth floor of the
beautiful b.iildiog belonging to the
Astoria Saving Hunk, nnd ranks with
best habitat, of the ort on the Pa
cific Coast for the ipiality of it regi
men and ftervire, and for it ability
to care for it honored guest. It is
among the prideful institution of the
city nnd ha a home clientelle that
include the ultra representative of
the professional and busine world
of Astoria.
At this writing it dcsl'nic are in
the capable hands of II. F. 1'rael,
president; E. 7., Ferguson, first vice
president; A. A. Finch, econd vice
president; J. R. A. Ilennett, treasurer,
and Otto F. Hcilbom, secretary.
FRATERNITIES.
Astoria i famous for the fraternal
spirit that finds expression here mid
the abundant work of goodwill done
by the thousands of people who take
this quiet nnd effective way of dis-
pensing their time and money in the
anirlioratiou of the burden borne by
tlu-ir fellows. Thousands of dollars
are paid out annually from the score
of lodge inaiutaiiH-d here nnd an i n -
finite nmouut of good is done along
(Continued on page 31.)
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ther information write to
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Astoria, Oregon.
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