New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-14
THE ATLANTA SAFE.
RIDING OUT THE STORM UNHARMED OFE
MONTAUK POINT,
JOY AT NEWPORT OVER THE CRUISERS AR.
RIVAL HER SPLENDID PERFORMANCE IN
THE HEAVIEST STRESS OF THE GALE.

tBr TELEGRAPH TO THE T-rBUSEJ
Newport, Sept. 13-The many naval officers
stationed here well as the officers of the steel
cruisers Yorktown and Chicago have been anxious
about the cruiser Atlanta, which left New-YorlS
last Monday for this place, and not few were
Of the opinion that she had met with an accident
or was lost Everybody was more or less anxious
and kilograms of inquiry came from all parts OF
the country. Away in the direction Of Point
Judith, where the seas were still heavy, the
smoke of steamer was observed this morning, and
it was not long before it was seen that it was
the missing Atlanta. The news few like wildfire
and by the time she was anchored between the
Yorktown and Chicago she was surrounded by
small boats filled with naval officers and anxious
friends. The cruiser looked as if she had seen
rough weather, her white paint being dirty and
the indentatioRs made by her chain-plates were
very prominent. Her decks were fairly water
soaked, but it was seen at a glance that every
spar was intact
Captain Howell states that there was no cause
for alarm, as he was out of danger, and while the
was heavy, not the slightest apprehension was
felt by him or by any of his officers during their
long trip. The ship, he said, behaved splendidly,
and her engines performed their work TO the
satisfaction Of everybody The gale was en-
countered Monday night, the wind blowing heavy
from the northeast. 1t was found impossible 30
see Montaull Light. The vessel was then making
five knots an hour. On Tuesday morning an at
tempt made TO take the vessel inside of Block
Island, but as the breakers on the shore looked
so threatening it was decided to go out TO sea.
lee was found under Long Island and the vessel
was kept running up and down the coast. Wednes-
day night found the Atlanta lying to under a
main -trysail
On the same afternoon Coxswain John Saunders
died of heart disease, and on the following even-
ing he was buried at sea.
An attempt was made on Thursday to make
land, but without success, owing TO the haze
and storm. During the day, however, Shinne-
cock Light was made, and then other lights
were brought to view, and Captain Howell got
his bearings, and he felt that he would soon
bring his vessel to port. The seas had como
down materially, and the rain had ceased. This
morning the cruiser was off Block Island, where
tire storm signals were seen, and where a strong
easterly wind prevailed. The from Block
Island, distance of about 80 miles, was made
in about two hours. The vessel shipped con-
siderable water, but it did no damage. The
officers were comfortable, and smoked and chatted
away during the height of the gale, little dream
ing how anxious their friends were. The vessel
easily rode out the gallo, and in whatever position
she was placed she was easy. Her engines were
often stopped, once for several hours to repair
slight mishap. She was also easy when lying
to under trysaIl, coming up and falling of but
about three points and half. She did not
roll, and the heavy seas were not successful in
wrenching her in the least
The officers from the captain down, ure de-
lighted with the Atanta's record in storm which
VIII never be forgotten. AT no time was Captain
Howell ANXIOUS and no officer was called upon TO
as 4 n
and her engines proved their capacity for the
work required of them, and her engineers are con-
vinced that she could ride through the teeth of %
hurricane Captain Howell will make q report
to the Department of the Atlanta's trip. and ha
will be apt to a.lude to her ability TO weather
gales of even greater severity than the through
which she passed so successfully. The members
of the Board appointed TO witness the trials of the
cruisers are just as happy as they can be, and all
because the Atlanta has proved her seaworthiness
in a most marked manner and under circumstances
calculated to show what may be expected OF the
new cruisers. The test is considered as good a
one as could be made, and it will show that tie
vessels of the new type are tirst-class in every
particular.
word Of praise is due Captain Howell and
his officers. They modest in their statements
to the severity Of the storm, and are loath to
think that they are entitled to any special credit
few OF the officers say that the Atlanta's trip
last January was equally perilous as this ono
has been, but the majority declare that it the
worst storm they ever experienced, and have 10
desire TO see the like again. Many feared an
accident TO the engines, and when plug blew
out there was considerable cOmmotion especially
among the crew. An lmprOvlsed plug was
ranged, and in four hours after the mishap the
engines were working as smoothly as ever. The
crew were not cool as the officers, and they
would have given all their belongings IL they
could have been on dry land during Monday night
and Tuesday. Every man had to be on duty dur
ing the height of the gale, and every precautlol
was taken TO repair damages TO sails. rigging or
engines.