New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-31
THE YORKTOWN TESTED.
LITTLE DAMAGE FROM FIRING HER SIX
INCH GUNS.
SHE BEHAVED WELL IN HEAVY SEAS IN SPITE
OF THE WEIGHT OF HER BATTERY-THE DE-

oFTHE WEIGHT OF HER BATTERY-THE DE-
PARTURE OF THE ATLANTA DELAYED.
Tho new steel gunboat Yorktown returned to The
Navy Yard Monday evening, after te't vi HOT
weathery qualities and a tal OF her broadsde guns
TO determine the effect Of the conclusion oi nrine
Whom she left the Navy Yard on SATURDAY mori'ns
It was expected that test OF her maonine'S ul
speed would be made, although this was not can'u
for IN SECRETARY Tracys order but when point about
sIyentv miles off shore was reached ON SATURDAY ait
noon. the fog was so thick that no nring was uoe
and the vessel came in nearer shore and RENAME" qu
over Sunday On Monday morning arrangements
were made for trial of the six guns OF her sM-hcn
gun battery. There were three series of tests man@
with full charge of forytwO and one-haf pounds OF
prismatlc powder and shell Weighing 100 pounds
and ABIDE from a few minor defects which were dis
covered and the breaking Of few panes OF glass ana
electric light bulbs from the conclusion, she returned
without damage OF any kind and without
showing any signs of structural weakness
All of the time while the Yorktown was out the sea,
while not severe heavy enough TO test thoroughly
her seaworhness The prevailing opinion has been that
the Yorktown's battery too heavy and that she
could not bear its enormous weight. This was the
case with some Of the foreign gunboas and the weight
of their batteries had to be reduced, but the York
town was only slightly affected by the heavy seas
She pitched somewhat and rolled, but her movement
easy.
On Monday morning preparations were made to test
the main battery by firing. Most of the shots wee
fired with her engines stationary. Three shots were
fired from each gum The frst set OF six shots was
fred with the guns level and trained abeam, and In
the second and third sets the guns were at various
elevations and were trained fOrtyfve degrees a0aft
of beam. When the battery Of the cruiser Atlanta
was tested several months ago the tracks and decks
we're up and the gun-ports were smashed by the
effect of the firing and extensive repairs we're ne
cessitated. This was due however to defects in the
mounting of the guns. The Yorktown's guns were
not even dashed and after the test she came nome
with them still unlashed. The firing OF the SIX
enormous guns left the Yorktown in practically the
same condition I'm which she when she left the
yard
When the Galena has come out Of :he dry dock the
Yorktown viii be put In to have her bottom cealel
and painted. She will then be made ready for her
tactical trials Newport -
The cruiser Atlanta ready to start for newport
last night for the trials, and took on boari IN the
afternoon fifty tons OF picked New River coal for me
specd test Just before this work was finished captain
John A. Howell, her commander, was ordered 10 go
10 Annapolis as a member of a special board 10 Wit
ness the competitive tests Of the new pneumatic gun
Carriage with an snch hand-gear gun carriage with
the hydraulic recoil check. which recently sent 10
Annapolis from the cruiser Chicago. The Atlanta Will
wait for further orders from Washington.