The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-04-05
THE LONG VOYAGE OF THE BROOKLYN.
With Rotten Sails the Old Frigate
Proves Good salIer,
But Her OFFICERS Now Are Probably
Eating Salt Pork.
Their Desire for LuxurIes May Have
Caused That Report.

NEW YORK, April 4.-The officers at the
navy yard yesterday expressed their opinion
that the sensational report about the United
States steam frigate Brooklyn was unneces-
sarily exaggerated by the captain Of the
British steamship Falshaw. who reported
upon his arrival at Pensacola on Tuesday,
that he had spoken the Brooklyn in distress
on March &c. The impression was given
that the vessel was short Of provisions, but
this could hardly be true. as she had six
months supply of provisions on board when
she left Honolulu. 1t Is believed that the
oacers had exhausted all their own stores
and were living on those of the ship-salt
pork, salt beef, and hardtack-and seeing a
steamship which had apparently. been only
a short time at sea. hoped to obtain some
Hour and provisions from her.
IL was also reported that the Brooklyn
mad arrived at st. Thomas on Sunday, but
this report was denied yesterday at the ma
fine telegraph bureaus. IL is hardly proba-
Thomas, and the trade winds being in her
favor, she would 60 South. She was then
only $50 miles South Of the Bermudas, and
only about 1900 miles from Sandy Hook The
prevailing winds at this time are from IA
yorable direction, and the Brooklyn was on
to New York. Her course would be about
Northwest until she reaches point off Cape
Hatteras, with the prevailing winds from
East to Northeast. OF Cape Hatteras the
direct to Sandy Hook. She ought to arrive
here or at Hampton Roads before another
week ends.
The Brooklyn is in command of Captain
Byron, who commanded monitor during
the civil war. 1t was certainly a mistake TO
suggest that the breaking of the shaft was
an alarming condition. Her original orders,
issued in August last, were that she should
return home by the way of the Cape Of Good
hope. She left Hiogo, Japan, on her way
through the Shimonoseki Straits. which sen.
arate Hondo from Kin-Sin and connect the
Inland Sea with the Sea of Japan, she broke
her crank shaft. She was towed into Ma
gasaki on August 14th, and q week later was
put into the dry dock for repairs. 1t was
then determined by Admiral Chandler and
Captain Wilson. under orders from Secretary
whitney, that she should sail home and 20
by way OF Honolulu and Cape Horn. Many
omcers criticised this decision severely, and
thought that she should have been sent to
San Francisco rather than risk the loss of
the snip and her crew on necessarily tenn
pestu0us voyage. To improve the steering
and sailing qualities of the ship her propel-
Ter was unshipped and slowed ON deck, and
the pIopeller-well was closed up. On Sept.
9th she was lowed and conveyed to sea by
the Juniata and Palos, bat her two suits of
sails were in such unsatisfactory condition
That 1t was feared she would not be able to
reach Honolulu with them.
But the Brooklyn did reach Honolulu on
october ~. and she proved herself a good
ssailer up to that point, Der greatest speed be-
ing at the rate Of fourteen knots under top
gallant sails, WITH the wind a point abaft
the beam. 1t was hoped that new topsails
and foresails could be obtained for the Brook
Ign at Honolulu, but the canvas could not be
obtained. The sails were repaired and en-
tlrely re-roped with Few roping, and some
new spare spars were made. She sailed from
Honolulu on November Goth, it being calcu-
lated that II she met with no mishap She
would reach this port about April 18th. The
following are her officers Captain Byron
Wilson, commanding; Lieutent commander
Thomas Perry. executive officer; Lieutenant
Eugene d. +. Head, navigator; Lieutenants
W., Il, I'll: Switzerland, Charles J. BADGER,
and Frank IL. Holmes; Ensigns, John Ak
Hoogewerf and William r. Shoemaker:
medical inspector, Grove S. Beardsley; pass
ed assistant surgeon. Philips A. Lowering:
assistant surgeon, Oliver ID. Norton; paw,
master, James K. Tolfree; chief engineer.
B. l.. p. Ayres; Lieutenant Samuel Z. Jack
son, Of the marine corps; boatswain, Edward
Bonsall gunner, John j. Walsh; carpenter.
Gould Northrop; sailmaker, Truman B.