Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-09
kilograms to The Star.
CRUEL TREATMENT OF ROCHEFORT.
THE CRUISER cHARLEsToNs TRIP.
THE BALD KNOBBERs MUST HANG
ADMIRAL NMBERLYs PROCLAMATION.
NORTH CAROLINA,s CENTENNIAL.
THE CRUISER CHARLESTON.
Her Trial Trip Shows Staunch Sea-going
qualities and Good Speed.


SANTA BARBARA, CAL, May 9.-The q. s.
cruiser Charleston arrived here for her trial
trip last evening, making under easy steam
during the last portion of her trip little more
than IA knots per hour. The cruiser left Mis-
sion Rock in San Francisco bay at 5:4S o'clock,
Tuesday morning. In the circular bulwarks
fore and aft, where the S-inch rifled guns are to
find position, and in the sponsors for the ac
commodation of the 6-inch guns, were piled
pig-iron bars in sufficient number to represent
the weight of her powerful guns The brass
ratings and mountings lacked polish, while
great portion of the wood and metal work was
covered with tarpaulins for protection. Lam
terms were suspended in the ward-rooms and
passageways for lighting purposes, in lieu OF
the electric-light plant, which is not complete.
Apart from these features, which had no bear
she was in readiness to attempt the duty
assigned her Of developing seven thousand
horse power by her two compound engines for
four consecutive hours.
MORE SEVERE TEST, IT Is CLAIMED,
than any to which the ships Of war are usually
subjected in making test of power and speed.
The cruiser was in command Of Capt. Chas. NJ.
Goodall. The official inspection board Of
United States naval officers consisted of Com
modore A. E. X. Benham, Commander Henery
Glass, Naval Constructor Jos. Feaster, Lieut.
Harris There were several representatives of
the Union iron works, the builders, on board.
Naval Constructor ]. l.. Fernald, U. 8. N, who
supervised the construction Of the cruiser on
behalf OF the government, was also on board.
The inspecting corps of engineers acting on
behalf of the government to ascertain the
horse power of the engines, consisted Of chief
engineers f. j. Hoffman and Z. T. Warburton,
assistant engineers l. N. Hollis, G. W. McEl-
roy, j. NJ. Pickrekk, G.. W. Disson, I. w.
,,l-o w O III
naval contingent was also supplemented by
Capt j. G. Watson, Commander F. p. Gilmore,
and Lieut. c. G. Calkins and others. There
were about 100 seamen and others who were
present in a semi-officIal capacity. After her
compasses had been satisfactorily adjusted, the
Charleston, at o'clock,
HEADED DOWN THE BAY.
The Union Jack f1oated at the fore while the
American ensign was hoisted aft. strong
southwest wind had been blowing and there
were heavy waves on the bay. She was soon in
combat with a strong running sea. TIE engines
had been gauged to forty revolutions, which
served to press the ship steadily forward. Be
sides breaking forward the water began to
come over the starboard side. The cruiser
held steadily on, rolling very little, but dip
ping down sharply after rising on big wave,
lifting her stern high in the air. During the
toughest portion Of the passage both screws
at various stages were completely out of
water. During this rough passage Commodore
Benham, together with Capt. Watson, were on
the bridge. AT times spray came over the
breastwork OF steel. rising feet above the
deck. At one time the Charleston took dip
into the trough of the sea, and Immediately
pushed into the second wave, which enveloped
all on board. The comb broke over the breast,
flooding the officers on the bridge and hoisting
the brass stanchion on the forward deck out of
position. At almost the same moment wave
Ia cfarh I'd do nf ha
ship, followed by second, which completely
flooded the main deok. She finally rode out to
sea and encountered less boisterous seas. The
naval officers are free to say that
THE CHARLESTON HAD BEHAVED HANDSOMELY,
and that the test had been a severe one in the
matter Of her staunchness. Constructor
Fernald remarked that in ten years service she
would probably not encounter a rougher sea or
be subjected to a more severe test as to her
structural sea-going qualities. From 10 o'clock
until l in the afternoon the engines were
allowed to exhibit a little more power, and the
cruisers progress indicated an even speed of
eleven knots. When off Santa Cruz the engines
were slowed down on account of a slight tend
ency to heating shown by the cross-head of
one OF the high-pressure cylinders, and were
finally stopped TO put SHIN under the cross
head to relieve this tendency. The engines
were again started at 6 o'clock in the after
noon, and were run steadily to Santa Barbara,
at gradually increasing speed, without showing
further heating. The engineers reports show
that in the run from San Francisco to Santa
Barbara not journal or pin showed heat. The
engines ran smoothly and without jar, and
with the one exception noted,
TO THE ENTIRE SATISFACTION
of the contractors and government engineers.
The air pump vacuum remained steadily at 27
inches during the run.
During the four hours run from off Point
Benchon to Point Conception, ending at 2
o'clock yesterday afternoon, the speed of the
cruiser averaged thirteen and thrse-tenths
knots per hour. From Point Conception to
Santa Barbara the engines were maintained at
steadily increasing speed. and the cruiser ex-
hibited a maximum speed of IA IL knots during
the last stage of the run to this port. decision
will probably be reached this morning as to
what time the four hours run to test the engine
power will take place.