Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-23
ADMIRAL WALKERS SQUADRON.
How the Cruisers Boston, Chicago and
Atlanta Behaved at Sea.

htAhuta lDeuaVeu at Seds
Lisbon Special to the n. Y. Herald December 22
The Yorktown has not yet arrived at Lisbon.
but she is expected tomorrow. Admiral Walker
says she may have to put into Fayal An officer
remarked to me that the Yorktown is like an
empty bottle tightly corked, she may bob
about and be much tossed by the storm, but
she can float through anything. The general
opinion Of the feet is she would lay to for
forty-eight hours. She was last seen of East
Great Bank.
UNEyENTFUL VOYAGE OF THE CHICAGO.
Chief Engineer Farmer Of the Chicago said:
''The total revolutions during the run Of 2,OS5
miles was 72S, l22 on the starboard side and
729, AGO on the port The average number Of
revolutions per minute was SO. The instruc-
lions we're to work up slowly and not to squirt.
The average boiler pressure was Go pounds by
gauge" Mr.. Farmer said that the coal aver
age was "a tons per day. out of which should be
deducted the amount used for lighting, heating
and distilling. The average speed, he said. was
about knots The sails helped some, as the
average range Of wind was favorable, and in
free, calm weather would, he estimates, have
given an average assistance of l knot per hour.
I'VE had" he continued, 1.-The average North
Atlantic weather of this season of the year.
The engines and boilers worked satisf; }ctoriy,"
he continued, land only require the usual
cleaning to be ready for further use. The in
dicated horse power and general scientific
synopsis 10 not yet prepared. During the
heavy weather and high seas we experienced it
was noticeable that our steam steering gear
was In every way satisfactory. On the whole
1t was an uneventful trip across the Atlantic"
THE BosToN's TRIP.
My next visit was to the trim, business-look-
ing craft Boston. There 1 met Engineers Evan
and Dixon, who said that the revolutions of
their engines had been 722, los during the pas
sage. or an average of thirty-seven revolutions
per minute fore and aft The sails were used
during the run; occasionally the square sails
had been set l asked what contretemps it was
which caused the Boston to go so slowly, and
they replied that it was only a very slight mat
ter. one which was scarcely worth mentioning.
1t was the blowing out of the newly-drawn
drain pipe of the three-inch valve. This oc-
Cured on two of the boilers on the port side
In minute it became evident what had hap
pened and SO the fires were raked and the two
other boilers started. After the valve was re-
placed the two port boilers were again used
The boilers were changed several times during
the passage and there was no trouble about
doing SO.
What was the coal consumption" asked.
-, 1t was, replied Chief Engineer Evan, "for
the entire passage as much as the City of Paris
would burn in one day. We burned about 41S
tons, or about 90 tons per day, and less than
three tons for auxiliary purposes. Our steam
pressure averaged IS pounds"
"Dld the steering gear work well?'
yes; only once, and then for only four
was 1t out of order"
The Boston is the best sea boat I have ever
been in. think she is better than Chicago"
Where are your weaknesses?"
we don't think any sea could affect this
BOAT We have experimental all kinds OF weather
IN her and we are proud of our ship.
THE ATLANTA's BEHAVIOR.
Chief Engineer William Harris was taking
observations as to the seagoing qualities of the
Atlanta's steam pinnacle when l reached that
ship, which, notwithstanding the doubts en- ter
famed as to her seagong qualities. managed to
SUCK by the flagship from the commencement
of the voyage to the end, which. as one of the
)fhcers remarked, was more than the Boston
had been able to do. The chief engineer said:
our average revolutions were about forty,
With average boiler pressure of about eighty
pounds. The consumption of coal averaged
thirty tons per day, including consumption for
auxiliary purposes. We hoisted sails whenever
The Boston did 30. We steamed over on four
boilers and got across without blowing
1--WE had no trouble from the time we left
Boston until we arrived here. Our machinery
,aced a little on two occasions, but not enough
20 do any damage"
What do you think of the Atlanta?" asked. |
.'She Is an elegant sea boat" he replied |
she ran along without any trouble. AS an ex-
ample OF this may state that was not called
,ut of bed once during the voyage. | consider
he Atlanta just as good sea boat as the Bos-
on"