Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-08-25
SHE Is A SUCCESS.
The Charleston Fills ALI He1
Requirements.
THE CRUISER VISITS SAN PEDRO
A RIM of six Hours Under Forced
Draft Proves Her Unparal-
leled Qualities.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.
SAN PEDRO, CAL, August "a The new
cruiser Charleston has accomplished a
feat which probably never has been
equaled by any other man.of-war of any
navy of the world. She made an official
trial run of six consecutive hours under
forced draft yesterday, and developed an
average speed Of eighteen and one-eighth
knots per hour. Her machinery worked
to the entire satisfaction of her builders
and also of the Government representa-
tives aboard, and there can be no doubt
that she has filed the requirements of
the contract, and will soon be accepted
ss a valuable acquisition to the new
American navy. During the first two
hours of her run the sea was very rough,
and with every roll of the vessel her pro-
pellers were lifted out of the water and
the engines raced with great rapidity.
Notwithstanding the severe strain upon
her machinery, not hitch occurred at
any time. The engines made an average
of 116 revolutions per minute, and
though the official calculation as to horse
power cannot be made for some time vet,
no doubt exists in the mind of any one
aboard that she has developed more than
the required 5000. Approximations in
dictate that the development was at least
6,700 horse power.
Though the official test was limited to
four hours, her builders concluded to run
her two hours longer, and at the close OF
that time there was no indication that
she could not have continued the trial
half day longer, if necessary.
HAD TO COAL AT SAN PEDRO.
When the trial was concluded last
evening at o'clock, it was found that SO
much coal had been used since the
cruiser left San Francisco, Wednesday
morning, that it was necessary to go tc
San Pedro to obtain a sufficient supply
to make the return trip. The Charles.
ton accordingly went on to San Pedro
and arrived there about O'Clock this
morning. She will coal at once and
probably leave by noon to-day, arriving
at San Francisco Sunday night or Mon.
day morning.
The Charleston remained in San Sim.
con bay all day Tuesday, during which
time her machinery was thoroughly ex
amined, and repairs made on certain
portions in which slight defects wert
found on the previous days run. Thi
test was entirely under the supervision
of Chief Engineer Robert Forsythe, O
the Union Iron Works, and the nava
representatives aboard the cruiser at
tribute to him great credit for the splen
did run yesterday.
At 10 O'Clock yesterday morning th,
Charleston left her moorings in Sar
Simeon bay and put to sea- She steamed
slo WY down the coast, making abou
twelve knots an hour. Mr.. Scott, Gen
eral Manager OF the Union Iron Works
had announced that he intended to Civ,
the cruiser her official trial in a fes
hours. strong northwest wind wa
blowing and the sea was very rough
The condition was not considered at al
favorable, and one member of the Naya
Board appointed to conduct the trial
attempted to dissuade Mr.. Scott from
making the run at that time. Tht
latter, however, expressed confidence
that the vessel could stand the trial
even under such adverse conditions, anC
he stated that he would be ready at
O'Clock to make a four-hours run unde
forced draft.
The Charleston was near Port Harfor,
and standing we'll out to sea at O'Clock
The pressure had been gradually in
creased and at that hour the propeller
were making one hundred revolution
per minute. At 10 Commodore Ben
ham gave the signal and the
OFFICIAL TRIAL COMMENCED.
The wind and sea, which were on th
starboard quarter, had not abated in tn
least. The waves were rolling in fror
the open ocean and gave the cruiser
test as to her sea-going qualities, almos
equal to that which she received whe
passing out the Golden Gate on her frs
trial trip last May. The seas broke owe
the freeboard on the bow and over th
starboard side of the vessel, at one tim
sweeping over boat hanging from tn
davits several feet above the starboar
rail. This continued during the Who'll
of the first hour, and all the time tn
Charleston was rolling from side to side
making it uncomfortable for every on,
aboard. The roll of the ship was nine
teen degrees, and every time she gave
lurch to leeward, the blades OF the star
board propeller were lifted out of tn,
water and the engines raced as the re
distance was thus decreased. A mum be
of persons aboard crowded upon the afte
freeboard and watched the propellers re
volve with lightning rapidity as tn,
upper blades rose above the water. tn,
starboard propeller was out of the waite
almost every minute, but the port pro
peller kept well under the surface. AS th,
stern of the ship arose upon the crest O
wave the starboard propeller was liftet
out of the water, and the rapidly revolv
ing blades cut the surface OF the waite
like knife, scattering the spray in ever,
direction. The strain upon the machin
cry was most severe, but there was n,
indication that the vessel would fail il
the test, and, notwithstanding the grea
disadvantage under which she labored
from the first hour her speed, as recorde,
at the end of that time, was eighteen an,
one-eighth knots. The highest rate sh
made during the hour was eighteen anC
,cne-quarter knots.
During the second hour the sea sub
sided considerably, and, though it still
caused heavy rolling, it no longer threy
the propellers out OF the water.
IN SMOOTH WATER.
Shortly before O'Clock the Chsrlesto
passed Point Conception, after which sh
had a straight course of smooth water il
Santa Barbara channel. Smooth water
however, made no apparent difference il
her speed, and during the followin
hours she made an average of eighteen
and one-eighths knots. Shore bearing
kolx 1fpEd thao