Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1889-05-25
THE CHARLESTON.
A United States Cruiser That Has Proved
to lie Remarkably Fast.

A United States Cruiser That Has Proved
to lie Remarkably Fast.
The new cruiser Charleston, the first
naval vessel built on the Pacific slope,
has proved herself to be one of the fastest
government boats af1oat. The Charles
ton is magnificent specimen of naval
architecture. She has been nearly three
years in building, and cost, exclusive of
armament and fittings, nearly $4,000, 600.
The construction contract was 81 ,O17, 500.
She is built with twin screws and must
develop over 1000 horse power. The
contract with the government provides
that for every additional horse power de-
veloped over 1000 the builders shall re-
ceive $500 bonus, while for every horse
power less than 1000 the contractors
shall pay to the government 800. AS is
already known, the Charleston has sur
passed the expectations of the contrac-
tors.
The Charleston is of the class first in
troduced by Armstrong, Of England,
in the famous Esmeralda and very closely
resembles the great Japanese cruiser
Nauiwa, but it is generally agreed that
she Is the finest vessel of the three, hav-
ing Improvements and advantages the
others do not possess. The Charleston
has neither poop nor forecastle, thus Civ
ing her guns complete sweep of the
deck at the aft and forward ends. With
guns that are more formidable than
those of any United States man-of-war
,,o,1, ADo% ooV, roaI,1u ba con,, that
she will possess destructive power Of an
astonishing character. The armament
consists Of two twenty-eight ton guns,
known respectively as bow and stern
chaser, and will be operated with absolute
freedom at either end Of the ship. These
guns can penetrate steel plates two feet
thick and can carry an enormous dis
tance. In addition, the Charleston will
carry three heavy breech leaders on
either side and a deadly outfit Of Calling
guns, Hotchkiss guns and torpedoes.
The masts are Of steel plate and port
able steel deck house is built to protect
the twenty eight tonners and the men
operating them. The machip Try of the
vessel is especially fine and has been the
admiration of the French, English and
Japanese engineers.
The two wheels or propellers are Of
manganese bronze twelve feet in diam
eter, while the great driving shafts are
Of tempered fawless steel, manufactured
at Krupp's immense steel works at Els
sen, Germany, and vigorously tested.
All the machinery is separated and in
duplicate, SO that the Charleston has no
less than sixteen. distinct engines on
board. She is very slightly externally
and in her interior arrangements, having
a cutter look notwithstanding her heavy
build and massive guns. Her length is
just 300 feet between perpendiculars,
breadth of beam DO feet, mean draft IS
feet and tonnage $3.50. She has what
is called protecting deck just below the
water line, which abruptly shelves to
the port and starboard sides Of the vessel,
the fall being fully eight feet. This ram
part form is SO constructed that shot
striking the deck will glance upward,
and SO lose it's force and destructiveness
Below this deck, which is made Of four
inch steel plates, are the engines, boiler,
magazine, cabins, etc.