Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-05-16
THE CHARLESTON,

The Trial Run of the New Cruiser Charles.
ton From San francisco to Santa Bar
bara-A Heavy Sea Affords Excellent
Opportunity to Test Her Staunchress
Every One on Board Pleased with the
Vessel and Her Behavior.
SANTA BARBARA, Cal, May s.-The
trial of the United States cruiser Char.
lesion was decided success. This vessel
behaved admirably, and at times attained
high rate of speed. She left Mission
Rock in San Francisco bay about six
O'Clock on Tuesday morning and arrived
mere last evening. During the last por-
ton OF her run, under moderate head of
steam, she made little over fourteen
knots per hour. Pigs of iron and bars of
a weight equal to the guns she is to carry
in her circular bulwarks fore and aft and
IN the Sponsors, were utilized in the abb
sence OF her ornaments. Lanterns
were used in lighting the vessel
in the absence of the cleo
trio lights with which she is
to be fitted. Captain Chas. NJ. Goodall
was in command. The official inspection
board of United States naval officers con-
sisted of Commodore A. E. K. Benham,
Commander Henry Glass, Naval Con-
structor Joseph Feaster, Lieutenant E. F.
Qualtrough and Chief Engineer r. L.
Harris. Representatives Of the Union
Iron Works and Naval Constructor j. l..
Fernald, U. s. n, under whose supervis-
ion the Charleston was built, were also
on board. In addition to these were a
corps OF engineers, representing the
Government, deputed to note the power
of the engines, and about 100 seameu and
others. When the vessel started out the
bay there was heavy swell on and q
stiff breeze from the southwest, but sho
made steady Roadway and was soon
cleaving the waves like racer. Her en-
gines were making forty revolutions.
The spray flew over her starboard side
and bows in lively manner. Her mo-
ton was very steady and there was little
rolling. She dipped considerably dur
ing the toughest portions of the trip, and
several times her twin screws were out
of the water. At times the spray came
over the breastworks of steel to the
height OF several feet above. On one oc-
casion she dipped into the trough of the
sea and instantly pushed her way
into the succeeding wave food
ing the bridge and shifting the brass
stanchion on the forward deck. Almost
at the same instant two heavy waves fol- |
lowing in quick succession struck her on
the starboard side completely submerg-
ing the main deck. Turning her head a |
little south she finally rode out the sea,
and during the remainder of the trip en- |
countered comparatively light seas. The |
naval officers were unanimous in saying !
that the test as to her staunchnass was |
about as severe q one as she could have |
been given, and that she would probably |
seldom encounter rougher sea. For sew
eral hours the cruiser maintained an even
speed OF eleven knots. A slight tendency
to heat in the ss-head of one of the
cylinders caused a short
stoppage whereof Santa Cruz in order to
allow it to cool down. When the vessel
was again got under way she was steamed
to this port without her machin-
cry showing any further tendency to
heating. The engineers report, with the
exception noted, that the machinery Of
the Charleston worked admirably. She
will shortly be given four hour run for
the purpose of fully demonstrating the
power of her engines.