The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-05-10
A GALLANT WAR SNIP.
The New Cruiser Charleston Makes u Trial
Trim and ConaueFS n Heavy Sen,

NNH NAA NHAHeNAHR y ANeNN aHNf
SANTA BARBARA, OAL,, May Eth
United States cruiser Charleston arriy
ed here for her trial trip last evening
making under easy steam during th
last portion Of her trip a little NOR,
than fourteen knots per hour.
The cruiser left Mission Rock in Sal
Francisco Bay at 5;4S o'clock Tuesda.
morning, In the circular bulwarks fore
aud aft, where the eight-inch guns are h
tlnd position and In thesponsons for thu
accommodation OF the slx'inCh guns
were piled pig iron bars in suiIlClen
number to repTesent.the weight OF thC
powerful guns. The brPIi ratings ant
mountings lacked polish, while agrea
portion oil the wood and metal work wa
covered with tarpaulins for protection
Lanterns were suspended In the ward
rooms and passage ways in lieu OF the
electric plant, which isnot yet complete
Apart from these features which had nc
bearing upon the working capacity oi
the cruiser, she was in readiness to at
tempt the duty assigned her OF develop
ing seven thousand horse power by her
two compound engines for four consecu'
tive hours, A more severe test, 1t Ia
claimed, than any 10 which ships Of war
are usually subjected in making a test Of
power and speed.
The cruiser was In command OF Cant.
Chas. NJ. Goodale. The official Inspec.
tlon Board Of United States Naval off,
GERS consisted Of Commodore A. E. r.
Benham, Commander Henry Glass, Ma.
val Constructor Joseph Feaster, Lieut..
=. F. Qualtrough and Chief Engineer
r. L. Harris, There were several rep.
resentatiyes OF the Union Iron Works,
the builders, on board. The naval con.
structor, j, l.. Femald, U. S. n, who
supervised the construction OF the cruiser
on behalf OF the Government, was also
on board. The inspecting corps OF en-.
gineers acting on behalf OF the Govern.
ment to ascertain the horsepower Of the
engines consisted Of Chief Engineers +.
j. Hoffman and B. 7. Warblrton, As.
sistant Engineers l. n. Hollis, G. w,
Melroy, ]. NJ. Plckrell, @. w. Disson, T.
W. Kinkaid, W. S. Smith and Il. L,
Leonard. The naval contingent was
also supplemented by Capt. j. @. Wat,
son, Commander T. P. Gilmore and
Lieut.. Galkins and Others. There were
about one hundred seamen and others
who were present In a semi.oillCial ca.
pacity.
After her compasses had been salts.
factorily adjusted the Charleston, at s
O'Clock, headed down the bay. The
Union Jack aoated at the fore while the
American ensign was hoisted aft. A
strong southwest wind had been blow
ing, and there were heavy waves on the
bay. She was soon in combat with
strong running sea. The engines had
been guaged to forty revolutions, which
served to press the ship steadily forward.
Besides breaking forward, the water be-
gan 10 come over the starboard side OF
the main deck. The cruiser held stead
lily on, rolling very little, but dipping
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 the water.
During this rough passage Oonmo.
dore Benham, together with Captain
Watson, were on the bridge, the Com.
modore showing critical interest in the
conduct OF the cruiser. AT times spray
came over the breastwork OF the steel,
rising seven 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
enYeloped all on board. The coma
broke over the breast, flooding the OH.
GERS on the bridge and hoistipg the brass
on the forward desk out OF
position. At almost the same moment
q wave broke fairly over the starboard
side Of the ship, followed by second,
which completely flooded the main
deck, turning the head Of the ship 10.
wards the south. She finally rode out
to sea and encountered during the re.
mainder Of the day less boisterous seas.
The naval officers were free 10 say that
the Charleston had behaved handsomely
and that the test had been q severe one
In the matter Of her staupChness. Con.
struCtor Bernald remarked that In ten
years service she would probably not
encounter a rougher sea or be subjected
TO a more severe test as 10 her structural
sea going qualities. From 10 o'clock un.
Ill j o'clock In the afternoon tho engines
were allowed to exhibit little more
power, and the cruisers progress indi.
Gated an even speed of eleven knots.