The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-02
SUBJECTED TO
A SEVERE TEST.
Trial Of the New Cruiser Phila-
delphia.
Slightly Damaged by COlliding With The
German Steamer BfemeThaYan.
Graphic Description Of the Disaster of
Barneeat-CoYardly Desertion Of the
SehOOBar's Captain.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

NEw YORK, Nov. 1.-The new steelcruiSer
Philadelphia, bearing the blue pennant of
Rear-Admiral Kimberly, President OF the
Naval Board of Inspection, returned this
morning from forty-eight hours trial at sea.
The tests were in the main satisfactory.
although the board finds room for improve
ment in some minor details. Owing to the
foul condition of the cruisers bottom no
trial of speed was made. but is believed that
when the bearings have worked smooth and
the resistance OF the stiff machinery is over
come. her speed will be greater than that
shown in the preliminary trial. The cruiser
met with couple of mishaps before start
ing out. The German steamer Bremerhaven,
which anchored in surly defiance of warm
ing from the naval officers that her berth
was too close to allow her to swing clear,
was swept by the current against the
Philadelphia's port-bow. Tenders were
hastily placed over the side to deaden the
blow, which could not bs avoided. The
cruiser was backed out OF danger and an in
yestigation of the damage showed the bolts
VI tiO ~" piCoouiC CiOoohCau VI eiiO os"A-
board air-pump engine were broken. and
several hours work was necessary to replace
them. The forward torpedo port sustained
Slight damage. The broken machinery hay-
ing been repaired, Thursday morning an
other mishap occurred. The schooner Grace
Cover struck the Philadelphia on the star
board side and ranged alongside. The
Philadelphia was uninjured, and having
a;certained that the schooner was in no
need of assistance, proceeded on her course.
The gun divisions were called to quarters
and two rounds at high elevation aud the
extreme train forward and aft were fired
from each gun of the main battery. The
blast shattered glass in the skylights and
damaged two cutters. The deck and gun
platforms stood the severe strain well,
but defects were developed in the car
riages of the three 6-iEch rifles, which
will probably disable them. On Friday
speed and turning trials were made. With
123 pounds Of steam and making ninety-fve
revolutions to the minute, the cruiser de-
seribed circle with the starboard helm in
six minutes and three seconds. Under the
same conditions with the port helm she
herled three degrees.
The reason for this remarkable performance
has yet to be explained. The seYerest test
10 which the cruiser was subjected was
: RE 'nrsipg the engines while running at full
speed. ne peculiar type Oh ner eDgiheS
enabled the vessel to perform the test safely
and successfully. The time from going at
full speed ahead until the headway was
checked was one minute and fifty seconds.
The cruisers tactical diameter, which is the
diameter of the circle in which she can turn,
is 2400 feet. With one propeller backing
the diameter is much less.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 1.-The cruiser
Newark returned from her trial trip to-day.
Chief Engineer Abel reports that her engines
greatly exceed the contract requirement.
$500 horsepower. The vessel attained
speed of twenty knots and over, and is fully
equal 10 the Baltimore and Philadelphia.