The sun., 1890-11-02
FIRING HER BIG GUNS.
THE PHILADELPHTA'S PERFORMANCES
DURING A SEA 1ESI.

covery or Cracks In the Carriages, bat
she Might Have Como Through . Battle.
Tho new steel cruiser Philadelphia, bearing
the blue pennant OF Rcar Admiral L. A. Kim
berly, President Of tho Naval Board OF 1nspec-
ton. returned Yesterday morning from u forty
EIGHT hour trial at sea- The cruiser has been
accepted by the Government, but this final
trial was prescribed In the builders contract
for the purpose Of testing her ssagoing auali-
ties and discovering any latent weakness IN
construction. To remedy such possible defects.
$4,000 has been retained by tho Government
from the contract price.
Tho tests were in the main satisfactory, a.
though tho Board finds room for improvement
in numerous minor details, such as storage OF
bonts tlttingl OF dayits &c. Three gun car
riagcs were disabled. owing to tho foul con-
dition of the cruisers bottom no trial OF speed
over the measured course was made. but It IL
believed that when the bearings are worked
smooth and tho resistance OF stin machinery
overcome. her speed will be greater tnan
that shown in tho preliminary trial.
Tho trial was under tho supervision OF aspe-
eial Board appointed by Secretary Traov OF
which Rear Admiral L. A. Kimberly Is Presi-
dent. Rear Admiral Gherardi commands the
naval forces on tho North Atlantic station, and
the Philadelphia is his flagship The living
quarters on the vessel not being sufficient ior
the accommodation Of two Admirals with their
staifs. Admiral Gherardi surrendered MS caoin
to the mont hers Of the Board and transferred
his flag to the gunboat Petrol to await the re-
turn OF his flagship.
Early on Wednesday forenoon the nag OF
Rear Admiral Kimberly was hoisted on the
cruiser. aud a salute OF thirteen guns was
fired in his honor. 1t was the Admirals in
tention to take the vessel to sea Immediately.
I'll faaNaH Before
they could be carried into execution the Eng
lish steamer Bremerhaven OF Liverpool which
had anchored In defiance Of warnings that her
berth was too close TO allow her to swing
clear, was swept by the current A1ainse
tho Philadelphia port bow. Prompt action on
the part OF tho officers Of tho latter prevented
serious injury to their vessel. Tenders were
hastily placed over the side to deaden the
blow, which could not BIZ avoided. The cable
comprcssors were unlocked and signal to
back quick and hard was rung In the engine
room. Tho engineer threw the throttles open:
ir-pump engine disabled that DELEGATE ana
complicated piece Of machinery. When the
saten r. e OF Il the % Jamase @ howed that the bolts Of
the low pressure ctosshead OF the starboard
hours % We work was was necessary to rerlace them: 80
departure was delayed. The forward torpedo
slight o,baa sp
this was done. Tho Bremerhaven had one Of
her plates indente,d: ,
early Thursday morning the steam capstaan
was put in motion. the nnGhor G run up: a. and % the
mel was the route chosen. and while standing
through It another mishap belel the Phiia-
dslpha In The hay we're many email ssels
SedEwiek The Cover was laden with coal.
and was bound for Lynn. Mass. The phils-
sss Ss Hss ?
the M s
parallel direction with that Of the Philaiel- t,I
tie lei an % ssnnIled to shit helm, but she did
Ing thai ths yssssis must iaeyitsbly sSmf on sS f.
eether Cart: fodEers on the ,, bridge OF the thil
alongside. The latter WIS perfectly motionless
at the moment OF contact and q few seconds
sternw way, and the vessels cleared. Tho ease
the channel been wide enough she could
o 81 Se
when tho vessels touched As they drIfted
apart 9ns Of these male q. flying leap otsnd and
mained on board the Philadelphia. The
schooner soon came 10 anchor OF Sandy Hook:
rigging. The philadelphia was uninjured.
and. having ascertainsd that the schooner vas
in no need OF assistance proceeded on her
When the vessel was clear Of the lightships
tho deviation Of the compasses was noted; tho
ship being swung for that purpose. Al . 4: III.
0 Sear of sIi he e. ani ' atrons Westerly win
sW 'ffGRPps fRPPppsS It R aa
pitching deeply at times; The roll ot the ship
sness aTs due to ihs Extreme %eSsss her
Lines neF
the on guns nls division. were called to
quarters. Two rounds at high elevation and
each gun Of tie main battery; The blast shat;
rs Tss slss AK ss rs
!ssS EEGss %shss VA! eSeDs5Is S,s
Sesl lsnsd Sy tie SursSp q Ordnance and ess!
IN the piston rod lugs Of numbers and star
board. and number port; The cracks knowE |
sreEs to
eea.d tho defects untII the shock and strain Of
shs dsssis ssa; s rsmsded New car
paoo a al hs saesenss q
Sss: asSss. S Ss.tsns .s
full charges at extreme elevations. Had |
all probability have been served throughout i.
The remainder Of TIE day was spent In
q az IasneetinS Board The men we're s.seG. eyer.
warning and tAs time required TO perform
gre. OF efficiency. considering the short period |
the vessel had been in commission.
Nothing Of d interest occurred !,,i during the
were made for the speed and
turning trials. Full steam power was used. |
and the engineers division ord dinarily In three
watches, was consolidated into two SO as
important test With l2s popnds Of steam Am
minute, the, cruisers, holm was ppt hard !
to starboard. She, described r circle in /
same conditions with port helm the time wa
B elm she hseied 81 So and With port 8. The rea-
son for this remaEkable performance has yet
The cruiser was subjec5s%d % was rssy,SerslDg s,S g ths
~ hsr n ahlad the yeaati r. /