The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-24

would give q hearty American welcome 70
the FIRST American man-of-war that had
visited the harbor for seventeen years, Is
was said An arrangement was then made
to have the Chamber of Commerce give
dinner to about twenty of the officers OF
the vessel on Monday evening az 8 O'Clock.
Admiral Brown and Captain kemey both
thanked the committee heartily Tor the
invitation, which they declared was more
than they had expected. In return, they
would be glad 70 have anyone IN Seattle
who wished 10 look az the Charleston do so.
The mornings were fasen mp with drills
and work. but from | to IN the afternoon
visitors would be warmly welcomed and
shown every part OF the man-0.-xar.
Al San Francisco thousands had
visited her, and tile officers and
crew would be glad to have fully as large
proportion of people from Seattle. On
Sunday morning st 30 there would be
religious service. and this and Monday
afternoons visitors would be expected.
During the days the vessel is coallng no
siglstrssers can very well be accommodated,
for then everything is closed up to keep
out the coal dust. and the outside OF the
vessel is black and dusty. But today and
tomorrow there viii be nothing to inter-
fere.
At the close of the reception. Captain
Remey. who is taller and more slender
forty. with light brown Van Dyck beard
and keen eyes, conducted the party to the
deck, from which they returned to the
ward mess-room.
Here the officers. except the admiral and
captain. were just finishing their dinner.
They were rs good-looking, clever. welI-in-
formed and jolly lot OF men as you could
very well get together. and they took the
Seattle delegation IN with hospitality that
was worthy of the hospitable West. Lieu
tenant Field called the Japanese servants
and The cigars were passed around
and the wine poured out to the sue
cess and prosperity of Seattle and
the health OF the officers of the Charleston.
For more than half an hour the mess-room
was the liveliest place aboard. Tales of sea
and land. news OF home and news of the
sea we're exchanged till feeling of good
fellowship and friendship was established
on both sides. Teen Secretary Blow, Lieu
tenant Stoney and others took the
delegation from the city over the yes
sci; the good-nights were said, and the
committee was rowed back in the gathering
twilight. while the band played them
farewell. The reception was decided sue
cess, for every man who went on board felt
that The officers of the Charleston were the
best of good fellows. and hor ed that Seattle
would soon have q chance to return the
hospitality during the week that the man.
of-war is in our harbor.
After the committee had gone ashore the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES reporter stayed for a
closer inspection of the vessel usder the
guidance OF the admiral's secretary. George
r. Blow. She Is the finest vessel in the
navy, and every one who sees her will
come to the conclusion that she is the per-
lection OF mechanical ingenuity. There
are thirty-five officers, 296 of the crew and
thirty marines aboard, total OF 36l. She
carries no sails, but at each end
are hollow steel masts. at the tops
of which are platforms each
provided with two rapid-fring Hotchkiss
guns. Coming down to the main. or the
gun deck. there are ten six-inch breech-
loading rifles, four six-pound rapid-firing
rifles. two three-pound rapid-fring rifles.
two one-pound rapid-firing rifles, and two
gatlings. These guns carry from one mile
to seven. Two at each end are placed so
as to sweep through a wide field
and the Others are for broadside firing.
These enormos1s cannon are kept carefully
enclosed in canvas coverings. and are
guarded by heavy steel shields. These
shields are placed on the pivots with the
guns and turn with them, so that the gun
ners are always under cover. The latest
improvements in breech-loading guns are
-
complete as money and skill can make
The mechanism FOR loading these enor-
nous masses of metal. some of them
weighing Is. $50 pounds. for cleaning them,
bring up the ammunition from the bottom
of the vessel. and handling the guns is very
ingenious and yet simple. Besides the
regular guns of the vessel there are several
cannon that can be taken ashore, for the
Charleston can man all her guns, and still
send COO men ashore to fight.
On the forward deck there are two
warehouses. One is open for ordinary
use. An elaborate system of signals CON-
meet it with the engine-room. and hydraulic
power Is used 10 turn the rudder and steer
the vessel. Besides this there is fight
ing-house with walls of two-inch steel
through which are peep holes. This house
is to be occupied by the pilots during
an engagement 1t is as carefully fitted as
the first one. In addition there are two
other sets of machinery for steering the
ship by hydraulic power, any one of which
can be used IN case the others are disabled.
and if the hydraulic machinery gives out.
there is still another set of apparatus for
hand steering. Eight men are required to
turn the wheels of this apparatus.
On the gun deck are four electric search
lights of 5000 candle power each, giving
light of 5000 candle power that can be
turned on. Electric lights are found at
every needful point of the vessel from end
to end, and electric and pneumatic signals
connect every part
The upper deck also has on it the armorv
filed with six-chamber Colt revolvers of
the latest pattern, sabres and magazine
rifles. into which a magazine of five car.
tridges is put
Descending from this warlike looking
region the vision comes to the berth deck.
In the bow is the hospital, in which at
present there is but one patient. Near
the hospital is the dispensary com.
pletely stocked with oil sorts
of medicines and in charge
of competent druggist. The space fur.
ther back contains the quarters of the COM
mon sailors, the tables from which they
eat, but which can be closed and packed in
between the ribs supporting the ceiling.
and the lockers OF the sailors. which are OF
wire, so that the officers can inspect their
traps. From this same ceiling are hung
the hammocks. each FROM a num-
bered hook, so that the place
81 l.
the dsv or night Near these quarters of
the sailnrx are The naiiarS u.hnra .i,o ....l.