Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-01-09
STORN-TOSSED.
The Little Yorktown Has a
Rough Passage.
She Arrives at Lisbon Two Days After
The Rest Of the Squadron.
The Vessel Behaves Adnirably-Some Par
ticnlars of the Tyfp-squadron's Coal
Consumption.

The United States cruiser yorktown
steamed into Lisbon, Portugal, and anchored
near the Chicago, the Atlanta and the Boston
she was exactly two days behind the Other
vessels Uf the squadron. She has Just wealth
cred heavy gale. in which her seagoiup
qualities were put TO severe test She be-.
haved admirably. For two DAYS and two
nights Commander Chadwick and his men
werc compelled 10 display their seamauship
When the gale was ct is height the steel
steering quadrant broke in two places, and
the little cruiser. falling Of rapidly. was re-
peaiedN swept by the heavy seas that tum-
bed over her. The heavy drags rugged over
board ut the early approach Of the storm had
their effect. Except the breaking of the
quadrant, the only accident which happened
was the loss OF whaleboat. The cruiser
stopped at Fayal Azores or Western Islands
two days. She recovered lost time bv rum
ming from Faya to Lisbon q distance of
$50 miles. in three days. The average daily
run was SIG miles. Upon leaving Boston,
sailing orders We're issued by Admiral Walk
er. requiring the four cruisers to keep to-
gether.
The formation adopted was that OF n cross
the Chicago leading. with the Boston on her
starboard quarter. the Atlanta on her port.
and the Yorktown last, 400 yards behind. At
sunset the formation was changed. the York
town moving mp to within double distance
Of the Atlanta's port quarter. For the first
five days beautiful weather was experienced.
light easterly winds prevailing until the latter
part of the fifth day, when the wind suddenly
shifting 70 The southwark developed gradually
into fierce gale. The heavier displscements
Of the Chicago, Atlanta and Boston enabled
them TO keep positions in the cross, regard
less Of the heavy seas. The Yorktown gradu-
ally began to fall behind. and soon lost sight
Of the rest OF the fleet. Commander Chad
wick wisely decided to hcaye TO- The col
Nson mat was rugged, aud the cruiser rode
stern to the sea. The waves met aud parted
over the sharp stern as readily as il 1t had
been the bow. 1t was while riding in this
fashion that the scciden. TO the quadrant of
fye-inch steel'occurred. As counter drag,
awhaleboat. with plug drawn. was lowered.
As il flied with water. IL was paid away on
asix-inch hawser. The hawser snapped and
sway went the boat. 4 big sea caught the
cruiser. poured into the forecastle, and swept
away chests and ladders, but doing no other
damage. The cruiser carried herself SPLEEN
ddly during this exciting period.
The storm lasted throughout Thursday and
Friday. but moderated ON saturday suff-
GENTLY to allow the Yorktown to resume her
course, temporary repairs having In the
meantime been made TO steering gear West
erly gales continued to follow her for the
next four days. On Wednesday laval was
Nsnled ana the cruiser came TO anchor at |
loria. Permanent repairs were made to the |
steering gear and coal was taken aboard. |
Two days later she sailed for Lisbon. favor
ed once more with pleasant weather and |
smooth sailing. No special effort was made |
by the squadron on the run over to eeono |
mKe fuel. The average daily consumption by |
lhe Chicago for all purposes VASES tons. OF the |
Boston and Atlanta, 30 tons, and Of the
Yorktown, while running 200 knots per day,
10 tons.
On the run from Fayal TO Lisbon the York
town burned 80 tons daily. II has been DEM
onstTaled TO the satisfaction of everybody
ihaithc eight-knOt speed is not economical for
the Yorktown, for the pressure Of the triple
expansion engines gets too low in the final
cylinder. The lOrktown's boilers. engines
and sll the fittings worked perfectly. She
could goto sea again at once but for the con-
dNion Of the steering gear. Her entire trip
was practically made under q boiler power.
One-balf boiler power would have been am
pie but for the need OF additional power for
The electric lighting and heating. Fresh water
was maintained In the boilers throughout
he trp, losses being made good by distillng.
Inc crew of the Yorktown deserve credit
w their seamanship and training. The
Meath OF the officers and men Is excellent.