Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-08-18
THE NAVAL SQUADRON
Performs Many Difficult EvoiutioDs in
Boston Haibor.

BosroN. Aug. l7.-There wa, hustle
but no confusion on board the men % war
SATURDAY morning Shortly after daylight
the men were reused ont an ! they dis plsved
little more actiytv than usual in lishlng
their hammocki and suppng their strong
b sck coffee. The anchor chains were TAX
cn to tie c4pstan first In ny ard hove up
short. Then the decks we're washed down
and hreakf4st was hurried over Prompt
y a, 30 the work Of getting under way
vas carried on in nnson.
The Atlafti was irstb get her snrhsr
sweish and she hoTe rouni slowly toward
the month of thr hsrbor, while the cat and
tish tackles were manned and the anchor
placed in ts position on the rail ready 10 be
let 90 again should occasion reqniIe it.
One by one the other vessels completed tue
same msnuny-e, and the slips began ihc'r
trip toward tie lower hay, the Atlanta nd
ink, followed by the kearsage, Yorktown.
Petrol. Dolphln and Gushing. In abou,
three-quarters Of An hour the steamer New
York. with the q. A. X. people on board
arrived in the lover bay, and soon The evo-
lutions of the ships Of war began.
The signals from the A'Isn,a announced
| each mar nuyre to the tthvr vessels of the
fleet.
The fiTst order was to form column Of
| sectors and no -ooner had the flags reached
their poti ion on The main yard Of the A..
lanta before the lite answering pennsnt.
from the other vessels a1nounc ID that the,
were understood, and tbc ships got in m ),
tion TO execute the nanduvre. The kear
sarge pushed on ahreas, Of The Atlanta fol.
lowed BY the Petrol and the Gushing, these
three vessels forming the left of the col
Gmn. The Yorktown and Dolphin fell in
at the rear of the flagship anA the move
| ment was completed. Again the flags On
the Atlanta ascenied the halysrls aud thi.
tine left into line" was the order.
Under s'o~ speed all the ves.el. threw
over the T h'lm. the it'an.ie, yorktown
sn1 Dolphin increasing Their speed sligh Is
and forming a liae With the Hsg.hip on tn
LIFT, Form column. left vessel sshing >
vas next Interpreted from the many color
ell flags tla' appeared in the rigging If t.,
Atlanta Every vessel put her helm ID
startoafd and bore one-quarter r0nuI lhs
compass his placed the Gushing ir NJ
| lead. Some more fsg., ard the yr set.
were orde cd 10 a ncw msr9nvre. Y =.
sells right turn 'nece' stated each helm.ma-
10 throw bi, wheel to port. AMI the siias
hove round 10 s'arboard slowly, the Allan
| ia stil On the ri yht Of the line The Curh
ing again took the lead 10 the next mann1
Yre, Form colnmn TO the right. sni wht i
each vessel had got rou d into line the A.
lania vss at the base 81 the feet The next
evolution was the most interesting aud -at.
is factory of the day.
HEAD Of column lsft about was whsi
i&Ln s,ta ~
put her helm hard .t,rboard. the Ca,t
iyg starting of in the Isal A half turn
was thus made by each vess4i perm tiiug
sI entire view Of all sides Of esch ship 70
be seen and giving the flag ship the posi-
tion Of supremacy again at the head Of the
column. This completed the evolufions Of
the ships and everyb .dy vas pleased With
the system of gnsing and the thorough
know ledge Uncle sam.s smpmasiers sp-
pea,ed 10 have Of ibsi, business.
But the most astonishing part Of the II.
ercists vas yci to come. when il di4 cotne
some Of the sstonished spectators jumped
high in the air. The big ineh guns Of
the Atlanta went of ard Jared hing. urt
/ il seemed Ike dT' rite explosion under
the hnils of ibe q feFeEt yes.eis The re-
port vas frsmendous Il was The frst time
I ueie Sam had wasted powder 10 hi. gun.
in ths vicinity. Blank cartridge. Of course
was the only ammunition, bBt blank cart
risgs for a modern s inch rife contains no
small quantity Of powder
Aoous rs pounds is fired away at every
discharge, ard the sne ks that springs out
| from a couple Of these guns !. suficisn;
almost to ensnroud the vessel and hi8e hei
from sight. All the ships participated In
the ariag. the liE,le Old muzzIe-Ioas!srs Of
the Ksarssrze striving 20 keep up her repn.
| tstion a. silence breakers. Her guns are
. In. bsrs, bat the charge Of posasr suffie.
| lent 70 FIRE the she'll discharged from them
| ia less than 10 pounds. The Gin. guns O.
the others require 100 pounds Of powder
| for every discharge.
After some rapid firing by the Gstiina
and Hofehkiss revolving caunons, A. veil
as the larger pieces, the Cushing, which
bad taken Up her position left Of the squad-
ION. SPED off TO see how fast she c3ald 70.
7! Dosn the line Of the feet shs sped, in.
creasing her gait ursJ she fairly seemed 10
| hg- The water rushed away from her bow
on both sides ike the waves Of . rapid,
and the big seas s~elled up from astern