News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-01-02
STORM-TOSSED.
The Little Yorktown Has a
Rough Passage.
She Arrives at Lisbon Two Days After
the Rest of the Squadron.
The Vessel Behaves AdmirabIy-Some Par
ticulars of the TrIp-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 of the squadron. She has just wealth
cred heavy gale, in which her seagoin9
qualities We're put to a severe test. She be-
haved admirably. For two days and two
nights Commander Chadwick and his men
were compelled to display their seamanship,
When the gale was at its height the steel
steering quadrant broke in two places, and
the little cruiser, falling off rapidly, was re-
peatedly swept by the heavy seas that tum-
bled over her. The heavy drags rugged over
board at the early approach of the storm had
their effect. Except the breaking of the
quadrant, the only accident which happened
was the loss OF a whaleboat. The cruiser
stopped at Fayal Azores or Western Islands
two days. She recovered lost time by rum
ming from Fayal to Lisbon, distance of
$50 miles, in three DAYS. The average daily
run was 316 miles. Upon leaving Boston,
sailing orders were issued by Admiral Walk
er, requiring the four cruisers to keep to-
gether.
The formation adopted was that of 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 up to within double distance
of the Atanta's port quarter. For the first
five days beautiful weather was experienced,
light easterly winds prevailing until the latter
mart of t.te it'll. aSv. hen the wind suddenly
shifting 20 tine soutnward cSseloped gradually
into a fierce gale. The heavier diselacements
of the Chicago. Atlanta and Boston enabled
them to keep positions in the cross, regard
less of the heavy seas. The Yorktown gradu-
allv began to fall behind, and soon lost sight
of the rest of the fleet. Commander Chad
wick wisely decided to heave to. The col
lision mat was rugged, and the cruiser rode
., fl,a Tho and married.
over the sharp stern as readily as if it had
been the bow. 1t was while riding in this
fashion that the aecident to the quadrant of
five-inch steel occurred. As counter drag,
a whaleboat, with plug drawn. was lowered.
As it filed with water, it was paid away on
a six-inch hawser. The hawser snapped and
away went the boat. A big sea caught the
cruiser, poured into the forecastle, and swept
away chests and ladders, but doing no other
damage. The cruiser carried herself splen-
didly during this exciting period.
The storm lasted throughout Thursday and
Friday, but moderated ON Saturday sufii-
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 Fayal was
sighted and the cruiser came to anchor at
Horta. Permanent repairs were made to the
steering gear and coal was taken aboard.
Two days later she sailed for Lisbon, favor
ed once mere with pleasant weather and
smooth sailing. No special effort was made
by the squadron on the run over to eeono
mize fuel. The average daily consumption by
the Chicago for all purposes was 80 tons, of the
Boston and Atlanta, 80 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. 1t has been DEM
onstrated to the satisfaction of everybody
that the 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 Yorktown's boilers, engines
and all the fittings worked perfectly. She
could go to sea again at once but for the con-
dition of the steering gear. Her entire trip
Was practically made under u boiler power.
One-half 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
the trip, losses being made good by distilling.
The crew of the Yorktown deserve credit
for their seamanship and training. The
health of the officers and men is excellent.