Los Angeles herald., 1891-07-07
ON THE CHARLESTON.
THE GUNS TESTED YESTERDAY AT
SAN DIEGO.
Mr.. G. A. vogelsang Witnesses the Firing.
The Meeting With the Esmeralda-Los
Angeles Men Visit the Ship on the
Fourth,

| Fourth.
Mr.. G. A. Vogelsang, OF the First Ma
tional bank OF this city, spent yesterday
on board of the Charleston, off the Coro-
nado hotel. His brother, Mr.. Theodore
Vogelsang, is an ensign on the vessel.
Mr.. Vogelsang was fortunate enough
to witness the testing of the batteries
of the ship, which were found to work
perfectly.
The big eight-inch guns were first
fired. Each of these requires nineteen
men to handle them. Their accurate
range is about eight miles, but they
were tried at targets at one and two
miles distance. Their accuracy was
found to be very satisfactory.
The six-inch batteries and the Hotch-
kissNguns were then tried and found to
shoot with perfection. The mechanism
worked as smoothly and perfectly as a
watch. and the effectiveness of the
pieces and accuracy of the gunners were
we'll demonstrated.
Ensign Vogelsang told his brother
that when the Charleston sighted the
Esmeralda off Acapulco it was tossup
whether there would be fight or not.
The entire crew were called together
when the Esmeralda was first seen, and
in two minutes the ship was cleared for
action and the big guns ready to do their
part. Just as everything was completed,
the Esmeralda's search light was turned
on, and first shone on the bow
of the Charleston, where the
two big eight-inch guns showed
their open mouths to the commander of
the Chilean ship, and with it's compile
ment of nineteen men, and ready to
give a grim reception. The light
passed on and he next saw the six inch
batteries and the Hotchkiss guns all
manned, the light was something calcu-
lated to cool the Chilean ardor.
The men on board the Charleston
were eager for fight, and for time cr-
ders restraining them from making any
offensive overtures had to be issued.
Several times the gunners had to be
peremptorily ordered not to prime their
pieces, that being the last thing done
before the order to fire is given.
The following letter explains itself:
EDITORS HERALD: When Uncle Sans
crack cruiser, the Charleston, accom-
panied by the Itata, appeared off San
Diego every one was on the qui vive to
know when, where and what she was
going to do, and much disappointment
was felt when she dropped anchor about
| two miles off, right opposite Hotel Cor
onado, instead OF going in the harbor, as
had been anticipated by the townspeo-
Pile. The Itata proceeded on into the
bay and many curious ones went aboard
to see ship that has been made famous
by recent circumstances familiar to
everyone. At Coronado everybody
wanted to go aboard the Charleston,
but no one knew whether they could
get aboard after they got there, and
there was but one boat to be had OF any
size, small naphtha launch, whose
owner evidently labored under the
impression that every one about the
hotel was Vanderbilt. At last party
of eight gentlemen was made up, but
when they came to see the size of the
launch a silence fell upon them. Two
young mems wives refused to let
them go. A handsome bank
cashier from San Berdoon murmured
something about catching train, an
other gentleman drew back on account
soon only F. w. Braun, Attorney Rose
and S. B. Dewey, all of Los Angeles,
were left; these gentlemen were bound
to see the Charleston if they had to
swim to her. So after some time spent
in consultation, they were joined by
Messrs. Deering and Murray, of Bruno
Park, and the five brave spirits hired q
row boat, and carrying it on their shoul'
ders across the peninsula about three
hundred yards, launched it off the end
of the fishing pier and all hands piled
in and pulled out, with the crowd on
the pier waving adieu, one funny man
yelling "Good bye boys, you'd better
make your Wills" Dewey was stroke
and Rose bow oar, while Mr.. Braun sat
silently in the stern swallowing. The
cruiser was reached in twenty minutes
and on hailing her and asking il
visitors were allowed, gorgeous indi.
vidual appeared and said, "Yes, port
side."
A chorus answered him: "What's
that? "He looked astonished and ther
roared out, "Why the other side, yor
lubbers," and in a few moments the
party stood on the deck of one OF the
finest ships in Uncle Sans new navy
and beauty she is, with her eight-inc-
guns throwing a 250-pound shell eight
miles, and numerous other guns Of vari
/ GUS size and pattern, and all the very
latest improved ordnance. After {
thorough inspection OF the ship under
the guidance Of Jolly Jack Tar, with 6
chest that would make his fortune il
the prize ring, we started on our return
trip, Messrs. Deering and Braun furnish
, ing the motive power equal to Hanlol
and Hosmer in their palmy days. Ih'
sea was much rougher than when goinnl
out, causing Mr.. Murray to sit strangely
, silent in the stern, and stilling Mr.
| Roses German silver tenor that ha'
rung musically out on leaving the ship
, The landing at the pier was. made with
; out much difficulty, and the party ar
! rived at the hotel in time for lunch
/ hungry as bears, after their experienc
on man-of-war, one which will be
4 pleasant memory for long time t.
. come. ONE OF THE QUMTETTE.