The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-09
SHE'S A GOOD SHIP YET.
The KearsnrEe mt Thirty Years Has Some
Chance rs Fighter.


The United States ship Kearsarge Of glori-
GUS memory lies in the East River opposite
Twenty sixth street. having been respited
from her orders to proceed to Honduras and
look after tho revolution in that country Tho
ship would certainly have started for Central
American waters some days ago. but for the
Intervention OF a powerful person who repre-
scented to the Secretary OF the Navy that 1t
would be an outrage to send tho Kearsarge to
the tropics with yellow fever showing itself at
many points. the hurricanes on hand and the
revolution well-nigh spent Upon these repre-
sensations the old ship was ordered to delay.
and she now lies ready for sea. heavily laden
with coal. amply supplied with ammunition.
and prepared for any emergency. Meanwhile
the men do not get liberty and even the officers
have to stick pretty close to the ship.
1t is the good or i'll fortune Of the Kearsarge
to be one OF the best cruisers in the navy. and
that too. in spite of the fact that she is thirty
years old and. OF couse. n wooden hull. Her
excellence as a cruiser has kept her busy for
four years past in the homo station. which
dut7 includes the patrolIling OF West Indian
Within the tro S When the Rearsars : was was
built, she was up to date IN most matters Of
naval architecture, She could steam twelve
knots an hour. high speed for that period.
and was armed with guns quite as good rs
those carried by any vessel OF her size. since
tnuu time her DOllerS nave heen reuuceu. SO
that she can steam but ten knots an hour. and.
as q matter Of fact. steam is only an auxiliary
to her sails She was overhauled not long
since and tho wood below the water line WAS
examined for the first time in fourteen years.
1t was found to be rs sound as the day 1t went
into tho ship and almost as hard as iron.
1t Is the boast of those that love the Kear-
sarge that she could whip any ship Of her dis
placement even in tho new navy. The York.
town. which Is practically OF the same dis
placement as tho Kearsarge measuring LOO
tons to the latter's LEGO. throws weight OF
only 300 pounds at a broadside. exclusive OF
tho rapid-flring guns, while the kearsarge
throws 800 pounds at a brOadside. Fitted with
rapid firing guns. the Kearsarge would prove
an ugly antagonist for even Il larger ship than
the Yorktown. At distances within 1000 yards
the guns OF tho kearsarRo are as accurate as
the modern guns OF the now navy.
The thing that chiefly recommends the Kear-
sarge as a cruiser in time OF peace Ia that she
carries her full CON pement of men and OIL
GERS without crowdng. sho has more room
than the new ships OF hcr own size. because
she has less machinery and carries less coal.
AS n line Of battle ship the kearsnrgo would be
nowhere In an encounter with the great fight
ing machines that the navy has racently been
building, and a. u commerce destroyer she
would be OF small account in comparison with
three or four of tho swift new ships. but in q
contest with any but the heavily armored ships
Of our own and other nnvies the conIueror OF
the Alabama might easily add to the gories Of
her rpDutation