The morning call., 1892-01-13

Adams and MOhican belong 90 the obsolete
class Of wooden, Slow-Steamng cruisers,
and may be counted ont. The Hartford,
FaTraguts flagship al Mobile. is decklesS
and dismasted. The Indepead ence dates
back to 1914, aud has been bedded in the
mud as a receiving ship tor years. The
HaSsleT. Patterson and Ranger are survey
ing vessels, about as effective for ar pur-
poses rs a mud-dredger. But the Baltimore
and the COmanche could put in good work,
and the two vessels could probably dispose
Of the entire Chilean fleet in square hight
off the heads
Since the Baltimore has been at Mare
Island II has been recognized that as
lighting ship she is far more formidable
vessel than was supposed. Fast as the
Charleston and the San Francisco are she
could run away from both or she could sink
both. She could steam ali around the Es-
meralda or lay of and sink her. Also tn e
Baltimore turns out to have been very solid ly
built After the two years cruise it has
been found that not riyet in her piaes
below the water line has been even l0os-
ened, very rare record in the history Of
last cruisers of any nationality.
A CALL reporter who visited the Com
anche found that there was not the slightest
At present there are only two men on board
Of her, fireman and machnlst The lit
lie craft as seen from shore locks exactly
Ike the pictures Of the original Monitor Of
Hampton Roads fame; a cheese-b1X on a
raft. There is nothing Of her 10 hit but the
chpese-bJX tuTret and the smokestack.
Every valve Of her engines is IN order, the
entire machinery IS cleaned daily and tested
weekly, and dirty and gTimy as the craft
looks externally she could be fitted for SEA
quicker than any other war-vessel at Mare
Island, the Baltimore not excepted.
lrl Tr orr oo1 or, 4
powder. II would take Just seven hours to
coal the Comanche and less time to ill her
three powder compartments. When the re-
porter went inside the tuTret ana saw the
Two lj-Iuch guns, with the intricate ma
chneTy that operates the whole in such
trim that The craft could have gone into
action there and then, he was bound TO rec
egnize that the commandment at the navy
yard has neither Slumbered nor slept. IL
may he mentioned paTeutAetlcally, that Ad-
mlTal Irwin has not taken his eye off the
little Comanche ever since the Valparaiso
riot, now nearly three months ago.
The Comanche steams about - knots an
hour Her armOr-plate IS not specially thick,
but with the oak backing a full four feet
has TO be penetrated before a shot could
land in a vital part, and even this vital part
Is part Of a very small target. During his
visit 10 the monitor, THE CALL reporter
learned that one Of tie sister craft, the
M0ntauk, was hit over two hundred times
in various parts during the civil war, and
that several thousand shots were fired at
her. Not one shot seriously hurt anybody
on board. IF 1 had ms choice" said
man who had been aboard the Moutauk
between being OH the Comanche or the Bal
timOre in a cl0Se-QUaTteT contest, ] would
take the COIGanche every time. Ii the Bal
timore were 10 lay of far enough 10 be out
| OF reach Of the C0maHche'S guns, she could
! not DO the little craft any harm at all. be-
| cause she could not his her. The Moutauk
was hit frequently because she got to close
| quarters, and.in such a case the little mont
| tors big guns get IN their Gae work on all
uuaTmOTed cruiser"
About the only thing lacking on the &C.
| manche is comfortable quarters for the
| officers aud sevenIy-fVe men who compose
her crew. STU the Chances are that IL the
/ occasion arose there ould be no demand
! for Palace Hotel accommodations or hand
/ some Teception-rOOms on the craft, She
/ would 90 III for strict business. which would
| be apt 10 be sharp, short and decisive.
Lie at Mare Island Is. dull at the best Of
\ times. The visitor is made 10 feel that
! from the moment he takes the trip by the
| ferry-bOat Ellen to the naYy-yaTd he b. 9
| forfeited his personal liberty and become