The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-01
PRIDE OF THE SEA.
How Naval Men Regard
the Charleston.
HER EQUAL IS NOT AFLOAT.
OF Ali the New American Ships the
One Built in San Francisco
Is the Best.
Special to THE MoRScSG CALL

WASHINGTON, April 3o.-The following
dispatch, which the Baltimore Sun cor
respondent telegraphs to his paper, will be
read with satisfaction on the coast:
"Of all the vessels in the American dis
play it is generally conceded on all sides
that the crack cruiser Charleston, built on
the Pacific Coast. whose record is prouder
than that Of any of the modern ships, and
whose sailing radius is greater than that of
Americas other vessels, presented more
attraction and caused more general interest
Doth to foreigners and to the thousands
who lined the shores and sunk all kinds OF
craft to their gunwales than did any war
ship IN the squadron. not excepting the
Blake. The Charleston's chase of the Itata
had given her reputation and every one
was anxious to see the vessel that would
have sunk her prototype. the Esmeralda,
had those two vessels ever come together in
an encounter.
"a correspondent of the Sun who was on
the Charleston was told by her officers of her
fine performance as fleet-fo0ted ship and an
economical one. Any comparison with the
two italian ships, the Giovanni Bausan and
the Htna, would show the superiority of the
Charleston over these vessels. Both are SIM
liar in general design, but the battery of the
American ship is the more powerful, aud
she is an all-round better saller. Her engines
are thought to be tie best of any of the
new ships, and her consumption OF coal has
been proven to be most economical. Size
looks like lighting ship. and while her
lines are not SO graceful and yachtlike as
those of the pet of the fleet. the troOper-like
San Francisco. she is by far the most form-
midable appearing craft, and from taErail
IN stapa hn haC uir tInS
would send terror to other more pretentious
vessels"
The breaking up of Admiral Gherardfs
feet begins tomorrow, when two vessels
will be ordered to the nayy-yard for repairs.
Commodore Ramsay, in the absence of the
Secretary of the Navy and the Assistant
Secretary, has directed that the Charleston
leave New York Tomorrow and proceed to
Norfolk. where she will be oYerhauled as
the navy-yard.
The time of her executive officer, Lieuten-
Commander Field, and of her naviga-
tor. Lieutenant Patch, has expired, and
both OF these officers will soon be detached
and placed on shore duty.
The San Francisco will also trip her anchor
in North River and go to the New York
yard for thorough overhauiing. Monday
the Yorktown will follow the Charleston 10
Norfolk for forty days repairs, and on the
same day the Bennington will drop over and
join the San Francisco at the repair shops
for thirty days. 0;her ships will be sent
during the week 10 the New York and Nor
folk yards for repairs. and by the end of the
week the long line of cruisers now atanchor
in the North River will have weighed
anchor and be in the hands of tue machin-
lists and ship-carpenters.
The disposition of the ships after being
repaired has not yet been determined upon,
but it is more than probable that the San
Francisco will be sent back to the Pacific
as the flagship of that station, and that the
Charleston will be kept on the home sta