The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-05
MISHAP OF THE CRUISER.
The Montgomery TO Be Laid Up Three
or -Four Months.

Old Sea Dogs Shaking Their Heads
and Predicting That the Vessel Win
Prove a Jonah-The Cylinder Head
Blown Out and the Cylinder a Com
plete Wreok-The Contractors May
Have to Make the Repairs.
Norfolk, Va, July AFTER spending
twenty-four hours at sea, the United
States cruiser Montgomery. the pride OF
Secretary Herbert and Alabamians, met
with a mishap yesterday morning
which will lay her up for three or four
months and possibly take her out of COM
mission during that time II was ideal
weather when the handsome vessel left
Hampton Roads Monday morning for her
final trial Of 4S hours run at sea
On board the vessel in addition to her
crew, were Commodore Selfridge Capt.
=. Fl. Cooper, Commander Il. b. Brad
ford, Chief Engineer r. N. Milligan,
Naval Constructor j. J. Woodward, Lieut.
Commanded Schroeder, and Lieut. N. e.
Neils, composing the stability board JOS
esh McMackiu, representing the Colum-
bian Iron Works Of Baltimore; the con-
structors of the vessel and Southern AS
sociated Press reporter.
The course of the vessel laid out by the
board was up the coast as far as Winter
Quarter light, and then return as far
south as Currituck light on the North
Carolina coast, reaching Hampton X Dads
on her return Wednesday morning.
When the capes were reached the
MontEomery's head was turned northeast
and about O'Clock the trial of the guns
was begun. During the firing of the big
fiveinCh guns the the vessel behaved in
manner to make the representative of
her builders and the board proud. The
jar of the ship was hardly preceptible
during all this firing. Every gun on board
worked splendidly.
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT.
Then began the inspection of the elec
trio plant including uwiring, which was
found in good condition and according TO
specifications
On Monday night the powerful search
lights were tested and it was the unani-
nous opinion that they were as good, il
not better, than any in the service at the
present time.
Tuesday was set apart for the trial of
the machinery and steering apparatus
and early in the morning everybody on
board was astir. The vessel was faced
south and made several complete swings,
half swings, and in fact, all the evolu-
tiOns required in modern warfare, and
obeyed them admirably. IL was the in
tention of Commander Davis 10 give her
a speed test from a bearing of Cape
Henry TO point off Currituck. 1t was
Just ten minutes to II o'clock yesterday
when the Montgomery bore five miles
southwest by south from Cape Charles,
and thirteen miles east northeast from
Cape Henry
AN EXPLOSION.
The engineers had Just received orders
10 start the vessel up at fun speed and
were at that moment turning the steam
en- 10 the port high pressure engine when
terrific explosion was heard, followed a
moment later by the sound of escaping
steam. The Kissing sound lasted for only
moment, however The engineers
jumped for their throttles and shut off
the steam and then began an examination
The damage was even greater than was
anticipated. The cylinder head had been
blown out and the cylinder was COM
plete wreck. In the opinion of the officers
it will take at least three months TO repair
the damage. A crank pin end of
the connecting rod had become loose
while the steam was being turned on for
the speed trial and under the heavy pres q
sure the cylinder head gave way. The
new machinery necessary 10 repair the
damage will be a cylinder casing, cylinder
cover new liner to the cylinder, new
crank pin, cap, brasses and bolts and
steam chest. The patterns for all of
these parts are possibly in Baltimore if
they have not yet been demolished. This
mishap brought the trial to a rather sud
den close and the vessel came into Hamp-
ton Roads last night under her starboard
engine where her commander is waiting
orders.
WHERE SHE WILL BE REPAIRED.
IL is not known whether she will be re-
paired at this yard or be sent back TO the
contractor at Baltimore. IL is possible
she will 60 to the latter place, as she had
not been finally accepted by the depart
ment and this trial was TO determine her
stability before her final acceptance on
July s.
The only other defect found in the ship
was the ventilation of the aft compart-
ment of the berth deck. This will be
easily remedied. however.
The officers Of the Montgomery, how
ever, while conversing among them
selves, seem to think that an improve
ment can be made in the arrangement of
the armor. Her bow sets down in the
water about eighteen inches below the
stern, and IL is probable that this defect
will have to be remedied also. Some Of
the crew seem TO think that the Mont
gomery is a Jonah" vessel, and they
point TO the several accidents which have
befallen her, such as running aground on
her previous trial and the present mis-
haps as examples of the bad luck which
is following her