Smyrna times., 1894-08-01
FOf ute smyrna ItmeS
Getting the Minneapolis Ready for a
Race Against Time.

1t costs a large amount of money,
something over $4,000, to get the big
cruiser in gladiator trim for the official
trial of her steaming qualities off the
coast of New England. Watchful
eyes overhaul everything that would
hinder and busy minds constantly are
mindful to attend to the smallest de-
tail to insure success and guard against
a mishap.
Yet great risks are taken, and must
be with impuntity. Lots of good cheer
are also taken with impunity.
Case after case of champagne, wines,
brandies, whiskey, &C., find their way
for days in the after stOrerOoms. The
great revolving fans send currents of
ice-laden air into refrigerators filled
with choice meats and vegetables. The
hardy canned goods come aboard in
profusiOn. Here are boxes of potted
meats from the famous Richardson's,
of Dover, Del. Smyrna comes in for
her share too, for the bright label of
the HOffecker Tomatoes shows how
| greatly they are esteemed for fine table
service. Ranged along the starboard
and port sides on the berth deck are
wire oupboards to hold the dishes to
feed four hundred men. Were it not
! for these wire cages, what clatter OF
| dishes there would be when the ship
rolled and pitched into heavy seas.
Improvised hunks fill all the space
each side of the coal track hanging
under the bridge deck. On the gun
deck the officers of the Trial Board
and the more distinguished guests find
comfortable quarters in the ward room
cabins. Below this again and under
the turtle-backed protective deck with
its heavy plating of three.inch steel
the lower grade of engineers, firemen,
stokers and oilers stow themselves
away as best they can. Away up higt
on the breezy bridge two cool and
cosey rooms are reserved for Capt
Sargent and the different pilots as they
come aboard to take charge. Square:
and triangles are in readiness to detect
the slightest variation in the vessels
stability as the capaciOus nav of The
boiler furnaces eating into the 2,00(
tons of coal alters constantly the ship:
displacement.
One little four-pound quickfring
rihed gun peeps out of the midshiI
sponsor on the port side. The big dy
namos forward of the engine room,
supply the miles of wire with bril-
liant lights on all the decks. The
great search light above the pilot
house adds its lustre to the dark, foam
ing waters ahead and serves to Civ
the timely warning.
But it is in the fire room where th
most elaborate preparations are mad
to enable the men to stand ia SOM
I measure the terrible heat pouring ou
in volumes from the open furnace
doors. The thermometer passes tn
100, 105 and gets dangerously close t,
the last markings near the top. Dow
there the men must stay until tn
course is gone over. The 23,037 knot
per hour requires the consumption G
, 900 tons of coal in one day; in fou
days 1000 tons are required and the
the bunkers are empty. Added to tn
, fearful heat is the ever present DANCE
! of one of the enormous steam pipe
bursting and instantly filling the en-
) gine and fire rooms with live steam
literally tearing off the flesh of ever
f doomed man there, and you have
faint idea of what it is TO get bi
! cruiser ready for tria! trip.
r JAMES B. SCOTT.