Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-04-25
On the Trial Tip.

most ingenious and complicated pieces
of mechanism, and as the profit of the
builders depends upon perfection OF
detail they prefer to make practical
test of the speed of such vessel be-
fore offering her to her purchasers.
The description of such test appears
in Harper's Magazine under the title,
"The Trial Trip OF a Cruiser" !"
Describing the scene below deck the
writer says:
The engines roar, the pumps move
back and forth with sharp click at
each stroke, the air pumps shrek and
puff, and the engineers force rush
about in what seems at first hopeless
confusion. but which soon takes on a
look of system Every man has has
duty to do, and does it well. The
engines require close and careful at
tention, as enough might happen ina
moment to ruin all. The slightest
carelessness or inattention might have
the most serious results. Occasion
ally, though, no amount of care can
pre,e ent bearing or cross head from
heating, particularly if the machinery
is new. has not sufficiently worn itself
to rerform its duties aud is being run
at high rate of speed. To provide
for this contingency there is always
arranged a convenient system of pipes,
from which cold water can be directed
at moments notice upon whichever
part of the machinery shows signs of
netting. In addition TO this there are
many couplings where hose can be con-
nected for use in reaching the more
inaccessible and rapidly moving parts.
At snch time excitement runs high
in the engine rooms. The engines are
probably working at almost full power
and moving rapidly, so if the heating
part cannot be cooled sufficiently they
will have TO be shut down and the
run be lost. The rush aud roar Of the
machinery, the tremble of the ship as
she is forced ahead by the immense
horsepower transmitted by each shaft,
the hurry Of the engineers force, each
one Of whom has constant and lmpor-
tant duties to perform, all add to the
excitement. Water pours in torrents
on the heated parts, and as its strikes
the flying engines is thrown in all di-
rections. The engine room floor swims
with oil and water. and the oil thus
thrown upon the cold water pipes con-
gealsand completely covers them, look
ing like snow upon the trees after a
heavy storm. Lucky now are the men
who wear oilskin suits, for nothing else
will keep out the flying water; those
who are not 30 prepared are dreDched
in an instant, and though by the Their
mometer the temperature may be far
from cool there is a chill in the icy
water and soaked garments and dis
comfort in the oil and salt in ones
eyes that are far from pleasant. But
let us step into the fire room a moment
and note the difference.
As we 20 through the air lock, with
it's double doors, one Of which must be
closed before the other is opened, to
prevent loss of air pressure in the fire
room, the roar Of the engines changes
to rhythmic and steady beat, mnf-
fed and deadened into an almost
soothing sound. The fire room, az we
step in from the light outside, seems
dark aud shadowy, and dusky figures
of men pass here and there across the
light from the open ash pits. In the
bulkhead opposite MS is small door.
and through this shoyelful after shovel
ful Of coal is thrown by men in the
bunkers beyond; from there it is thrown
in pile against the bulkhead direct
ly in front Of the boilers, from whence
it is passed into the furnace az occa-
sion requires The fremans task is
no easy one, and il requires consider
able skill 10 fire boiler properly,
keeping the fuel well and evenly dis
tributed over the CRATES. The water
tenders have to keep a watcbful eye
upon the water gauges, for fear Of al
lowing the water in the boilers TO get
too low, thereby causing an explosion.
The hinge furnaces fairly deyour coal;
and when for the purpose Of feeding
IN more the furnace doors are opened
(throwing a red glare through the
roon) we can see the white hot fuel
heaped clear 10 the crown Of the fur
mace, and the flames that leap half
way up the smokestack rush wildly
ont, impelIed by the 10000 cubic feet
Of air per minute furnished BY the