Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-17
COMING OF THE CUSHING
Importance Of the Experimental Trip to
Washington.
Route Pursued in Traversing the In
land passage From New YOrk-In
the Delaware River Today.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, December 1.-THE
torpedo boat Gushing, which is making an
experimental trip by the inland route from
the Brooklyn navy yard to Washington, en-
tered the Delaware river from the Raritan
canal at IL am. today, and Immediately pro-
ceeded southwark by way of the Maryland
canal
The course OF the Gushing, which left
by the inside passage, will be through the
Raritan canal and the Chesapeake and Del
aware canal. 1t is expected that Annapolis
will be reached tomorrow. There a stop of
one day will be made, and then the Cush-
ing will go down Chesapeake bay and
| ound Point Lookout into the Potomac.
Washington may be reached some time
Thursday. But the trip may take until Fri
day, it will be made in leisurely way.
Last spring the Cushing went north part
of the way by caLal, says the New York
Sun, but she has never yet completed the
inland journey at season when the canals
contain SO much ice as they do. for part
of the distance. at present. Two years ago.
when the Cushing attempted to come to
Washington by the inland route, she was
not successful. In the Raritan river, below
New Brunswick, the ice was found to be so
thick that it was feared the boat would be
unable to make her way through. 1t was
then decided by Lieut. Fletcher. her COM
mander to return to New York, and the
journey to Washington was made by sea.
At that time the Gushing encountered a
severe gale, which delayed her for four
days. During most of this time she was in
Delaware Breakwater, but when she reach
ed Washington it was found that she had
been considerably injured.
An Interesting Experiment..
Lieut.. Smith, who is her commander, said
to a Sun reporter before the START The
trip is something of experiment, but we
have sailed these inland waters enough to
understand them pretty well. The only
thing that can interfere with our plans is
ice, and l do not think that it will be found
in sufficient thickness to give US much
trouble.
The inland route is to be taken at my
suggestion, and for several reasons. In the
first place it will serve to demonstrate the
fact that the trip is feasible. Then. too. We
shall avoid the danger of injury from rough
weather at sea, and, third. the trip will be
of value as giving the men experience in
that kind of work. In the event of war. it
frequently, ard by sending the men over 1t
as often as is possible they viii gain expert
ence in navigating those waters
LAS one object of the trip is TO get an ac-
Quaintance with the route. shall pro-
coed slowly, making note of the course as
we go alorg. For the shallow waters
shall obtain the services of local pilots. but
the rest of the way We shall try to set
along by ourselves OF course, on a gov
eminent vessel. even when a pilot is on
hand TO advise, the commanding officer is
not relieved of responsibility, as is the case
on a merchant vessel when a pilot takes
charge. I shall be responsible for the safe
conduct Of the Gushing from the time we
leave Brooklyn until we reach Washington.
don't know just what our speed will be,
but We shall proceed with half-boiler
power"
Previous Inland Trips.
The Gushing has already made one or two
trips on inland waters. Last spring she
went from Norfolk, Va, to Jacksonville
Fla, by inland waters, except about 30
miles by The regular summer cruis-
ing ground of the Gushing is Narragaasett
bay. This year she is to receive new boiler
tubes. Her present tubes are six years old.
The Gushing was launched at the Her
reshoff yards liz 1890. In her trial trips she
made a reputation for speed which she has
ever since maintained. She was named af
ter Lieut.. Gushing, who destroyed the con-
federate irorolad Albemarle with torpedo.
She is described as a torpedo boat of the
first class 13S feet long and IL feet beam.
Her draught is feet, and the shallowest
water she will pass through on her trip to
Washington is seven feet.
AS the Gushing lies in the water her ap
pearance suggests very black and tightly
rolled cigar. She is built of steel.
Cushing to BE Overhauled.
There is no special significance in the trip
beyond the fact that it will be made by
the inland water route, which has never
before been traversed by this vessel in
winter time. The presence of ice will pre-
vent any attempt at record making. Under
the most favorable conditions the highest
speed practicable in the canals is about
eight miles an hour. A greater speed would
cause a dangerous wash in the narrow,
shallow chanr els.
The Gushing is coming to the Washington
navy yard in order to be overhauled and
repaired. Her boilers are to be removed
and sent to Wheeling, w. Va. for retubing
Consequently she is likely 10 be tied UP at
the yard for at least six weeks. and it is
possible she may remain there until next
spring.
There is certainty as to the time of
her arrival. She will not be pushed and
will lay over at night Included in her car
go Is a consignment of smokeless powder
to be tested in the thirteen-inch rife at the
Indian Head proving ground.
OVER ARD