The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-08-29

@-tI4pnS Oh bne Guy yN'NNANN''5'
;eayy shower at neon, that lasted just
nftoun minutes, from II. 40 to II O'CLOCK,
t.ieaned the air and rendered the afternoon
simply perfect. There was less wind
than heretofore this week, and many
took advantage Of the calm water to
visit the warships in row boa is, so that
they might go from one to the other at
will. There were some disadvantages
about going in the steamers. so great
were tho crowds that If one WASH L on
hand in time the waiting crowd on the
wharf might fill the steamer to her COM
plement before one could get on board.
Many had to wait in this way for the
next boat. One woman had to wait over
two boats. OF course the crowd was
similarly Objectionable on the New York
As the passenger steamer approached
the people always thronged to the COM,
panionway and frequently filled the
steamer before many who wished TO H1Ae
that trip could get aboard. ,,z
Two Of the steamers carried passengers
to the Minneapolis yesterday some,
ti1x es if steamer came down ana Iou4u
two Others ahead of her at the New York,
she wouId 90 over to the Minneapolis,
carving of course among her passen-
gers. some who wanted to board the New
York One man yesterday was thus
carried to the Minneapolis, VINO purst
forth into lamentations at his hard luck
The same thing had happened TO MN
the day before 1t was the New York
that he wanted to visit, and he is deter
mined to do so, for he is going to try
again TODAY. OF course his case is only
an exception, but it indicates the I'M
1nense crowds and and crowdlng in con-
nection with the visiting OF the Warshlps
OF course it is best to have ones own
row boat and nearly every row boat
along the wharyes was in use yesterday.
Yet all of the steamers were crowded
Only four steamers went to the New
York Tuesday, but yesterday the Casco
Bay company had to put on the foresG
Queen to help the Cadet. which could
not begin to carry all the people t tIIa
came. also the Eldorado ran part OF the
day. These three with the Louise and
Jeanette, made six steamers III all.
1t is really very pleasant to note how
uniformly. courteous and kind all the
officers and men of the ships are III the
midst of the great crowds that swarm
aboilt and ask all sorts of ridiculous
Questions and exhibit what must seem
to the men in uniform, very dense
stupidity in not understanding their eX-
plantations.
All this must be very tiresome, but
there is given 10 sign that 1t lstso, ana
the visitors are made TO feel that Tor the
time being Uncle Sans ships and naval
goldiers are at their service.
one of the swift little steam launches
that are continually shooting about is
the 'Eguard boat, 2" so called. Each day
one of the ships is called upon to detail
a s1guard boat % which is on duty to go
after the mail, carry messages, etc
Miss Miller, the daughter of Captain
on board the ship, Tuesday afternoon
to several young society people of her ac-
quaintance in Portland
One of the crew of the Montgomery
lives in Lisbon Falls, in this state. He
was seen at the Union station, in his
uniform, Monday evening, soon after
the squadron arrived. He waited there
till the midnight train He said that he
was in the kearsarge when she was
wrecked in the Caribbean Sea, and de-
scribed viyidly the experiences OF the
crew, while they were cast away on the
coral Ieef He, himself, had severe
cut on his leg that came from falling on
officer of the Montgomery: and several
others of the crew, were in the Kearsarge
at the same time.
Yesterday the men had leave of absence,
and the city was full of squads of the
good looking, sun-bronzed lads in blue.
They were as good in behavior as they
were in looks.
Minneapolis, took a "a hours leave of
absence to visit his mother, who lives
The Raleigh and Montgomery have
been visited very slightly as yet, the two
largest ships monopolizing the attention
OF the thousands Of people. But in some
respects the Raleigh is more interesting
than any of the others A feature Of
peculiar interests is found in her battery
Of five inch rifles, all of which, ten in
rumben are of the rapid firing type.
Hitherto, no rapid firing guns of any
calibre above the small six Founders Of
the secondary batteries have been seen
on any of the United States cruisers that
have yet visited Portland. Those of the
Raleigh, in addition to the novelty Of
fheip relatively large calibre, are also of
interest in view of the fact that their
breech mechanism, which gives them
their great rapidity OF fire, is the inven-
ton OF young American naval officer
Naval Constructor r. B. Dashiell. This
mechanism, although very durable and
reliable, is extremely simple easy to
manipulate and enables the gun to be
fired thirteen times minute. One man
can aim and fire the gun, eleyating and
training it with his left hand, and ex-
ploding the primer with his right. The
moment this is done, a single motion OF
the hand throws open the breech, the
charge is inserted instantly, and re-
turn motion closes and locks the breech
ready for the next shot. 1t is said that
The Dashiell breech loading apparatus is
the finest in the world.
These five inch guns use shell weigh
ing fifty pounds, which, with firing
charge of thirty pounds of powder, are
hurled with an initial velocity of 230C
feet FER second At the firing grounds
254O feet per second have been attained.
The Raleigh is one of the two of the
most perfectly equipped AID finished
ships in the navy, and the cabin i'll
which Captain Miller receives his callers,
with it's beautiful mahogany finish and
elegant furniture, is as charming a room
as could be found anywhere on land
Well filled book cases, leather cushioned
diyan, easy chairs electric lights, and
an electric fan bespeak attention to COM
fort, while a beautiful King Charles
spaniel asleep on q rug spread on the
nolished floor added touch of homelike-
ness to the scene.
In regard to the display of search lights
by the vessles, the following is the fact
The regulations require that they shall
Non