Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-17
BY THE INSIDE PASSAGE.
Importance of the Trip of the CusI-


The course of the Gushing, which left
| 10y the inside passage, will be through tho
| Raritan canal and the Chesapeake and Del
aware canal. 1t is expected that Annapolis
VIII he reached tomorrow. There u step of
one day will lie made. and then the Cush-
| ing will go down Chesapeake bay and
ound Point Lookout into the Potomac.
Washington: may he reached some time
Thursday. But the trip may take until Fri
day, it will be made in leisurely way.
| Last spring the Gushing went north part
of the way by caLal, says the New York
Sun, but she has never yet completed the
inland journey at a season when the canals
contain SO much ice they do, for part
of the distance. at present. Two years ago.
when the Gushing 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
thick that il was feared the beat 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
severe gale. which delayed her for four
| days. During most of this time she was in
| Delaware Breakws.ter, but when she reach
ed Washington it was found that she had
been considerably injured
An Interesting Experiment..
Lieut.. Smith VINO is her commander said
TO a Sun reporter before the start: The
trip is son,cthng of an 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 I 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
suggest ton, 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 1t
might be necessary to use the inland route
| frequently, ard by sending the men over Il
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-
quantance with the route. We shall pro-
| coed slowly. making note of the course as
we so alorg. For the shallow waters we
! shall obtain the services OF local pilots, bat
| the rest Of the way We shall Try 10 set
along by ourselves. OF course, on a gov
eminent vessel, even when a pilot is on
hand to advise. the commanding officer Is
rot relieved Of responsibility, as Is the tase
on merchant vessel when pilot takes
charge I~shall be responsible for the safe
conduct Of the Gushing from III" time We
leave Brooklyn until we reach Washington.
don't know just what our speed Will he,
but we shall proceed with hdlf-bo!.er
power.
Previous Inland Trips.
The Cushing 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 -D
miles by sea. The regular summe" cruis-
| ing ground of the Gushing is \arr&glAsett
bay. This year she is 10 receive new boiief
tubes. Her present tubes are SIX years Ola.
I ~ 1l Oh Ei ht-
1eshof yards in 1880. In her trial trips she
made a reputation for speed which she has
ever since maintained. She was named al
ter Lieut.. Gushing, who destroyed the con-
! feierate irorclad Albemarle with a torpedo.
She is described as a torpedo boat OF the
first class. 13S feet long and 10 feet heiIn2.
, Her draught is > feet, and the shaiioWest
water she will rass through on her "TRIP 10
Washington is seven feet.
| As the Cushing lies in the water her ap-
pearance suggests very black and tightly
rolled cigar. She is built of steel.
Cushing 10 he OvcrhnuIcd.
| There is no special significance in the trip
bevoad 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 attcmDt at record making Under
the most favorable conditions the highest
speed practicable in the canals Is ABOUT
eight miles an kour.. 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 10 he oVerhauied ana
repaired. Her boilers are to he removed
and sent to Wheeling. w. Va, for retihlhe.
| Consequently she is l;keiy TO I've tied up at
| the yaid for at least six weeks. and 1t IS
possible shc may remain there until next
| spring.
| There is no certainty as to the time OF
| her arrival. She will not be pushed ana
| will Law over at night Included in her car
| "a Is . consignment of smokaeSs powder,
| to he tested in the thirteen-inch rifle at the
| indian Head proving ground