Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-07-26
CRUISER AT HOME.
Arrival of the Warship New
York at Gotham.
CAPTAIN EVANS TELLS OF HIsTRP.

in European waters-The Visit on Board
Of Emperor wiIliam-How He sNosed
Around" and Admired Things, and Asked
Questions-An Experiment for the
Kaiscr's Benefit.
NEW YORK, July 26-After an absence
OF nearly ten weeks the United States
cruiser New York arrived here yesterday
and anchored in North river. Captain
Evans, when seen by the reporter Of the
Associated Press, expressed himself as
being highly pleased with the ship, and
said with no little show Of pride that she
was the boss OF her class" OF the voy-
ago Captain Evans said: 1--WE had mod
crate to fresh gales nearly all tho time,
and although we only had three-fourths
boiler power for six days and one-half
boiler power three days We made the trip
from Lands End to Sandy Hook in the
ox;ellent time Of nine days and four
hours. We had heavy head seas. and the
wind which was in the beginning north
west, veercd around. We encountered
heavy swell from the east. northeast, and
ward OF circular storm.
"ase snip u 1fIal OF SpeeOs
Il gave the ship full speed trial Of eight
hours duration in head sea and with 122
pounds OF steam, the engines developed
1881 revolutions per minute under
natural draught and the cruiser averaged
speed Of 17H knots an hour with g. 500
tons displacement. Her horse power was
developed with the consumption of 1s7
1, Of xr,tt tpt a., hn
record. l also gave her good fair trial
in head sea with speed Of II knots and
there was not one moment during that
timo when we could not have brought the
guns ON the upper deck, and all those on
the gun deck with the exception Of the
two forward guns, into action"
Visit OF the German Emperor.
'IIow about the visit of the German
EMPEROR asked the reporser. land what
did he think about the ship"
"Well, now," said the captain, laugh.
ing, Il don't propose to tell the German
cmperor's secrets, but can tell you that
/ never met a man like him in my life.
He seems to know a great deal about
everything. His knowledge Of naval
architecture particularly surprised me
very much and you can't fool him in
The night that he and his suite dined
with us aboard he gave me a sample of
his technical knowledge about q man of.
war.
Wanted to Sec the Esgine Room.
ABOUT o'clock IN tho morning, al.
though he had been already shown over
the ship, he expressed desire to see the
engine room and dynamo. After going
through the engine room, where he made
Il close examination Of the machinery, he
asked mo how long it would take to un.
couple tho engine. / informed him that
I did not exactly know, but would have
1t done for him. This seemed to please
him very much and taking his watch in
his hand he said: Very we'll. / will time
you The men set to work with will
and when the task was completed, the
emperor looked Mt his watch and said,
24O seconds.
Has Another Question to Ask.
"He expressed himself rs being very
we'll satisfied with the quickncss of the
Americans and then he tried tho revers.
ing gear to sec that it was in proper or.
der. When he came on deck again the
ship was almost perfectly still and most
Of the men, with the exception of the
watch, had turned in. 1t was then near.
ly = o clock in the morning, and while
passing through from tho engine room
and from where he stood on the quarter
deck he saw the men curled up in their
hammocks. Turning quickly to me he
said: How long will 1t take to close
your water.tight doors?.'
Did the Work In Quick Time.
"The mon dill 1t in ninety seconds after
the signal was given. He said that this
was wonderfully quick work. considering
the fact that the men were nearly all
asleep when the order was issued, and he
had no doubt rs to our being able to do
the same work in onc-third Of the time in
daylight. when everything was favorable.
Whom the Emperor was leaving us he
stood or the quarterback. and in bidding
me goodbye he said: I have never i'm.
agined that vessel of war could be in
the condition of the New York.