The San Francisco call., 1896-10-28

com passes, the proximity OF the shore
and the fact of the ship being new one
on her first cruise, the night was one OF
unusual and continued vigilance on the
part of the officer on deck. Captain HOW
ison, who looks typical seadog IN wet
weather harness, got bout an hours sleep
during the night. The midnight stroller
was likely to run up against Executive
Officer Drake anywhere above or below
the berth deck, while the light OF Lieu
tenant and Navigator Hughes cleaned
like beacon all night long IN the cnart
room high on the coming tower, just
abaft the wheelhouse.
AT O'Clock Sunday night the oregon
was abreast the lights of Pigeon Point,
where the steamship Colombia went
ashore one foggy morning last June.
On Monday morning the sun rose IN
clear sky and looked down on smooth
and smiling sea. There was long swell
from wlndward, with the breeze slightly
ireshening from the southwest.
ne main OBJECT of this cruise is 10 MAKE
the crew familiar with its duties. The
captain gave orders yesterday TO get down
to business. The muster ana Inspection
at quarters takes place every morning and
evening About 10 o'clock yesterday gen.
eral quarters were sounded. This is the
assembling OF all men to their proper
positions ready for action in going to bat
tie. The magazines were unlocked ana
men darted down into their cayernous
depths far below the waterline. The pas
sageways, the steam elevators, the troll
leys for CARRYING the heavy shells and
other ammunition we're quickly manned,
the gnnners and the gunners mates
jumped to their stations, ammunition was
passed up and the ship was scene OF war
between all decks from the bridge TO the
keelson and from stem to stern. When
the Oregon goes into battle and the great
guns and the little guns, the bers, the
cutlasses and the torpedoes show the ter
ror that their throats and flashing blades
now conceal, the crew will come to quar-
ters Just as it did then.
The 49, inch guns forward ana aft,
the and 5-lnch guns amidsnips, the
6.pounders on the superstructure and
the 2-pounders on the coming tower
were manned and maneuyered. he thir-
teen-inch turIets in which The men that
man them are concealed and which weigh
900 tons were swung in all directions.
They are moved by hydraulic power. The
turning of a small wheel on the inside
swings them from port to starboard and
back again, swinging athwartships as re-
sponsive and steady TO the touch as the
ships propellers are to the levers IN the
engine-room. Men in the hoods on the
top of the turrets look through the peep.
bridge are range-fnders with telescopes
who find the range of another ship or
whatever object may be shot at. and tele-
phone it 10 the turrets. There are tele-
D ones all through the Oregon, even in
places that seem hardly accessible.
The 8-inch and 6-inch guns are
turned by steam. These guns sweep all
points of the com pass and horizon. The
13 inch guns, almost capable of
FL 1ff 81 mi
taneous discharge, were swung around
until their muzzles were directly below
those of the S-inch guns little for
ward of amidships, the guns being at right
angles to each other, showing the posi-
bility of an awful crosstire.
The first divisional drill took place yes
terday. In this the men are drilled in
infantry tactics. Th"re are about 500 men
aboard the Oregon and about 80 per cent
of them are m ustered in this drill. Even
the Chinese cooks and walters and the
coalpassers are armed with Springfield
rifles and taught how to use them.
While the Oregon was heeling gently to
a long swell at 11:15 o'clock there was a
cry of "Man overboord." If there is any,
thing that produces sensation at sea it
is that cry. Instantly the main deck and
the superstructure decks and the balus-
trade before the water tight doors were
1uIl OF men FuSnlnG from tneIr qudTIeIS Oh
board. Officers piled up out of the hatch
ways aft.
The figure of man could be seen bob
bing on the waves astern. The officer WIS
on the after bridge. He cried an order to
man the starboard lifeboat swinging TO its
davits nearly amidship, and there was
rush to the lifeboat. The engines were
ordered stopped. The life buoy was let
go when the body fioated opposite 1t. 1t
1ouled somewhat and did not drop at the
time it should. 1t followed perhaps 100
feet behind tue fioater.
The lifebuoy has two torches which
burn calcium phosphate, which ignites
when it comes in contact with the water.
The torches arc for use particularly when
there is man overheard at night. When
the ship was slowed down the lifeboat
was lowered. and went into the water
without loss of time. The crew, in COM
mand Of Naval Cadet Rabe, rowed for dear
life for the unfortunate hoater. He was
picked up in exactly minutes so seconds
after the cry of Man overheard" Consider-
ing the fact that this was the first time the
lifeboat was manned, and by green crew,
the time is said 10 be excellent.
Tne Oregon was backed astern. 1t re-
ouires some time to stop the momentum
of a II 000- ton ship. In sixteen minutes
the ship was under way again. The man
overheard was dummy created by Nayai
Cadet johnson, who pitched it headlong
into the sea. 1t was device for giving
the crew practice. The torches on the re-
covered bnoy could not be extinguished
by water. They had to burn themselves
out.
During the day infantry, saber, setting
up, calisthenics, signal, battery and col
lision drills were executed. These and
others will be had every day during the
cruise.
The Oregon went through an unusual
and curious performance yesterday after
noon. This was a turning $rial- for the
purpose of determining the tactical, diam
eter of the ship. Her helm was put hard
over and she steamed in circle. Boxes
were pitched into the sea to mark the
starting-point. The idea of this was TO
find the diameter Of the circle in which
the ship could turn, information very ne
cessary in case of an engagement. The
wake of the ship showed that she made
two complete circles joining each other,
and composing the figure g. The diane
ter of the circle is determined by the d is
tance the log shows its circumference TO
be.
The weather having been exceedingly
favorable for all the drills and maneuvers,
the captain concluded to put back on his
course. He concluded to leave the firing
OF the big and little guns to the board of
M - hon atra n