The San Francisco call., 1896-10-29
BAT TIE DRILLS
At MONTEREY
The Oregon Made Ready
for Action Within
Nine Minutes.
Guns Turned on an Imaginary
Foe, With Each Man at
His Post.
A TREAT FOR sAUSALITANs.
Mock Eng sgemant to Be Fought
Between the Warship and
Torpsdo-Boats.
a TREAT FOR sAUsALITANs.
ABOARD THE
UNITED STATES BATTLE SHIP OREGON,
MONTEREY Raw Oct % :

MONTEREY BAY, Oct. 2S.
If Captain Howison were going to heave
his ancaor and steam overland to shell
General Weyler out of Havana the officers
and men of the battle-ship Oregon would
not be drilling more indefapgueably than
they have since the ship put to sea from
San Francisco Bay last Sunday morning.
The men never know when they are going
to be ordered to fall in, but when the order
does come land it usually comes with the
suddenness of an alarm gong, and some
times with the same shock) the marines
and the sailors grab their pieces and rush
to their stations with an alacrity that
clearly shows that they take real interest
in the business OF preparing for war in
time of peace. They also take real pride
in keeping the pride of the navy in fine
condition. As the Oregon swings grace
fully in Monterey Bay to-day in fifteen
fathoms of water and sixty fathoms of
chain to its anchor, it is almost the same
spick and span ship, clean as hounds
tooth. that it was when it rested like a
duck on the waters at the Union Iron
Works. The tramp of feet, the heavy
thcd of the butts of rifles as they fail 10
the deck at order arms, the sonnd of the
drum or the bugle's clear blast are heard
on the ship almost continually.
The Oregon escaped perhaps the worst
part of the storm Monday night, but en-
countered enough of it to let the officers
and crew see how the battle-ship would
behave in the green fields where the sea-
horses Craze or lash their white names
furiously. This, after it was all safely
over, was an unexpected piece Of good
luck. The commanders of naval vessels,
no more than merchantmen, will steer
out of their course to meet gale of wind
and waves as high as hills, but the new
battle-ship having shown that it will have
to be much heavier storm than played
havoc with the sister ship Indiana to
cause the Oregon to feel any serious
stiffiy it stood up in the blow. During
the third watch and about l o'clock the
seas came over the decks aft. One man
saved himself from being washed over
board from the main deck by catching the
rail on the farther side. The Oregon was
built as q coast defense vessel more than a
seagoing ship, but its experience on its
first cruise shows that it will take a very
hard blow and a heavy sea to cause even
any really serious discomfort between
decks. 1t is claimed that it would be i'm
possible for the battle-ship to turn tur-
tie, so that the people may know that
the Oregon as it stands to-day, costing
them not less than $3,s7S, 200, is safe in
any sea with plenty of water under its
bottom.
When it first pnt to sea on the present
cruise Captain Howison, remembering
the recent experience OF the Indiana, had
the forward and after 13-inch guns lasaed
with 7L-inch hawsers to the forecastle
and quarterback bits, so that they would
not swing and play smash with things.
There vas no necessity for lashing the
guns, but he did il 10 experiment. as to
how it could be effectually and quickly
accomplished in case of necessity. The
turret locks are different from those of the
sister ship, and it is claimed they are
strong enough to hold them fast under the
same circumstances.
Captain Howison to-day stated that he
had come out to practice and try the ship
at sea and particularly to run the main
engines; that the ship was forty-eignt
hours under way and the engines never
stopped except by signal from the deck,
and that was not given except in the exer-
else of imam overheard.
In connection with this exercise funny
story was told in the wardroom mess at
the expense of Admiral "Old Dick Mead.
Aboard ship there is a broad distinction
between officers and men. Admiral Mead
once fell overheard from the flagship. The
The bluff old admiral was swimming his