The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-07-18
UNCLE SANS
WHITE SQUADRON
Is Now Represented In the colum-
bia River by the I'hila-
deIphia.
FLAGSHIP OF THE PACIFIC
Visits Astoria on ner Way 20 rorlaud,
khsrs She Nill Spsnd a rontaiaht-
She Mil BE Here Two Days
on Her Return.

AhN W = - y HHuh'lphths AHhNAb
Of the Pacific squadron. made lts en-
trance into the Astoria hRrbor early
yesterday morning, saiutes were iired
and whistles blown TO announce the
arrival OF this handsome cruiser. Ad-
mlral Beardslee was personally IN
command. and brought his vessel 70
anchor opposite Flavel's dock at
o'clock. Pilot Woods brought her In
from the sea. and River Pilot Patter-
son took her up stream at sharp 5
o'clock last evening While waiting
FOR the tide the day was spent In Asto-
ria cleaning up and making all prep
arRtions for her entrance into Port
land. No visitors were allowed on
board except few personal friends Of
the officers. United States officials and
Representatives OF the press. Admiral
Beardslee was quite unwell during the
day and remained In his quarters most
OF the time a dinner party had been
arranged for him on shore By Or. NJ.
NJ. Walker. but at the last moment the
admiral had 10 send his excuses.
The Philadelphia is a protected
cruiser Of about 5000 tons displace-
ment. with armored coming tower
She Is s35 feet in length. IS feet 6
inches beam. drawing 20 feet forward
and 20 feet 6 inches aft, She is fitted
with all OF the latest electrical inn
proyements. lighting and signal appa-
ratus. search lights. etc, She carries
twelve six-lnch rified guns In her main
battery. six 6-pound Hotchkiss rapid
lll4ng guns, Gattling guns and other
arms. She has six different methods
of steering by steam. and II these are
all shot away In action, the apparatus
can be disconnected and the steering
done by hand beneath the protected
deck The signals from the bridge 90
the engine room are transmitted by
electricity and the orders are repeated
TO the commanding officer by the same
method. There are ninety-seven wa
ter-tlght Compartments In the ship,
which make her absolutely safe in
case OF accident In battle or other
wise She is propelled by two sets OF
trlple-expansion engines. OF lO50O
horsepower. operating twin screws. a
complete machine shop, printing office,
hospital. dispensary, dynamo room,
and other special departments are
among the particularly interesting
features OF the vessel The galleys
mess rooms and quarters for the men
are models OF neatness. The admlrars
quarters are on the upper after deck,
and the ward room. with the captains
private quarters and the aecommoda-
tions for the Junior officers on the
lower deck are very handsome apart
ments almost equal to those OF an
Atlantic liner, A library and read
Ing room add TO the comfort OF the
men, and at every port the latest daily
papers from all over the country are
received and placed on file The fresh
water for daily consumption is dis
titled from common sea water at the
rate OF 1900 gallons a day, and this in
turn Is frozen.
In conversation with an Astorian |
representative who visited the flag |
ship. Surgeon Hesler stated that the |
vessel was one OF the most comforta- |
BILE in the navy, and that all her men
were well contented with their quar-
ters She carries 400 men all told-S0 |
officers and $40 non-commissioned OFF,
GERS, seamen and marines. Captain |
Cotton has large family under his
control and takes good care of them.
The Philadelphia made 1886 knots
per hour on her trial trip just before
she was turned over to the govern
ment by the Cramps, her builders. On
q long distance cruise, covering some
u, 600 miles, she made the remarkable
record of twelve knots per hour, aver
age time. The mascot of the ship is
a little black and white dog named
Gore" The commander states that
about seventy-ive per cent of the line
officers of the navy today are gradu-
ates of Annapolis, and that the per-
centage is increasing. The vessels be-
longing to the Pacific squadron are
the Philadelphia, Bennington, Alert,
Monterey, Mohlcan, and the Boston.
They win all meet at Port Angeles for
regular squadron drill, about the first
OF August, They will be put through
target practice and fleet maneuvering.
The following are the commissioned
officers of the flagship Philadelphia;
Rear-Admiral L. A, Beardslee, U. S,
Navy, commander in chief; personal
stan, Lieut., c. NJ. Stoney, flag lieu
tenant; Ensign A, L, Willard, flag sec
retary; Captain c. S. Cotton, COM
manding officer; lieutenant comman-
der. r. r. Ingersol; lieutenant, T. $,
Phelps, Jr.; lieutenant, A. G. Winter
halter; lieutenant, G. w. Brown; en-
sign, r. e. Coontz ensign G. N. Hay
ward; ensign, f. H. Campbell; naval
cadet, D. W. wartsbaugh naval ca
det. o, c. wettengel; naval cadet, c.