Evening journal., 1897-11-23

direct acting, triple expansion type.
The diameter OF the cylinders is 14.5
inches, % inches and 1916 inches, re-
spectively, with an 1S-inch stroke. de-
signed for l 500 horse power, with a
piston speed of $50 feet a minute, and
a boiler pressure of $50 pounds. There
are six horizontal return tubular Scotch
boilers in two water tight compart-
ments to maintain a working pressure
of $50 pounds. The boilers are feet 8
inches long by Z feet s inches in diam
Ter. They have nearly 120 SQUARE acct
Of crate surface and 4,074 feet of heat
ing surface Provision has been made
for forced draught on the closed fire
room system. This machinery weighs
about 200 tons. The normal coal sup
ity 279.73 tons.
The machinery space is protected by
side coal bunkers and an armor belt of
one-inch nickel steel at the water line.
The Wilmington is lighted with cleo
tricity and has refrigerating plants and
other accessories which contribute to
health. comfort and efficiency.
The small boats are larger than those
usually carried by vessels of this size,
that they may be able to transport
quickly formidable landing party.
SHE WAS A FLYER.
The gunboat was given her trial trip
on Saturday, March 81, in New York
waters. That she was a success was
the verdict passed by the naval board
after the vessel had returned from her
official trial on Long Island Sound. She
developed a speed of 1925 knots an
hour for four hours. The contract
called for q speed Of 13 knots, with a
premium at the rate of $4,000 for
every knot in excess of that stated in
the contract. The vessel, therefore, has
earned a bonus Of $40, 900 for the build
ers, the Newport News Shipbuilding
Company.
Just as Old Sol arose in all his glory,
! the Wilmington got under way and
steamed toward the course, where the
stake-boats, the Porter and the Leyden,
were already anchored. AS she passed
into the sound the trial board and en-
gineers took their positions, ready with
their numerous instruments to take the
data of the trial.
The trial board was as follows: Com
modore George Dewey, president; Cap
tain II. f. Picking, Commanders G. II.
Davis, w H. Brownson and G. c. Todd,
and Naval Constructor J. f. Hanscom,
with Lieutenant S. A. Staunton as re-
corder. The board of engineers, whose
duty It was to examine the workings
of the machinery, was as follows: Chief
Engineers G. w. Stivers. A. B. Canaga
and w. NJ. Parks, assisted by Past AS
sistant Engineers w. II. Alderdice,
Gustav Kaemmerling, Kenneth, Meal
pine, Albert Moritz, G. w. Danforth
and G. w. Herbert and Assistant En-
gineer d. e. Hickman.
AS the Wilmington approached the
torpedo boat Porter she came on a di-
rect line with the mark boats, station
ed at intervals for twenty-seven miles
toward Horizons Point, and at 9O4
o'clock she entered upon the course
The revolutions Of the propellers at the
start were about 267 a minute, which
increased to a maximum of 277. The
ship ran twice over the course, and af-
teIward made some evolutions to dem
onstrate her ease in handling. The
boat beheaved beautifully, running
with comparatively little vibration. She
was steered by Pilot Benjamin Stan
worth and Captain Bliss Reed.
The official time is as follows:
First interval-29m. 30.5s.
Second interval-26m. 58s.
Third interval-26m. 55s.
Fourth interval-29m. 2Ss.
Total-1h., 52m., 51.5s.
Speed-14.35 knots.
On the return toward the Connecti-
cut shore the following time was made:
First interval-27m. 1855.
Second interval-24m. 45.5s.
Third interval-24m. 2Ss.
Fourth interval-26m. 35.5s.
Total-1h.. 43m., 2.5s.
Speed-15.72 knots.
On the return trip the Wilmington
ran into a snow storm, and the South
erners were given a surprise, as many
of them had never seen snow before
Chief Engineer J. A. Williams was il
charge of the engines, and Enginee
Louis Brockman was in charge of th'
fire room. The heat from the boiler
was so intense that the smoke-stack o
the vessel was burned a copper color
The torpedo boat Porter was sent on
after the trial to gather in the reports
from the various stake-boats.
When the trial board had compared
and figured out the various data the re
suits were forwarded to the secretar.
of the navy, and the exact result of th'
trial was afterwards officially mad
public. The average speed of the twi
} runs. without tidal correction, wa
1905 knots. This was reduced slight
z ly by the allowance for tidal action.
The Wilmington was finally accepte
by the government on May 8, 1897, AM
received her first commission ON tn
18th of May five days latter, her firs
commander being Captain Chapmal
: c. Todd.
BONNY LOOKING FELLOWS.
The officers and crew of the viii
mington are bony-loOking fellows an
, have been since their arrival the recip
tents Of every attention The roll O
the gunboat is as follows:
Chapman G. Todd, commander; Joh
, B. Collins, William G. Cutler, Augusta
! G. Almy, Levi c. Bertolette, lsuter
/ ants; Claude Bailey, John V. Klemanl
, ensigns; James p. s. Lawrence, Chi,
engineer; Henry r. Sullivan, past az
, sistant paymaster; Frank c. Cook, pas
! assistant surgeon. Lieutenant BertC
lette is a Wilmington boy.
Q GREW CT THE u. S. S. wILMINGTO.
T. Murray, chief master-at-armf
I NJ Nolan, chief boatswain mate; w.
Do,