The San Francisco call., 1898-06-08

ON BOARD UNITED STATES STEAMSHIP CHARLESTON. HAIR BOR OF HONOLULU, May 2s.-Cap- tain Glass said he would make the run from San Francisco in packet time, and he has kept his word Early last Sunday morning the Charleston slipped out through the Golden Gate, throw Ing back from her fore foot the yellow foam of the rollers on the bow. She took the seas as a man, long wander ing, greets old friends to whom he re- turns-in joyous fashion, rollicking, roll ing, tossing back their greeting in very excess of gladness.
 From the hills of the city crowds of people waved farewell to the good ship off to the war, carrying to the gal lant Dewey the first greeting from a grateful fatherland, and the boys in blue gathered at the Presidio for the long trip over seas gave the last voice of the men we would hear no more un- til, perhaps, we heard the ring of an American cheer echoing in the hills set around about the harbor of Manila. On the bridge of the cruiser. whence a tacky wig-wagged vigorously to the headquarters of the land forces, we could hear, above the Whistling of the small craft in the bay, above the hoarse screams of the Charleston's siren. the shrill cheering of the sol dler boys as they came tumbling over each other out of the tents, like a col ony of ants disturbed, down to the beach.
 We dipped colors to a dusky collier, creeping black beetle like into port. wig -wagged farewell to the Oregon sol diers at Fort Point, and faced the open flara fne -1nr nd rl l,A cruiser barely crept over the water. The siren had its occupation here, un- til the light ship loomed up ahead, gave hoarse greeting, and vanished.
 The fog lifted a little, and the siren on the North Farallon sent a mourn full greeting across the sea to the gray cruiser rushing through the water now full steam ahead. The captain, on the bridge. felicitated himself that the yes sel had at last begun to show her met tie. It was race into the west against time from that moment, with fair weather and smooth seas, save on the second day out, when the Pacific sent a few rollers and dash of rain out of the southeast just by way of showing that its powers were intact.
 The Charleston had some trouble with her engines at the beginning, it will be remembered, and was feeling her way. She made PAS miles never theless in the nrst twenty-four hours. She increased this to 273 on the second day and thence forward her speed was progressive. On Wednesday the run was 287 miles. On Thursday, under forced draught, 1t was BIO and on Friday the figure had climbed to 3S0 She was In latitude 9 degrees 15 minutes north and longitude 147 degrees 27 minutes west at noon on that day, and 570 miles from Diamond Head. Captain Glass and his corps of engineers eased her up on Saturday morning. The engines had been tried and not found wanting. The battle with time had been won. She ran smoothly through one more day and night, making 320 miles to noon on Sat urday and at daylight on Sunday the lookout in the forward truck caught the loom of the land on the port bow.
 The high mountains of the island of Molokai came out more strongly as we swung around to make the harbor of Honolulu, and presently we had Molo- kai on the port bow and Oahu to star board. and out of the deep blue of the sea the white reef started up to meet the ship.
 On this trip Captain Glass and Ex- ecutive Officer BloclIlinger had shaken down and licked into shape as green a crew as ever went to sea in time of war. They were so green, most of the Charlestons crew, they did not know a marlne spike from a coil of rope. One of them asked me. the second day out me, who by courtesy only knew a little more than himself-to direct him to the captains quarters. and there was a decided commotion forward. and among some landsmen who shall be nameless also, when the news was spread abroad that the ships cook had 'ishot Charley Noble" on the previous night. Shooting Charley Noble 1t should be understood, is the technical term for cleaning the accumulation of soot from the galley smokestack, and in the monotony of a long voyage rises almost to the dignity of state function. I do not believe there Is a better com rnander in the navy than Captain Glass and I know there Is no man who could have taken a green crew and in seven days drilled them into men fit to battle for the honor of Old Glory. It Is true he had the aid of most conscien- tious and efficient corps of line officers, thoughtful and considerate, every one of them.
 The ship is manned in large measure
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