The Portland daily press., 1898-05-03

VIII ITOUuUly SAL 1Ouay-kOSter OF
Her officers.
The United State ship Columbia, Capt.
James Ell. Sands, arrived in Portland
harbor from Portsmouth yesterday morn
ing about $50 o'clock, ane anchored off
Fort Gorges. The Columbia, like the
Minneapolis, is engaged in patrol duty
off this coast, and she will not probably
remain in port over this morning. The
Columbia logged down from Portsmouth
in about three hours, taking things very
leisurely, although, being one of the
fastest ships in the Navy. she could have
accomplished the distance in much less
time.
The Columbia is a protected cruiser.
triple screw, length 41a feet, breadth IS
feet, 2 IA inches, draft 20 feet 6 Ia inch
es, with displacement Of 2 1915 tons, and
speed of 20 knots. Her main battery
consists of one S-inch breech loading rifle
two 6-inch and eight 4.inch rapid fire
guns. Secondary battery has twelve
6-pounders and four / FOUNDER rapid fire
guns, and four gatlings. The thickness
of her protected deck is four inches on
the slopes, two and half inches on the
fiat. She cost 50, 725, 900 and carries So
officers and 429 men. This is the roster
of officers:
Capt.-James Fl. Sands,
Lieut.. Commander-John 81. Moore,
executive officer,
Lieutenant-John E. Parker, navigat-
ing officer,
Lieutenants-G. 81. Stafford, senior
watch; W. l. Maxwell, w. III. 6. Bull
lard.
Ensigns-Geo. W. Williams, ]. R. P.
Pringle.
Chief Engine er-W. S. Moore.
Passed Asst. Engineers-W. S. Smith,
NJ. III. McGraun.
Asst Engineer-John r. Morris.
1st Lieut.. Marines-Geo. Fl. Fuller.
Paymaster-L. G. Briggs.
Paymaster's Jonathan Brooks,
Surgeon-C. G. Herndon.
Passed Asst. Surgeon-L. W. Spart-
lin.
Cadet Engineers-H. G. Dinger, Alex
N. Mitchell.
Naval Cadets-L. N. Gotten, G. l..
Smith, W. G. Watts. E. Woods.
Boatswain-A. johnson.
Gunner-C. S. Vanderbeck.
Sdf p6utST-C. -. Jflllu.
When the ship arrived large supply of
the Daily PRESS was sent aboard ship
containing the news of the battle before
Manila. Officers and men were intensely
excited and interested. There were many
expression of envy for the good luck of
the boys with Admiral D3wey's squad
ron, and impatience that their duty pre-.
vented them from sharing in the glory of
battle The papers were eagerly seized
andH news devoured. Comment was made
upon the superior sgunnery of our men.
why said one officer. "you ought to
have eeen the practice shots made by our
men. At 1900 yards distance, in rough
sea, with brisk wind blowing, shots
discharged at target no bigger than q
barrel surmounted by small flag, either
hit the barrel or dropped within ten fest
Of the target every time. That's shoot
ing
With the ship is Mr.. Davis, represent
ing the New York San, who will con-
tinue on the ship throughout the cruise.
Mr.. Davis has become quite accustomed
to his sea life. and was a caller at the
PRESS Office on the arrival of the
cruiser.
Capt. Sands says that they have some OF
the best gunners In the country on board
his ship. Many of them are men who
have been trained for years in this partic-
ular line and their craftsmanship is
something wonderful. He says the
method Of drilling with the guns is what
is called sub-calibre practice to save valu-
able ammunition. The larger guns are
fitted with sub-calibre which goes inside
and does not require nearly so much pow.
der and SIN aller projeotiles.
The ship expects to make Bar Harbor
her next port.