The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-09-05

SAN FRANCISCO. Sept. 4-The trans
port Colon tonight brought the following
from Manila, Philippine islands. August 4:
The United States coast defense vessel
Monterey and the United States collier
Brutus arrived here today, with all well
on board. after a long and uneventful trip.
having left San Francisco June Z last and
San Diego on June II. The trip was re-
markaoie for nothing save the wonder
fully fine weather that both vessels had all
Of the way over. except one little gale On
July 81. Daring this voyage Of $50 knots
the Monterey was towed 3..25 knots by tho
Brutus, and two stops were made, 'one at
Honolulu and the other at the island of
Guam, in the Mariana group. At each
OF these places the Monterey was coaled,
in Honolulu from shore ard At Guam from
the Brutus. The distance ;owed ard that
steamed without towing are as follows:
June is to June 23 towed Tie knots.
July TO July -. towed 2.54I knots.
July % to July ss, towed Az knots
Steamed without towing, 3.s.5 knots. To-
tai i,6eo knots.
The lSotl1 meridian was crossed between
she Sth and Il,h OF July. SO that the 9th
and 10th were but one day. and the total
number Of towing hours was hSl, and 6.7s
knots the average rate at which the Mon
terey was hauled across the Pacific by
The Brutus. In entering San Bernardino
straits. the lighthouse keeper on Kapul
Island hosted the Spanish flag and salut-
ed with ii as the two vessels passed. OF
course, this set them TO wondering IL
peace had been completed. Compared with
the trip OF the Oregon. from the west to
the east coast or the United States, the
voyage just finished by these two vessels
is devoid OF the dramatic interest that
characterized the battleship's great run.
but as matter of fact the trip Of the
Monterey was really the more venture
some Of the two. The Oregon could fly
with her own wings, as we'll as fight: but
for the greater part of the way from Hon.
oluiu TO San Bernardino straits the Mon
,erey would have been helpless but fer
the Bru;us. The monitors steaming radi-
us is only I.soa miles. while the Brutus
steamed the entire distance Of 1850 knots,
gave the Monterey 26s tons Of coal IN
Guam, and then arrived In Manila with
about $500 tons In her bcnkers. As an
experiment the trip has proved nothing
more than that with phcnomenaly fne
weather a vessel intended for coast defense
may with her own steam and tow cross
the Pacific ocean. What tale there would
have been to tel. If much rough weather
had been encountered Is os course an
other story. There Is reason to believe,
however. that such voyage can be made
even in heavy weather, And In the Pacific
ocean It ts always possible to choose a
route along which favorable weather viii
probably be encountered.
The Brutus 0ormerly the Norwegian
collier Peter yehsen) was In no way. cx-
cept in coal carrying. especially fitted to
the work assigned 20 her. II was simply
d matter Of Hobson's choice: she vas
taken because there vas nothing else on
the raciac coast - take: s13. besides.
sne naa nearly 800 tons os coal n her
bunkers There was 10 tine 20 1T her Lp
for the work ard she was simply given the
lick wi,hou: the prom Sc at The navy yard
and showed of. she was able 20 steam.
she had the coal ani there were three slg
Ii-lncn Manila towing na.xers On board
- her This was practically the ext NJ
Of her equipment when size left san Fran
cisco. June : She was built IN 1884 and
SIT going. and evidently Il was the .n:eu-
ton to keep her going as long as possible.
10 earn with her az much as possible ana
then put her 10 rest In soma bone yard
Red lead and the iran of the ErGtus had
long been strangers wnea she fell into the
governments hands; rust. even without
moths. had 50 corrupted her ;hA. il has
taken almost constant work s0r two
months . give her a thorough overhaul
ing; sut her condition today ia fully 100
per cent better taan 4: was when the gov
ernmcn, bought her.
After the Two vessels left Honolulu the
good work dona on the BrutEts began 70
tell. and in the lcng ;ow frpru July 10
Ja.,+ - along tAe road where .he aying
fishes play she showed tse good stun
sha, had been pat "a neE AZ sAe rate Of SIS
knoys an hsus. reeilag OF sor her days
work about 80 knots every fwenty-foUr
foarg Or July = Tire fawiag hawSer part
ss. ard ;aat part bs.wes. ssse br*Ak and
m. Mon,erey. gsa fss IA al. xas lost over
hoSr5 ara hscAns . kasnx 70 nxxs The