Omaha daily bee., 1898-06-19
A MONITOR WITH A RECORD.
SengOinS Qualities of the Old Monad-
NOTES.-The Modern Craft.

SenEOfnS Qualities of the Old Monad-
~nOck-The Modern Craft.
The Monitor Monadnock, which is booked
to follow the Monterey to the Philippine
islands, has a record surprising that of
the Oregon in steaming around the South
American continent. The present monitor,
however, bears but little resemblance to the
craft which sped from Philadelphia around
the Horn to San Francisco, a distance of
15,SS5 nautical miles, in 1866.
Under command of Lieutenant Com
mander Francis M. Bunce, at present rear
admiral, the old Monadnock sailed from
Hampton Roads, Va, November 2, 1865, in
company with the Vanderbilt and Powhattan,
paddle-wheel steamers, and the Tuscarora,
a screw ship. Arrived at st. Thomas, in
the West Indies, November IL, it's ability to
go anywhere on the sea was already estab-
Usher and from that port to its western des-
~tination only the Vanderbilt accompanied it.
The monitor stopped at Rio Janeiro and was
visited and admired by Don Pedro III, the
emperor.
THE passage through the straits of Ma
gellan and Sarmiento channel to the gulf
Of Penar," writes it's commander, "pre-
scented no difficulties which were mot easily
overcome. l feared. in passing through the
narrow places and abrupt turnings the
length of the ship would give trouble, but
in practice found none whatever"
On April %, 1866, the Monadnock arrived
at Callao, Peru. and on May 10 at Panama,
and after one stop in Mexico arrived in San
Francisco on June %.
The reports of officers with reference to
the trip of the old Monadnock are valuable
as showing that vessels of this type are
capable of doing even cruiser service. 1t
| must he noted fpD that the Monn1nopl'S
successor and namesake is an Incompatible
Improvement on the old craft in every par
ticular and, therefore, whatever was said
in commentator of the old monitors quail
tiles may be averred with manifold mean
ing of the new vessel.
The following appears in the report of
Commodore Rodgers of June 2S, 1866:
Il have the honor to announce the safe
arrival of the Vanderbilt and the Monad-
mock at the navy yard, Mare island. The
Monadnock found no weather on her voyage
from Philadelphia to San Francisco which
seemed to touch the limit of its sea- going
qualities. The engines have performed as
satisfactorily as the hull and have arrived
In complete order. The success of the voy-
age amply indicated the judgment in I'M
dertaking 1t. and the hopes OF the most
sanguine Of monitor people are fulfilled in
this crucial experiment"
Captain Bunce, in his report. said
During the passage of this ship from Phil
adelphia to San Francisco the Monadnock
has run by log 1885 knots. The average
speed has been 6.32 knots. The engines
have been run about sixty revolutions pei
minute, that being the point judged to be
the most economical in fuel and in wear
and tear of machinery. Not a single piece
81 H. 1900 - 49,. 80 --l
the engines are all now IA good working
order. They have been able to perform al
the work demanded of them.
in its present condition the Monadnoch
is as perfectly safe and trustworthy fol
cruising in any part of the world as a yes
sci can be relying on steam alone for its
motive power, and twice as safe as mos
steamers, for 1t has two independent pair.
of steam engines, either of which is sum
cient to keep the ship under control in any
weather, and to propel 1t in ordinary condi.
tions OF wind and sea five knots an hour
At sea the ship has never needed or re-
ceiyed assistance of any kind whatever from
other vessels, and therefore ! regard it oil
any vessel Of its class as a thoroughly com
petent, independent cruiser"
And such was the successful voyage o
the first turreted vessel from the Atlantic
to the Pacific coast.
Today in one of the machine shops a
the Mare island navy yard there is hum
up as a memento of the original Monadnocl
a catamaran that was kept when the oil
vessel was torn to pieces. The sailors hav'
quite a veneration for the old raft. 1t speak
to them OF times that are growing dim t
} the memories Of the old tars who carr.
under their caps some history of experience
: in the war that shook the foundations o
the republic.
The keel OF the Monadnock OF today wa
5 laid in Mare Island navy yard twenty-fou
Q years ago. But little more was done unit
4 1890, when construction began on entirel
new plans and completed in 1895. The lengt
Q OF the Monadnock's water line Is 259 fee
. 6 inches and it's extreme breadth {, 55 fee
a 6 inches. Its mean draft is IA feet 6 inche
and it has a displacement OF 1890 tons. ]
is supplied with a twin-screw horizonta
triple expansion engine. with a maximum
: indicated horse power OF 5000. Norma
I speed, 145 knots per hour.
The batteries OF the Monadnock are yer