The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-05

NOvcts9C SAAANA
Voyage Compared-Heat On the
Monitor Almost Intolerable.
San Francisco, Sept. 4.-The trans
port Colon, which carried troops from
this port to Manila, arrived here to-
night on her homeward trip.
San Francisco, Sept. 4.-The trans
port Colon tonight brought the fellow
ing from Manila, Philippine islands,
Aug. 4:
The United States coast defense yes
sci Monterey and the United States
collier Brutus arrived here today, with
all well Oh board, after a long and I'M
eventful trip. having left San Fran
cisco on June : last, and San Diego,
Cal, on June II. The trip was re-
markable for nothing save the Won
derfully fine weather that both vessels
had all of the way over, except one lit
tie gale on July 81 During this voy-
age of 1900 knots the Monterey was
towed 8, 725 knots by the Brutus and
two stops We're made; one at Honolulu
the other at the Island of Guam, in the
Mariana group. AT each of these
places the Monterey was coaled, in
Honolulu from shore and in Guam
from the Brutus. The distance towed
and that steamed without towing are
as follows:
June IS to June 90, towed z12 knots.
July TO July %, towed 2,541 knots.
July 25 to July %, towed Az knots.
Steamed without towing, S,S75 knots.
Total, 1900 knots.
The 18th meridian was crossed be-
tween the Sth and the 18th OF July. so
that the 9th and 10th were but one
rNd1V and 10 tofaI- o1;1Y111a Of tOIN;T1pr
hours was 551. and SIC knots the
average rate at which the Monterey
was hauled across the Pacific by the
Brutus. On entering San BerHardino
straits the lighthouse keeper on Kapul
islands hoisted the Spanish flag and
saluted with it as the two Vessls
passed. OF course this set them to
wondering if peace had been com
pleted.
COMPARISON OF VOYAGES.
Compared with the trip of the Oregon
from the west to the east coast of the
United States, the voyage just finished
by these two vessels is devoid of the
dramatic interest that characterized
the battleship's great home run, but as
a 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 well as fight;
but for the greater part of the way
from Honolulu TO San Bernardino
straits the Monterey would have been
helpless but for the Brutus. The
monitors steaming radius is only 1,e00
miles, while the Brutus steamed the
entire distance of 1900 miles, gave the
Monterey 26S tons of coal in Guam and
then arrived in Manila with about $500
tons in her bunkers.
AS an experiment the trip has proved
nothing more than that with phe-
nOmenally fine weather a vessel in
tended for coast defense may with her
own steam and a tow. cross the Pacific
ocean. What tale there would have
besnuto tell had much rough weather
been encountered is, of course, an
other story. There is reason to be-
lieve, however. that such voyage can
be made even in heavy weather. And
in the Pacific ocean it is always posi-
BILE to choose a route along which
favorable weather viii probably be en-
eountered-
A HOBSON'S CHOICE.
The Brutus formerly the Norwegian
collier Peter Jebsenl was in nc way,
except coal-carrying capacity eSpec-
tally fitted for the work assigned to
her. 1t was simply a matter of Hob
sons choice: she was taken because
there was nothing else on the Pacific
coast to take; and, besides, she had !
nearly 5000 tons of coal IN her bunkerS. !
There was no time to fit her up for the |
work. and she was simply given the /
lick without the promise at the navy |
yard ard showed off. She was able to /
Steam. she had the coal, and there were /
three big 14-inch Manila towing haw- /
S.rS on board of her. This was Srac- /
tically the extent OF her equipment |
when she left San Francisco June I. /
She WAS built in 1881 and set going: /
? inf ion RI
keep her going as long as possible; TO 4
earn as much with her as possible, and /
then put her to rest in some bone yard.
Red .e2d and the iron Of the Brutus I
had long been strangers when she fell
into the governments hands; rust even
without moths, had so corrupted her
that il has taken almost constant work
for two months TO give her thorough
oVerhauling; but her condition today IS
fully 100 per cent better than it was
when the government bought her.
After the two vessels left Honolulu
the good work done on the BrutuS be-
gan TO tell, and in the long tow, from
July to July -, along the road
''W here the flying fishes play" she
showed the good stuff that had been
lsut in her at the rate of 6.S knots an
hour reeling off for her days work
about 163 kncts every "a hours. ON
July Is the towing hawSer parted, and
that part between the break and the
$50 feet in all. was lost over l.
card and became thing to make the
fishes OK the Pacific wonder what
strange sea serpent had swum into
heir ken. Before breaking the Monte
,ey had been towed by this hawser
,.603 knots The spare hawser was
gotten out. and after only few hours
5elay, the two ships were on the course
again: but at that time every one on
the two ships had begun to feel that
the critical part of the trip was over,
as the Monterey then was in striking
distance oe Guam with her own coal. {
The lifting of the responsibility as ;
Guam drew near was very noticeable. !
and it was easier breathing on both {
ships after July i.
DAYS WELL FILLED. s
Such a long sea voyage. in all so
lays at sea out of 81, with not even :
break in the delightful weather from /
June to July 81, doubtless must seem {
o the landsman monotonous in the ex- I
RENE, but the days were filed with
he work of keeping the ship going [
md that other sort of work of keep ]
ng things in order that is like moth
ng on shore so much as Housekeeping
n large, well regulated establish
nent. 1t is seldom, though, that such
long voyage is destitute of events. A
eafarer might go to sea for the rest !
{ his life and never experience such T
long stretch of fine weather. Save 6
or a moderate little gale of wind on :
uly 81, off San Bernardino straits, and ,
days rough weather outside of San +
Francisco June s. it was a trip to make +