The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-28
WARSH|PS ARE
COALEO At SEA
Successful Test of a
New Invention.
OF MUCH VALUE TO THE NAVY
TRIAL BOARD AFTER EXPERT
MENTS rs SATISFIED.
Report to the Naval Department Is
Favorable TO the Adoption
of the Miller Con-
veyor.
OF MUCH VALUE TO THE NAVY
TRIAL BOARD AFTER EXPERT
MENTS rs SATISFIED.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NEW YORK, Nov. 27.-As a result OF
three days trial OF 'coaling ship while
towing at sea, just completed by the Unit
ed States battleship Massachusetts and
the collier Marcellus, IL may soon be pos
sible for any warship 10 receive coal by
the overhead wire system at the average
rate Of twenty tons an hour. The vessels
named returned 10 port tonight and an
chored of Tompkinsville, S. l., after hav-
ing been away for a week, three days OF
which were spent at sea, giving the Miller
conveyor a thorough trial under varied
conditions.
At the conclusion Of to-day's trial, the
third of the series-when l26 bags of coal.
each weighing 40 pounds, had been trans
ported in 60 minutes without an accident,
IS OF them being delivered in ~ minutes
the trial board announced that the test
was ended and that they were satisfied
with the result.
The trial board assigned by the Navy
department 10 witness and report on the
experiments from the deck Of the collier
Marcellus was composed OF Commander
A. b. NJ. Lille, in command OF the Mar
eellus; Lieutenant Commander w. ID.
Rose, and Lieutenant John y. Bernardo.
The battleship and collier left the city
last Tuesday They made anchor in San
dy Hook Bay on Wednesday night, pro-
ceeding TO sea at o'clock the next morn
ing. a pair Of wooden shears about thirty
feet high had Deen erected on the after
Otth Ol the massachusetts. Al Inc Top Ol
these was fastened large iron block.
over the sheave OF which the wire cable
Travelled that was 10 bring the bags OF
coal across 10 the warship. AT the east
end OF the entrance 10 Gerney's Channel
and about four miles from Sandy Hook
lghtship a boat was lowered from the
batteshlp and a towing hawser quickly
run 10 the collier. BY means or a smaller
line sea anchor cable was sent over to
the Massachusetts and made fast it's end
having first been passed through the top
OF the carrier-a Hat iron block having
three sheaVes, one above the other.
through which the conveying cables run.
This first cable passed through sheaves at
the foremost and mainmast heads OF the
collier, the wire then leading 10 the water,
where cone-shaped canvas bag towing
astern kept the line taut and helped 10
support the carrier and its load.
A specially contriVed Lidgerwood engine
having two winding drums is located close
10 and abaft the foremost on the collier.
A steel SS-inch cable leads from one down
across TO the block on the warship's
shears, thence back 10 the Golfers mast,
and down 10 the rear drum. This thing
gives a reciprocating motion TO the con-
tension.
The bags Of coal are first hoisted from
the Golfers deck 10 the masthead upon an
iron cage or elevator. The letter L in
verted represents the iron bale with the
hooks at its end. 70 which the bags are
suspended. on two short rods that project
from the Top OF the elevator. Inc CARRIERS
ntted with a long pointed hook pivoted at
its bottom. This hook driven under the iron
bale engages II, the elevator drops and the
carrier starts at speed OF 1900 feet a min
ute for the warship. When II reaches that
end OF the route a rubber buffer on the
block strikes a latch. which releases the
hook and the bags. with their iron bale
drop down the canvas chute TO the decks
OF the warship. Were the jackies scam
per away with IL on trucks TO the bunkers.
Three hundred feet is the distance main
tanned between ships during the operation.
The test was a success from the start.
Spencer Miller the inventor OF the con-
veyor, was aboard the Massachusetts,.