Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-04
I'm THE DOLDRUMS
Perhaps the Monongahela Has Run
Into the Region of Gains.
NAVAL OFFICIALS not ALARMED
The Ship Regarded as Good Ono.
But Slow.
LEFT FUNCHAL JULY ~

The Navy Department has not the slight
est apprehension as to the safety of the
U. s. S. Monongahela. which is said to be
overdue at Hampton Roads. Stories of
probable disaster to the vessel have food
ed the Navy Department with kilograms
from anxious parents and friends of the
cadets aboard. Acting Secretary Allen, af-
ter comforting with the experts of the navi-
cation bureau and other officers who are
thoroughly familiar with the qualities of
the vessel, has directed that answer be
made to these kilograms in each case that
the department entertains no apprehension
on her account.
~Cruise of the NOnOnEahela.
The Monongahela sailed from Annapolis
on the LIST of May last, on practice cruise
across the Atlantic and back. carrying
about 12O cadets from the Naval Academy,
made up of the second and third classes
and part of the fourth class. She was
bound for Plymouth, England, where she
arrived July 1, having taken two months
in the passage. She sailed on the home
ward trip on July 8, and reported from
Funchal, Madeira, her arrival at that part
July "a. On July 81 she sailed direct for
Annapolis, so that up to this morning she
had been out thirty-eight days. The Off
GERS of the navigation bureau say this Is
voyage even under favorable weather con-
ditionS.
The distance from Funchal to the Chesa-
peake capes, in a direct line, is about 2,SOO
miles. But sailing vessels never take this
direct route, and naval ships, in particular,
make practice in swinging far to the
southwark after leaving Funchal, in order
to get the trades" which will bring them
well up on the Atlantic coast BEFORE falllns
them urder ordinary circumstances. mat
makes a route of about 5000 miles.
The Monongahela is commanded by Capt.
HutchiEs. the commandant of cadets at
Annapolis whose reputation Is that of a
careful and thoroughly competent sailor.
The vessel Is stanch and good sea boat
She is speedy before the wind and running
free but not weatherly; in. fact. 1t is al.
most impossible to tack with her, and II
head winds are met she can only hold her
own without advancing on her course she
is of wood 9 100 tons displacement and in
excellent condition.
Good Ship, but Slow.
Captain Dickins of the navigation bu-
reau says that his last passage from Ma
deira on the Monongahela took forty
days and that was not regarded as a slow
passage for her The Constellation. ranked
as one of the fastest sailing ships in the
navy, made the trip in thirty-four days,
which was regarded as an exceptional run
Captain Hunker. also of the navigation
bureau recalled his trip on the old James
II,
Newport consuming sixty days. Gales on
the coasts of Long Island kept the ship Off
shore for full two weeks. Judge Advocate
General Lemly spent two years on the
Monongahela on the South Atlantic sta
ton. He says she is good boat. but
slow. He did not believe he undertook to
tack the ship in those two years. Posi-
bly,. though. she had improved as a sailor
since her engines had been removed and
the propeller opening closed.
Making a computation based on the date
the Monongahela sailed from Funchal and
the date when the last West India hurri-
cane crossed her course the department
officers find that by no possibility could
that particular hurricane have interfered
with the ship. She must have been at
least 1000 miles east of the hurricane,
when she was nearest to it,
Perhaps in the DOldrums.
OF course she may have experienced
other storms but in the opinion of the
Navy Department people, about the worst
thing that can have happened to her Is to
have fallen into the 'doldrums. by which
is meant to have run into the region Of
calm that sometimes prevails for weeks at
a time at this season in the south Allan
tic. The only regret of the department Of
ficialS in the matter. Is that the cadets
aboard the Monographs must submit to
a slight curtailment of their shore leaves.
But for the ship, herself. they will have
no fear for the next ten days at least