The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-16
CRUISE OF THE HARTFORD.
Admiral Fnrrnsut's Famous Flag
ship weathers Cane Horn

Farragut's famous flagship. the Hartford.
unchanged in appearance. but vastly I'M
proved in engine room ard battery. after
thirty years naval service. has safely
weathered Cape Horn. and is ROW on her
way up the Atlantic. bound for New York
me Navy Department has received from
her commander, CAPT. ]. VI. Hawley, the
first report since she left San Frar cisco. on
January 10. II is dated at Valparaiso.
| Chile, March 6. and shows that the ship's
crew, OF three hundred landsmen. who will
be assigned to other warships at New York,
have had all sorts OF uncommon ex-
perierces.
When the Hartford put to sea from San
Francisco and headed down south in thu
Pacific, she was loaded well down with
fifty tons of coal on deck. overflow from
the bunkers. and vast quantities OF stores
in the hold for an extraordinary voyage.
Soon after dropping the coast the new
engines were started. in accordance with
the Departments orders, under full speed.
but after short time hot bearings de-
Veioped, and in few hours frequent stops
became necessary to cool them off. Find
ing this state OF affairs likely to continue.
sail was made to fair wind. and Captain
Hawiey continued under canvas until
to enable the engineers force to remedy
defects as far as possible
Under plain sail for few days, and then
with all canvas spread. the Hartford bore
down for the equator until Pitcairn Island
was reached, when steam was raised under
two boilers. and for two weeks the Hart
ford proceeded with both engine and sail
power. Then engines were stopped. the
funnel was lowered, and the fires were
han nd he ~ h,f,-
| and headed in for the coast of Chile.
stop of six hours was made at the
island Of Juan Fernandez, made famous
by Robinson Crusoe where the crew were
permitted ashore after being fifty-three
days at sea. The Hartford arrived at
Valparaiso on March and was received
with unusual honors by the Chilean au-
thorities. who have been rather coolly in
clined toward American warships since
the incident of the Baltimore and the
Yorktown. Lying at anchor, the Hartford
found ships whose names were well known
in this country and regarded with some
Difference when the Navy was far less
powerful than now. There were the Blan-
co Encalada. the Esmerelda-a craft that
sought the Charleston after the Itata az
fair. and would probably have engaged
her had they met on the seas-the Pratt
and Cochrane. both formidable ships; the
not SO well knowu-in fact, nearly all of
Chiles navy was assembled and Numbered
salutes to the once famous old warship.
On the run TO Valparaiso every favorable
opportunity was used to instruct the lands
men in the use and management OF sails.
such as making and taking in SAIL
reefng bending and unbending, and on
several occasions the ship was worked IN
der sail, lacking. wearing and boxhauling.
After the first month they were placed at
the weather wheel. and steered the ship
during the day. under the direction of the
quartermaster on watch, and many of them
became expert helmsmen in a short time.
For the entertainment of the crew Chap
lain Steele delivered lectures on the life
OF Admiral Farragut and exhibited the
stereopticon and graphophone. Mr.. White,
a journalist, who is CT board, also enter
taiEed the crew with lecture on the bat
tie of Manila Bay
Captain Hawley has this to say regarding
the sailing qualities Of the ship: The
ship sails we'll. but would be much i'm
proved II rugged with flying jib and royas
on the fore and main. She works N th,r-
teen points. and has made nearly ten knots
on a bovine. She is slow in lacking.
which is due to being too deep in the
water. making her sluggish in coming up
to the wind. Formerly she drew less water
forward by one foot and after by about two
feet"
The progress that the landsmen on the
Hartford are making toward becoming
qualified for ordinary seamen is shown as a
result of an examination held on the
cruise. when 119 met the requirements,
and have been rated with that rank. Cap
tain Hawley expects to find the remainder
qualified at the next examination, which
he will hold in May.