The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-10-24
NEW BATTLESHIP WISCONSIN
WITH REAR ADMIRAL CASEY
Continued flom Page IL

The Wisconsin carries the flag of Ad-
miral Silas Casey in command of the
Pacific Station, who is on his way to
the South Seas, and the stop here is
made for the purpose of taking on coal
to replace that which was used in the
run from Puget Sound, something like
600 tons This will consume at least
three days and it may be that the great
battleship will stay until the arrival of
her little companion, the transport
Solace, which sailed from San Fran
cisco Saturday last, and which is ex-
pected to reach here the end of this
week. There would be two reasons for
this decision if it is reached, in that
one of the most notable passengers in
the Solace is Admiral Robley Evans,
Fighting Bob" and it may be the de-
sire of Admiral Casey to have him as
a guest in the flagship. Yet another
admiral will be in the Solace, Admiral
Henry Glass, whose promotion followed
the retirement of Admiral Schley, which
took place on the 9Th of this month
Yet new test was given to the Wis
consin during the nine days of the pas
sage from the Sound to this port. Leav
ing the Sound on Monday last Flattery
was three days behind when the winds
which had been northeast, and fresh
only, shifted to south, coming as much
from the southeast as from the south
west and developing into a gale. Seas
were piled up and the big vessel for
ward was under water some of the time.
It was the first time the battleship had
found any weather and her officers
were busily engaged in following her
conduct. Everything was snug and
taut and the vessel under three-quar-
tiers speed, went ahead at the rate of
eleven knots, making no fuss, but prov
Ing a revelation to those on board. The
speed made was within two knots of
the rate at which she went through the
water when there was a smooth sea,
and though there was a great swell ac-
lcompanying the high wind, the ship was
as steady as possible and every man
on board was surprised by the perfec-
ton of her motion and handling. There
was lew and irregular barometer all
the time and Capt George C. Reiter
was constantly on watch for worse
weather even than was encountered,
but two days out of port the wind fell
and from that time there was Honolulu
weather. But for the storm the ship
would have been in port yesterday
morning, as the speed was excellent all
the way. except when the head wind
prevented the chalking up of miles
enough to keep an average.
The action of the Wisconsin under
stress of weather left a most reassuring
| impression on the minds of all her Of
ficers, and the vessels speed is thought
| to be the very highest in list of vessels
of this class in the world. officers of
| the Wisconsin say their ship will make
her contract speed of 16 knots under
natural draft, While with the forced
draft which is provided the speed at
tained on the trial will be eclipsed
| While the engines of the ship call for
only 10000 horsepower this is believed
| by the officers to be at least ten per
cent below what has been shown on
spurts. Thus far the present trip Of
the Wisconsin is the furthest she has
made from home, for since going into
commission in February of this year,
there has been on no occasion more
| than a trip to Magdalen Bay, on the
| Mexican coast, and to Bremerhaven, in
Puget Sound.
| The Wisconsin was not brought into
the harbor, as the conditions under
which she is here are such that it is
not deemed best to make the trial. The
fact that there would be less than half
the width of the ship on either side of
her if she should try the channel, and
that there would be only about four
feet under her when she went out.
operated to bring about this decision of
the officers. There is a chance how
ever that once the mission which is
| taking Admiral Casey is ended and the
battleship is back here, an effort will