Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-08-30
SPEEDING A BATTLEsHIP
uew The Maine Made Her Trial
Trip.

II was one of those mornings which
,romised any sort of weather for the
dav-one moment a shower, the next a
clear ray of sunlight, a chance bit Of
Wind. and a thin mist over the water.
All these came in quick succession, but
,hev made no difference whatever to
,be early risers who were huddled on
the end of the wharf waiting TO take
one of the tugs tied up there and go
down the harbor to the pattieSh1p
Maine, waiting at anchor in Presidents
poads. Who cared for the weather on
on occasion like this? The official test
n battleship is vastly differcn. from
harbor excursion of the ordinary
kind. and it would have taken a
tornado to hold back the hundred or
more men awaiting the signal to start.
First someone jumped down upon
the deck of a tug, and like sheep play
ing follow my leader" a dozen jumped
after. 1t was the wrong boat, and all
had to climb back on the pier, but the
rioht boat was reached, and it took
only few minutes for the full load to
camper on board. Then a second re-
ceved its complement, and the two
hurried off down the harbor, where the
,reat gray battleship waited motionless
for her visitors.
The very bigness of the ship awed all
nc they came on board, not climbing
I'D a ladder, by the way, but walking
across a conventional gangplank; but
the awe lasted for only moment ard
then was succeeded by the curiosity
TO examine everything within reach
and every man seemed to start off
upon an individual exploring expeGi-
ton. The only exception was with the
naval men on board, and from admiral
to midshipman they had an absolute
Indifference to the new surroundings
not possessed by their fellow passen-
gers.
All classes seemed to be represented
by the men on the two tugs-lawyers,
doctors merchants, politicians, stu
dents: it would be hard to think of q
calling where representatives would
not jump for one of those coveted bits
Of pasteboard emitting the owner to
the trip on the Maine.
There was much to see on board the
battleship, and it made little differ
ence with the sightseers that the pier
had been left at seven, while the final
start down the harbor might not be
made for nearly two hours. Meantime
they went everywhere-up on the high
est bridge, where one could catch
views up and down the harbor, down to
the engine rooms, where the grimy-
faced stokers We're slowly feeding the
furnaces which would soon be worked
tLn;,, l..
cry was all ready for its day of trial.
and the strong but unmistakable smell
of oil told that nothing had been over
looked by those in charge of these rods
and pistons. The sailors were 4 rather
motley set, and anything or every
thing did for clothing, the lack of uni
form being the noticeable thing about
their appearance, but then this wa.
merely the trial. and the regular crew
of the batteship would not take pos
session of her until the government
had accepted her. Her present crew
was merely a makeshift organized in
Philadelphia to run the ship to her
best and unhesitatingly to request a
morning paper from anyone who hap
pened TO ask a question.
1t seemed only moment after COM
ing on board, but it was really an hour
and half, when the smoke from the
three stacks thickened and the Maine
started slowly on her course down the
harbor and turned towards the northwad
Ass0on as the angle was rounded beyond
Boston Light there was an instant ac-
celeration in speed and the hattleship
plunged through the water at a lively
Ette. There was a strong head wind
and the nose of the ship plunged
straight forward and clouds of spray
deluged the deck. Farther back and
nearer the waves. but better protected
from them was the popular place for
The great majority of the passengers
and here congressman and commoner
could chat with the most democratic
freedom. The great battleship was as
solid as city pavement as she rushed
ahead, and even the furious revolutions
oil the screw did not make much of a
tremor upon the deck above
Just here stood one of the officers of
the port. Il popular man in political
circles. but unfortunately a victim to
seaslckness. In moment of unsus-
lHcung rashness he had confided his
Weakness to friend, who was a wag
ana liked nothing so much as a practi-
cal Joke Get just as near the water
rs you can; go way back-to the stern.
you'll be all right there" he advised.
ana his unsuspecting victim went to
'ne one place where every particle of
motion on the vessel would be appre-
cia'ed, but there he stood like martyr.
n growing paler and paler, but stoutly
4 protesting every moment that he could
II not De enjoying himself more.
some long and lingering punishment
ought to be in store for that false
4 friend.
n but seasickness was quickly forgot
4 zen When the news was shouted from
1 ohe TO the other that the Maine was
nearing the first mark boat. 1t seemed
almost Incredible to think that the run
along the North Shore had been prac-
ucaily completed. but there ahead one
could see the promontory of Rockport
Watchers Island and the twin light
II houses Nearer at hand the big naval
Jug was tossing back and forth in the
waves and a big. black spot in the wa
Ter proved to be the great buoy floating
on the surface and designated by q
white l. This was the first of six
similar huoys. each marked by a tug
designating the course to the north
"aru up which and back the Maine