Commander Eugene H. C. Leutze to Secretary of the Navy John D. Long
U.S.S.Monterey,
San Diego, California,
June 10,1898.
Sir:-
Referring to my telegram of this date,I would respectfully state that I left San Francisco with this vessel and the collier Brutus in company at 2 P.M. on June 7th. The San Francisco bar was smooth but after getting outside of the Faralones1 the usual heavy Northwest swell was encountered. I laid a direct course for Honolulu and kept it during the night. The ship pitched considerably but the rolling,on account of its quickness,due the great meta-centric height of the vessel,was excessive and racked her considerably.2 I also found that I could only make about four and a half knots on an expenditure of twenty eight tons of coal per day. This should give at least eight knots.
2. By 2 A.M.,the 8th,all the weather deck load of coal, amounting to about seventy tons,had been washed away,though I tried different courses near the direct one,and efforts were made to resecure the coal,which was secured in the same manner as it had been on former occasions. Nothing eased the vessel excepting running before the sea,which was down the coast. I therefore decided,about 5 A.M. the 8th,to run South,out of the North Westers,to the region of calms and trade winds,which will considerably lengthen the voyage but I am satisfied will be the shortest in the end.
3. While in the Santa Barbara Channel I had the Brutus take us in tow in order to test the appliances and preparations made,also to ascertain the speed. Everything proved as satisfactory as could be expected. With a strong breeze astern and a following sea,the weather I expect in the trade winds,she could maintain a speed of seven knots,which is very satisfactory.
4. I decided to run in here as it is the southern most place where I can replenish the coal supply and as it is near the course I had to make to keep in smooth water.
5. We require about one hundred and fifty tons of coal and will get away with the least possible delay.
Very respectfully,
EHCLeutze
Commander,U.S.Navy,
Commanding.
Source Note: TCyS, DNA, AFNRC, M625, roll 320. Addressed below close: “The/ Secretary of the Navy.” Document reference: “148/98,S.N.48.” Docketed: “U.S.S.Monterey,/san Diego,California,/June 10,1898./Leutze,E.H.C.,/Commander,U.S.Navy,Commanding./Gives account of voyage to/this port.” This docket contains a top-centered rectangular “BUREAU OF NAVIGATION” stamp dated 16 June 1898 with the reference number “119945” in the middle.
Footnote 1: The Faralones are a group of islands off the coast of California near San Francisco.
Footnote 2: Monterey was a monitor designed to operate in calm coastal waters, so it was highly susceptible to short and jerky rolls in rough seas. “Meta-centric” refers to the distance between the center of gravity and metacenter (the determined central point irrespective of a rocking boat). “Racked” is most likely a typographical error; it should be rocked.
