Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-12
THE FASTEST OF CRUISERS.
All Records Surpassed by the Vesuvius
Considering the Size and Class.

Vesuvius, the new dynamite cruiser of the
United States government, is a success. The
Philadelphia Press says: She is the fastest
cruiser ever built-not only for Uncle Sam. but
for any other government. Her third and Off
cial trial proved this yesterday. Commander
Cowles' dispatch to Secretary Whitney was
laconic and said but these words:
Trial success. Time, p 64-lO0 knots"
This telegram brought from Secretary Whit
ney the following to William Cramp & Sons:
trial OF the Vesuvius. Considering the size and
class of vessel and weights carried. you can
justly claim to have surpassed all records here
tofore made"
HOW THE TRIP WAS MADE
The trial trip of yesterday was the third to
which the Vesuvius had been subjected. On
the two former she met with accidents. On the
first blower was blown out and on the second
the connecting lever of the air-pump became
disarranged. Secretary Whitney wanted a
trial without any accident to mar it. and that
OF yesterday fulfilled his requirements The
cruiser left her wharf at Cramps yard about 8
O'Clock on Thursday morning commanded by
VIM. Cramp, his son, Andrew ID. Cramp. being
his assistant. Horace See engineer-in-chief OF
the Cramps, had charge of the engines. The
trial board of the government, who were
the judges OF whether the cruiser full
filled the statutory requirements, and who ac-
companied the vessel and witnessed her per-
Torrance from the deck of the United States
steamship Despatch, were: Lieut.. Commander
VIM. s. Cowles, of the Despatch: Lieut.. Seaton
Schroeder. Lieut.. Bradley A. Fisk and Passed
Assistant Engineer Habighurst. who has been
the inspector Of the machinery of the Vesuyius
during her construction. and who, when she
will have gone into commission, will be her
chief engineer. Lieut. Schroeder will be her
commanding officer. OF the others ON board
beside the crew were Lieut.. Garden. of the
United States revenue marine, and Mr.. Buell.
the representative of VIM. Cramp 4 Sons at
Washington. who acted as recorder for the con-
tractors.
THE REPORT TO THE SECRETARY.
On the return trip the foil owing report was
prepared and sent to Secretary Whitney last
night:
Leaving the shipyard at o'clock on the
morning of the 10th instant, we ran the Vesu-
vius to Delaware Breakwater. arriving at 2A5
p.m., and reported to the trial board, Desir-
ing to obtain certain data of performance for
our own use We decided to spend the rest of
the afternoon of the 10th in a series of pro-
gressive speed tests over the measured course.
and hence deferred the regular official
trial until this morning. The length
of the course was officially certified to
us by the board as being 254 knots,
and we were notified that the vesuvius
would have to 60 over it each way in minutes
Is seconds in order to attain a mean speed of
not less than 20 knots an hour. The first run
over the course was in the direction of the tide,
and was made in $50 minutes, which gave a
rate Of %. IS knots per hour. The second run
against the tide was made in 7:30 minutes
showing a rate of las knots. The mean speed
of the two runs was, therefore, 21.65 knots per
hour, a gratifying circumstances seeing that
the statutory requirement was handsomely ex-
ceeded in each run. The indicated horse
power developed by the main engines by oh
servation, was 1896, and estimating the auxili-
aries at $50, the collective indicated horse
power was LAS.
The contract required but an indicated horse
power of $500. The maximum speed made by
the Vesuvius OF ~. 95 knots, is equal to about
26 miles an hour. This speed she attained for
successive miles, each being made in the re-
markable time of two and one-half minutes.
Inc home run from the Breakwater to the
Vesuvius' dock, about 80 knots, was made
against strong ebb-tide in 5.43 hours.
FAST SHIPS OF THE PAST.
The fastest war ships, prior to the vesuyius.
was the MAMMALIAN. built by Sir william Arm
strong, OF England, for the Japanese govern
ment, which was accepted after her sixteentb
official trial. The Naniawakan was surpassed
for speed by the Refine Regente, which was
built by the Thompsons, Of the Clyde bank, for
the Spanish government, and which was con-
sidered the fastest boat afloat, having attained
speed Of e2008 knots on her seventh trial
trip. The trial test Of the Refine Regente was
made over one-knot course, while that of the
Vesuvius was over ~ knot
A SuPPosKD STOLEN BEcTcnR.-Hsnry VIII
liams, c0lored, was arrested about 3 O'Clock
this morning BY Oficer Caverly and locksd up
ct the first precinct station on suspicion. He
had supposed stolen bicycle in his possssuion,
and When be cav this officer he dropped ne
wheel and hid Ia an area-wav. This afternoon,
in the Police Court Williams wss sentenced 10
give bonds or 60 down for two monthA
6MoxH ynon HoLR n rHR WAxL.-An alarm
was turned in because smoke was seen issuing
from hole in the wall Of the houss of Mr.. W
H. Slater. No. 1877 11th street northwest. An
Investigation proved that no damage was done
Birda hid uads . nest. who're sinGle brick