The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-28
/ RUSHING MONSTER.
Cruiser San Francisco Aver
ages Nearly Twenty Knots.
BUILDERS GET 100000 BONUS.
e~ifter Boat Than the Charleston, and
More Steady The Trial Trip
a Glorious Success.

SANTA BARBARA, Aug. 1.-THE new cru
ser San Francisco gave splendid per-
Iormance on her official trial trip in Santa
Barbara channel this morning. The trial
~.s made under the most favorable cir.
eumsfances, SO far as the weather was con-
eerned. The slightest kind of breeze was
Rowing. and except in the vicinity of
Point Conception the waters of the channel
vere as quiet as those of small lake.
The average speed of the San francisco
xss 1851 knots per hour. 1t is generally
: believed that the speed would have been
greater than this had it not been for an un.
fortunate accident which occurred during
The progress of the trial. Water got into
one Of the chambers through which a cur
rent Of air is famed TO the furnaces for the
purpose of producing a forced draft. and
consequently water was being forced into
The ashpan and then into the IRE, and il
was necessary TO stop one of the fans for
some time, until the chamber could be
cleared of water. When the fan was
stopped the draft was accordingly shut off
10 certain extent, and the steam ran
down, which caused considerable loss of
pover for some time.
Il is estimated that the time lost bv the
accident amounted to four minutes. which.
II 1t could be allowed to the San Francisco's
credit, would have given her an average
/ Of 1882 knots. However, her maximum
/ speed would be over twenty knots. The
acreage speed actually made entities her
builders to premium of 100000, and it is
not probable that another trial will be held
The United States coast survey steamer
Hassler and Macarthur acted as stake
boats. The San Francisco got under way
about O'Clock this morning, and steame d
in southeasterly direction, to about ten
miles below the southern end of the course.
She then turned and started towards the
course, gradually increasing her speed TIL
she started on her long, hard run of four
hours.
Notwithstanding the terrific rate of speed
which she had already attained, the cruiser
vas perfectly steady, there being not the
highest roll or pitch perceptible. The
culver OF ship which necessarily follows
fnch rapid movement of machinery was
also comparatively slight, and there was
marked difference between the San Fran
cisco and the Charleston in this respect.
The first four miles of the course were
run over in little more than twelve min
uies almost twenty-knot pace. This rate
Of speed was maintained during the whole
run Of forty miles, and after run of four
hours, one minute and thirteen seconds the
cruiser crossed the northwestern line,
minute and a fraction being needed to give
Der a tweniy-knot rate for the whole dis
lance.
On the trip up the channel the engines
averaged 126 TO 10 revolutions, but as soon
q the cruiser turned into the large circle
Without diminishing her speed and had
struck into the course fifteen minutes later
she was Immediately forced little more,
and at one time a maximum of 131 revolu-
ions was reached and the vessel was
driven through the water at rate of speed
probably exceeding anything within the ex-
perience of anyone on board. Comparatively
little smoke poured from her tunnels, but
. cloud OF cinders came down on the decks
and through the hatchways. The cruiser
seemed to be striving hard for twenty
knot rate, aud there was much excitement
aboard her in consequence, but at this
time the accident happened which made it
necessary to stop one of the fans, and sew
eral minutes elapsed before the ship again
regained her greatest speed.
. moment after IL O'Clock, and as she
crossed the line terrific blast burst from
| her fog siren and a ringing cheer came up
from the fire room and engine room
hatches from the men who had done their
best for four long hours to win victory
Tor the San Francisco.
The cruiser proceeded on the same
course for half an hour, until the super
fuous steam could be worked off, and then
returned slowly to Santa Barbara and
anchored about half mile off the shore.
The actual time consumed in making the
eighty nautical miles, not includ-
Ing the turning time at the
further end of the course, was
4hours minutes and 81 seconds. being a
htle less than six minutes over the time
which would have given her a twenty-knot
record. The actual speed averaged during
the run OF eighty miles was 1856. being
one-sixeenth of one-hundredth of knot
less than the record of the Philadelphia.
VIXEN the result was announced there
ver general congratulations aboard the
cruiser. During the entire run, with the
exception of the trihing accident already
yentioned, there was not slip in any
Part of the machinery. and the firerooms
and engine-rooms were comparatively conn.,
iostabe.
The trial course lay from q half-mile to
three miles off shore, and the greatest in
serest was taken In the trial. particularly
IN the vicinity of Santa Barbara. where
crowds of people stood on the pier and
lined the beach watching the vessel pass
By
The San Francisco will remain at anchor
until tomorrow morning, when she will
sart north, arriving in San Francisco by
friday morning.
The trial board has forwarded dispatch
Washington City stating that the aver
age speed of the San Francisco was 10 40
knots.