The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-02
TIE nnNRoAr BENNINGTON
SIN Another Vessel OF Our New steel
Fleet 90 Take to the Water.

SIN Another Vessel of Our New steel
Fleet TO Take to the Water.
WASHINGTON. juno 1.-The launch OF the
bennington from the well-known Roach yard
In Chester is fixed for Tuesday She is sister
ship OF the Yorktown aud tho Concord, the
former OF which Is now in Rear Admiral Wal
kers Squadron Of Evolution. while tho latter
is soon to have her trial trip The Yorktown
was built by tho Cramps Of Philadelphia at
| contract price Of &45j.OOO, exclusive OF battery
and fittings: the Bennington. like the Concord,
was undertaken by the Quintarl Iron Works
at u contract price OF 100000. This difference
is fully accounted for by the fnct that while the
Iorktown's machinery was only required to
develop 5000 indicated horse power, that OF
the Pennington and her sister ships must show
3,4OO. The customary allowance for nm excess
OF horse power over the guarantee is 500 per
unit. This would represent $4,000 for the 400
above the lorktowns mower exactcd OF the
bennington and Concord. SO that they will DO
really rather the cheaper as we'll as the faster
vessels of this tyre: and it is hoped that they
VIII improve on their stipulated horse power.
and thus increase their calculated speed as
we'll rs earn a premium for their contractors.
The bennington Is an unarmored steel
cruiser OF 1,TO3 tons displacement She has a
length of $50 feet, breadth Of SO. and q draught
OF IL feet forward and ID aft, making mean
OF the British navy. She lacks II double bot
tom, bat her hull is divided by bulkheads In to
many water-tight compartments. which can
DO drained by powerful pumps and ventilated
by blowers. The coal bunkers arc. as usual
in modern war vessels arranged around the
machinery so as to afford some protection
against hostile shot. while a curved or turtle
back deck, OF Is inch steel. whose edges como
q little below the water line. covers tho ma
ch!nory magazines. and steering gcar, and
helps to support the ram-shaled bow and add
strength TO The whole structure On the fore-
castle deck Is an oval coming tower, covered
WIN two inches OF steel and containing. OF
for communicating the orders for steering the
shtp and firing hor guns and torpcdoes
Tho engines are OF the twin screw. triple eX-
COMPARTMENTS Will. in the Yorktown the
oiced draught is produced toy the closed fire
taiued by tho closed ashplt; and while the
Cramps have put into the Yorktown an air
the Davidson pumps. These differences Will add
Interest TO the trials Of tho two later vessels
Tho battery OF the bennington consists. like
that OF her sister ships. OF six f-inci hreach-
loading rifles. two mounted forward two aft.
and the remaining two amidships. All have
central pivot mounts protected by segmental
supporting fire. The secondary, battery vii! |
ling; Six torpedo tubes are distributed along |
the broadside and one each at tho bow and the |
SoWe has gone on as to the
The main batteries of these vessels. A British
naval nsrS committee rep9rted in regard to the
is modelled. that the, armament is too
h heavy. ana cHnseluently the vessels are
are too great. and the forecaste itself is not
strong enough for the weight it has to bear"
rom ne annuaI naval man ruvres. in which'-iX
d the Archer class participated. 1t was found
.hat they pitched and rolled ST. much i'll a mod
lrlnS was interfered with, They were also
9und 70 be- very wet shirs. the Eaccoon taking
.hoaId sea which carried away everything
IN the iorecastIe, although size was only going
ABOUT eleven knots aSainsta moderate swell.
hat the siN-inch guns should bc replaced by
lNe;lnch. at least ON he torecastle: if not also
hd the entire mt nat5ery and that the anchors
er recommendation has been followed IN
.ur vessels OF tho same tyre by stow
oyaGe of The Yorktown in the Squadron OF
.roIution. although it lad an incident which
ct did not produce decision TO diminish the
alihre OF her guns. Doubtless therefore tho
wIll a.so mount six-inch guns. ac-
title Petrol is to carry four OF them.
The rig Of the bennington is that of thrce-
How her to trust to sail power for much Of her
rtingry station duty with a view to economy
I lncandescent electric lights aud with search
gifts Tor use at night to detect the approach
rainase. and, fire eYtinGuishing apparatus i
ave received suitable attention in this
rsacl An official statement of Sec
'iary Whitney shows that the Yorktown {
reduced upon. her trial 3.39S indicated
ore lower which would therefore earn for j
lo attained an average speed of about sin I
zen Knots In run OF four hours OF Cape $
en- Open. and a maximum OF about seventeen Y
notr. should the bennington do only as well q
the Yorktown, she would Just about fulfil il
or contract requirements. while 1t is conf d
3ntly believed that she will do Il little better.
Only one bennington before the present YES
u has belonged to our navy. This was a six
IN sloop, lifted out by the State OF Maryland
lIIS. She had fine record. which included Y
o capture, OF merchant ship and afterward N
ally after a sharp engagement The name