Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-24
DECORATED WITH A BROOM.
The New Cruiser Newark Saluted After Her
Trial Trip.

The New Cruiser Newark Saluted After Her
Trial Trip.
Each masthead of the new cruiser Newark
was decorated with broom yesterday after
noon. when the latest addition to the navy ar
rived at Cramps ship yard, at Philadelphia
after having successfully passed through the
ordeal Of Il most exactinS trial trip. The pres
ence of the brooms gave timely notice to the
various steam craft passed in coming up the
river, and from each would come three blasts
of the whistle. varying in volume of sound ac-
cOrding to the size of the boat.
Answering blasts were blown upon the
Newark's ''siren.' brazen steam trumpet that
alternately walled and howled in tones each
more frightful and ear-splitting than the others.
1t was somewhat in the nature of a triumphal
movement "a the Newark progressed toward
the place of her birth, whistles screeching
flags dipping and when the city was reached
locomotives on shore added their quota of well
coming noises. while many of the wharves were
thronged with people heartily cheering as the
ship passed by.
TESTING HER HARDNESS.
At the close of the four-hour trial on Monday
the ship was put through a series of maneuvers
to determine her ''handiness' in turning In
this trial the excellence Of the steam steering
perts on board. With this gear boy of fifteen
years could put the helm ..hard over" a. an
angle of A degrees when the ship was going
ahead full speed by simply turning small
brass wheel that connects with the steam gear
ing. To show the difference between the steam
and hand hand power the latter mode of steer
ing. which is also carried on board. was coupled
to the helm. Three large wooden wheels. tan
dem fashion. work the worm on the rudder.
Six lusty jack tars seized the spokes. but their
helm over fifteen degrees. These maneuvers
closed the tests for the day and the ship
anchored on the Brown Shoal. Early yesterday
morning the cruiser again got Under way and
stood out to sea. But two boilers were fired.
and all the coal used was weighed before being
fed to the bins. This kept up for eight
hours and at the finish the ashes raked from
the CRATES were also weighed as to determine
the exact amount Of coal consumption and
combustion.
CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS EXCEEDED.
Enough is known to show that the contract
requirement of $500 horse power will be far
exceeded. it being believed that the horse
power shown will considerably exceed 5000
The trial board forwarded its report last even
ing to Washington.
The fact that the Newark is the fifth of the
large cruisers to be commissioned, the Balti-
more. Charleston, Philadel phia and San Fran
cisco having preceded her. has led many to
suppose that she was designed subsequently to
the above-named ships. and that the advan-
tages Of embodying and improving upon the
other plans were had. Such, however, is not
the case. the Newark being especially Ameri-
can. The hull was designed by Chief Wilson Of
the bureau Of construction and the engines by
the Messrs. Cramp. The boat was officially
designated as cruiser No. l, but when proposals
for her construction were advertised for the
bids were in excess of the appropriation, and it
was necessary to await further action by Con-
gress before the work could be commenced
Being American in her design, the accuracy
Of the calculation as compared with those ships
built from the English designs is already as
sured, it being now evident that the load draft
Of the vessel will adhere closely to the estimate
THE FASTEST CRUISER.
In the matter Of speed the ship has shown
that she is much faster than any Of the other
cruisers in proportion to the weight and dimen-
sions Of her engines and boilers. Naval Con-
structor John F. Hanscom had charge of the
construction of the Newark.