Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-28
The New Cruiser San Francisco Go,
Better Than Nineteen Knots.

SANTA BARBARA, August 2Ith.-The OFF,
cial trial of the new cruiser San Francisco
occurred in Santa Barbara channel this
morning, and resulted in successful run
of over four consecutive hours, during
which time the cruiser made an average
speed of 10 81 knots per hour and won a
premium of 100000 for her builders, the
Union Iron Works of San Francisco.
The cruiser left her anchorage at an
early hour this morning and steamed
about ten miles south of the southern
limit of the trial course. She then turned
| and steamed toward the course and gradu-
ally increased her speed. She crossed the
southern boundary line of the course at
7:41, and at that time her engines were
making 124 revolutions per minute.
The first four miles of the Iun was made
in little over twelve minutes, and this
rate of speed was maintained until the end
of the forty-ninth mile was reached.
The time consumed in running the forty
miles was hours l minute and 13 seconds,
making an average rate of speed of 1913
knots.
The cruiser then made long turn with
out slackening her speed at all, and in
about fifteen minutes she entered the course
again.
During the return trip the water got into
the ducts which supply the current of air
| used in the forced draft, and the fans con-
sequently commenced to force water into
the furnaces. 1t was, therefore, necessary
to stop the fans for several minutes until
the water could be pumped out of the
ducts, and by doing this the steam ran
down for time.
Irving NJ. Scott, General Manager of the
Union Iron Works, and other representa-
tives of the builders, claim that delay of
fully four minutes was caused by this scci-
dent.
hours, minutes and "A seconds, making
total for the whole run of hours, min
utes and 81 seconds or an average speed of
10 81 knots.
The maximum revolutions during the
trial was 131 and the general average from
126 to 12S.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
SANTA BARBARA, August 27th-The new
cruiser San Francisco gave a splendid per-
formance on her official trial trip in Santa
Barbara channel this morning. The trial
was made under the most favorable cir
cumstances, so far as the weather was con-
cerned. The slightest kind of a breeze was
blowing, and except in the vicinity of Point
Conception the waters of the channel were
as quiet as those of small lake.
The average speed of the San Francisco
was 10 Is knots per hour.
1t is generally believed that her speed
would have been greater than this had it
not been for an unfortunate accident
which occurred during the progress of
the trial. The water got into one of
chambers through which current of air
is famed into the furnaces for the purpose
of producing forced draft. Consequently
the water was being forced into the ashpan
and then into the fire, and it was necessary
to stop one of the fans for some time, until
the chamber could be cleared of the water.
When the fan was stopped the draft was
accordingly shut off to a certain extent,
and the steam ran down, which caused
considerable loss of power for some time.
1t is estimated that the time lost by this
accident amounted to four minutes, which,
if it could have been allowed to the San
Francisco's credit, would have given her an
average speed of 1888 knots.
However, her maximum speed was
over twenty knots, and the average speed
actually made entities her to premium of
100000, and it is not probable that an
other trial will be held.
The coast survey steamers Hassler and
Macarthur acted as stake boats.
The San Francisco got under way about
y U CtOCh tUlS duu St6dlusu Ill d
southeasterly direction about ten miles be-
low the southern end of the course. She
then turned and started towards the
course. gradually increasing her speed.
At 7:41 the San Francisco entered the
course and started on her long, hard run
of four hours.
Notwithstanding the terrific rate of
speed which she had already attained, the
cruiser was perfectly steady, there being not
the slightest roll or pitch percepuble. The
quiver of the ship which necessarily fol-
lows such rapid movement of machinery
was also comparatively slight, and there
was a marked difference between the San
Francisco and the Charleston in this re-
spect
The first four miles of the course was run
over in little more than twelve minutes
almost twenty pace. This rate of
speed was maintained during the whole
run of forty miles, and after run of two
hours one minute and thirteen seconds the
cruiser crossed the northwestern line-a
minute and a fraction being the trihing
time that prevented her from making the
whole distance at twenty-knot rate.
On the trip up the channel the engine
had an average of from 126 to 129 revolu-
tions but as soon as the cruiser turned the
large circle without diminishing her speed
and had struck into her course again, tif-
teen minutes later, she was Immediately
forced little more, and at one time
maximum of 131 revolutions was reached
and the vessel was driven through the water
at rate of speed probably exceeding any
thing within the experience of any one 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 tweuty-knot rate, and there was
much excitement aboard her in conse-
ouence. But at this time the accident hap
pened which made it necessary TO stop one
of the fans, and several minutes elapsed
before the ship again regained her greatest
speed.
The cruiser reached the end of her
course moment after II O'Clock, and as
she crossed the line terrific blast burst
from her fog siren and ringing cheer
came up the fre-room and eDgine-room
hatches from the men who had done their
best for four long hours to win victory
for the San Francisco.
The cruiser proceeded on the same course
for half an hour, until the superhuous
steam could be worked off, and then re-
turned slowly to Santa Barbara and
anchored about half a mile off the shore.
The actual time consumed in making
the eighty nautical miles, not including
the turning time at the farther end of the
course, was four hours, five minutes and
fifty-seven seconds, being only six minutes
over the time which would have given her
twenty knot record. The actual speed
averaged during the run of eighty miles
was 195l6-beiDg 16 100 of knot less than
the record of the Philadelphia.
When the result of the trial was an
nounced there was general congratulation
aboard the cruiser During the entire run,
with the exception of the trifling accident
already mentioned, there wss not slip in
any part of the machinery, and the fire.
rooms aud engIne-rooms were compare
lively comfortable.
The trial course lay from a half mile to
three miles off shore, and the greatest in
terest 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 an-
chor here until tomorrow morning, when
she will start north, arriving in San Fran
cisco by Friday morning.
| WORD SENT TO WASHINGTON.
SANTA BARBARA. August 27th.-The