New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-24
THE POWER OF STEAM.
THE NoRWoOD's GREAT PERFORMANCE.
HER OWNER THINKS SHE IS FASTER THAN ANY
TORPEDO BoAT-wHAT MANY TORPEDO
BOATS HAVE ACCOMPLISHED.

BOATS HAVE ACCOMPLISHED.
Those who were down the bay-anywhcrc between
Bag Ridge and Sandy IIook-on Wednesday must nave
observed a pecuarlooing marine craft, with razor
like stem parting and throwing aside the green
water and leaving behind her marked line OF white
foam chur1ed up by the swlfturnng propeller inc
rapid steamboat Monmouth WIS alongside for short
distance going at the rate Of twenty miles an hour.
but tho slim, red streak Of concentrated energy soon
left the white steamboat behind EvcrybOdy's atten-
ton was directed toward the two vessels. and every
body who did not Know inquired Of him who dld
know "What IS that pcncIl-lihe, narrow craft that
is making such wonderful speed out toward 1he
ocean - 1t WIS soon learned that II was Norman
L. Munro's new steam launch Norwood, ana that she
was having test OF speed with the monmouth. she
beat the latter 10 the Sandy Hook dock BY two mics
and made the IA (statute) miles Of distance In 81
minutes This at the rate Of 2625 statute niles
or %. 30 knots nautical miles. an hour That she
comes up to Mr.. Munros desires OF possessing tic
fastest steam launch in the world there IS scarcely
doubt.
The heading Of the report Of the race given In The
Tribune read GBut it IS not nearly rs fast rs some
torpedo boats.' To this Mr. Munro took exception
and he sent the following dispatch from NORWOOD
Park, Long Branch:
Your article IN todays reference to tho speed
Of tho Norwood states fast but not nearly as
fast a. some Of our torpeoboat Kindly name the last
est American torpedoboat l quite sure Uncle sam
viii contest Of speed between The NORWOOD
and tho fastest l ON Of the opinion that no steamboat
ia this or any other country outeed the NORWOOD over
o ten or twenty mile course through smooth water.
The United States Navy possesses Only two torpedo
boats at present-one the wooden boat Suletto, ana
the other the Cushing The former was purchased by
Secretary Whitney from the lierrcshoirs' and has
speed Of only 1922 knots, and the steel vessel Cushns
was built by the Government as torpedoboat proper
At the speed trial Of three hours duraon on March 81
1890 with full outnt Of equipment and crew. and at Fer
deepest displacement Of 30 feet, the Cushing made
mean speed Of 22.53 knots, or nautical miles III Is
matter of record that her maximum speed Is above
twentv,our knots. Tho Cushing has length OF l3o
feet and draught Of four feet eight inches, against
Ga feet 2 inches length and Only eighteen inches
draurht Of the Norwood. Hence, though presenting
greater resistance by reason Of greater length and
deeper draught the Gushing made mean speed N
only thirtv-hundrcdhs of knot less, on thTTe-houS
run than the Norwood mode a thirty-tvo minutrS
RIM Rut II is not at all likely that Uncle sam VIII
consent N a est Of speed7 between the Gushing and
the Norwood az the Navy vessels arc not built for
racing I1lc best thing for Mr.. Munro to DO would &c
IN wait until there IS between the United states
and some other Power and then, If the Norwood shond
pa.s into tho hands Of the other fellows, the CUSHING
will show how easily she could overhaul and dispose OF
fine Norwood By that time the UniIed states Navy
will have some more torpedo boats. ana with even
creatsr speed than that Of the Cushing
Is Mp. Munro OF the "oplnion thst no steamboat in
this or any other country outspced the Norwood
over \ ten or Ntventy mile course, through smootl
X-,terSi IN the sumner Of 1888 ne spanish COY
ernm.nt carried seric' Of experiments WIN ok
NJ he frsls.s tDrpedo polts Ons OF the most In
DoI{an being competitive speed trial from Carn sena
- %icanie a distance u sixty eight nautical Mills.
10 . av,ra.,d above - Is Knots by the 'lo~es
az the vessels. and two Of tcm-the Rayo and Arete-
made speed on pTsiG, ,r1i q - :, e IS
knots on measured comsr and on t%ononr5' c9n.
81 the torpedo boats. made mean speed Of "a Knots
for two and three quarter honrs,
Three OF the torpedo boats recently built for The
Ru.,.n Government have n.o attained er.at speed. The
Adler 152 /. feet lon. End $50 tons displacement, IL
Ni.y, 1890, made mean speed on TWO hours run OF
measured course 2T4 nautical miles or knots. She
is considered The fastest boat III the world. The
pIacemcnt easily attained speed Of = inot, and the
Anakrcon easily maintained speed OF more than Il
severnl Of the kurdish torpedo boats, when tried
~ rough water, povei good 7oaboat; ana made o1-
tnuous IGn at 'ea maintained tran sr>cd Of 81 3
knots and the mean Of six two-mlc runs Of &c
knots Another OF the Turkish torpedo boats, which
in length, attained = spccd OF % Knots She can
steam eight DAYS at s-a and make 2,Aoo mills. With a
The Encii,h torpSlo boat sunderland, b13t connie
of years aro, and usLng petloleum fuel has made
The latest and most important addition 10 The Ar
gentine Navy Is e Narrow TORPEDO boat Bathurst.
tons ami IS fitted with quairnple rtran.ion engnci
In six trials on the River Thames in November 1900
She m.d- an average Of 244j3 knott ana ma ,inun
run she made mean sposd Of 4426 knots Dne
Of the main objects in fitting tic ratlurst With qund,
ruple pansiOn en.ines was 10 reducc q. far as pos
.bl. the unpleasant. If not dangerous. vibrations so
prominent In many Of the hlfhpowered short stroke
demon strated the wisdom Of such an arrangement.
me plan adopted 10 9hyiate tli. vibration has been
ing It's cranks in such position That the reclpr0cans
parts balance each other.