Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-18
PROUD OF THE DETROIT.
Her Commander Says She IL the Fastest
Vessel Anoat All Things Considered.

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| Her Commander Says She is the Fastest
Vessel Anoat All Things Considered.
The United States cruiser Detroit, built by
the Columbian Iron Works and Dry Dock Com
pany Of Baltimore, made her Official four-hour
run yesterday. The speed made by the new
vessel was 49, 4s knots per hour. This remarka-
BILE speed astonished all on board except her
builders. Many who have seen the vessel under
way believed the severity of the official trial
would reduce her speed. The steamer sus-
tanned the trial gracefully and kept up a regu-
lar speed throughout without serious accident
to mar her progress or prevent her from dis
tinguishing herself. After suffering so much
disappointment. occasioned by unfavorable
weather, not q few were inclined to deal in
superstitious thought that the vessel was ILL.,
fated, but, instead of such discouraging result,
the product of Baltimore mechanics came out
OF the race pride to all connected with her
construction.
Since Wednesday last, after the preliminary
trial In Newport harbor. the Detroit has been
awaiting weather preparations for her final run
and yesterday turned out to be all that could be
wished for. either by the contractors or the
naval officials. At ten minutes past 8 o'clock
Admiral Belknap and the members of the naval
board left New London, Conn. and Joined the
cruiser in the harbor, and twenty minutes after
that she was on her way down the Thames
river. passing out of the river at the New Lon
don light. At $40 the vessel was run d0wn the
sound at not more than ten knots. and reached
the starting point off Plum Island shortly after
10 O'Clock, but as high water did not take place
till 1888 the cruiser was compelled to wait
nearly an hour.
GREAT TEST BEGUN.
At rs the Detroit Strengthened out about
two miles from the starting range and ran
down twice like horse before she got
under way as best she could. When she came
down for the third time every piece Of her con-
struction trembled as il with determination.
No one was on the forward deck but the naval
officers and constructors, the others aboard
stood on the deck. A glance at the countenances
of the little assembly showed their excitement
The wind made by the cruisers majestic strides
through the water made it any thing but pleas
ant to remain on deck. but all suffered this to
witness the vessels performance.
As she passed the starting range forty-fve
minutes eighteen seconds past II the signal bell
was sounded ana the excitement aboard was in
tense. Every one stood with his watch in hand
breathlessly watching every motion of the YES
sci. In the bow Admiral Belknap and Presi-
dent Master stood side by side. while Com
mander Brownson. the commander OF the new
vessel, paced the bridge. The countenances of
all glowed with satisfaction.
THE TIDE AGAINST HER.
The tide on the run down was unfavorable
for the vessels best work, but little effect was
noticeable in the resistance. At fourteen min
utes and thirty seconds past IL the steamer
passed the first nine-miie boat, which marked
the first quarter of the run.
This distance was covered in twenty-nine
minutes twelve seconds. This run was the best
made in the first half OF the whole run. but on
the return the great squirt made on the first
quarter, the Detroit having run the nine miles
In twenty-six minutes and eight seconds. which
is equal TO nearly nineteen knots per hour. The
entire running time of the cruiser three
hours. tfty-four minutes and twelve seconds.
bringing the steamer over the finish line six
minutes and twelve seconds before the allowed
time by the Navy Department for the run.
The time consumed in making the trial shows
the Detroit's speed to be at least a knot and
one-haf better than the specifications ask for
PREMIUM OF $4,000.
For this excess of speed the builders will re-
ceive S150.000. the highest premium ever paid
to any shipbuilder by the United States gov
eminent. The figures showing the speed made
by the Detroit were taken by the press repre-
sentatives and confirmed by the naval officers.
The official records will not be made public
until the observations are obtained from the
coast survey steamers Bache and Blake, which
were respectively stationed nine miles from the
start and nine miles from the finish of the
course. These have taken the speed Of the
tide when the cruiser was running both with
and against ii and as the tide was running it is
very probable an allowance will be made in
favor of the Detroit, which may give her an
official record of about lS$4 knots
Deductions may also be taken for the tide
running with the steamer ON her run up the
course, which would decrease her speed record.
This, however, naval officers state is not prob
able. The average mile made on the run was
IN three minutes twenty-one seconds. After