The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-05-23
ORUIsBR NEW YoRK.

cross ed the line, however, with speed OF
LOO knots, and some corrections TO be
added for tide, the enthusiasm on board
was Intense The performance will be
echoed from one end of Europe to the
other, for It places the United States in
rho van among the navies Of the world and
gives us not only the most powerful, but
The swiftest armored cruising vessel.
There has been great enthusiasm in Eng
1and over the performances Of the cruisers
Blake and Blenheim, some claiming that
khe latter has attained speed of twenty
two knots. In the first place these vessels
are not arniored, but simply protected by
Your inch decks over machinery and boil
ers. Even equal speed from them there
fore, would be nothing remarkable against
. vessel carrying, in addition to six inch
protective deck a five inch side belt and
,-twotarrots, each eleven inches thick In
the first place neither of these vessels has
e7er had an official trial over measured
course. The Blake broke down from leak,
boilers after reaching n speed of 49, I knots
In shoal water and developing 1900 horse
power, while the Blenheim was gauged
only by patent log which, 1t is claimed,
indicated 22L knots. This SAME instru-
ment on the New York showed speed
yesterday of % knots, and the difference
between that and actual distance covered
fs proof of how unreliable patent logs arc
As official tests.
No battleship ever went into action with
her decks more thoroughly prepared for
work than did the cruiser New York enter
the race for 5000, 900 yesterday. When Mr.
Edwin s. Cramp looked out across the
water and the sea as smooth as mill
pond and tho wind blowing light from the
northwest, there was a sparkle in his
bright eyes. ''What do you think of tho
oondtionss" he was asked.
sit could not be better" he replied. ~
do not wish to place my expect ations too
high, but if the New York does not go
through that water at the rate of twenty
one knots an hour today shall be very
much disappointed man."
80 At 7:30 sharp all hands were called to
got the cruiser under way and Just as
eight bells were sounding by the fishing
Meet near by the New York hoisted her
pouderous anchor and headed for the open
sea She moved off at an etsy pace OF
ebout II knots an hour, with her engines
making 30 revolutions to the minute.
Gradually she warmed up to work, how
ever, and by the time the Vesuvius was In
sight the great cruiser was making 90
knots, with her engines spinning around
15p turns to the minute. A perfect fiotilln
OK fishing smacks awaited the big cruisers
ooming and they looked aghaSt at the great
column of water that she threw up in
front of her prov.
The little village of Gloucester nesting
behind the rocky hills of Cape Ann was
off tho port beam at o'clock. Twenty-Five
minutes later red flag was broken out at
the port yard arm, and the New York went
over the line making 1870 revolutions per
minute. The steam pressure was then 1916
pounds to the square inch and the vessel
working triie over ~ knots. In few
midutes the revolutions jumped up to 1876
and the steam to 10 pounds both OF which
were held throughout tho entire trip.
On flew the great cruiser, increasing her
speed at every jump. The Nina was passed
Mt 9:46 the Bennington at 1905 and the
Fern, tho half way mark, at 1921. Then
came the tug Fortune at l0:41, the Leyden
~ ll;05 and lnally the historic old Kear
sage at 1l25. The rigging of the corvette
was black with men, who cheered the war
ship rs she passed. A neat turn was made
and the race back over the course began.
Al il44 tho kearsaSe was off the star
board beam with the New York headed to
ths southwark. The Leyden was passed
nj 1904, the Fortune at 1921, the Fern at
12A6, the Bennington at l:0l the Nina at
1:5O and the Nesuvins at l;4l.
The entire ccur WAS Al 65 nautical
miles, which was steamed over twice. On
the first run the speed was 90 SO knots and
the second 2l.35, the difference being due
tothe tide, which was against the vessel ON
the trip north. The average of the speeds
gives 2l.09 knots, with possibility of its
being greater when the true current cor
rection Is added. On the whole, yester.
days record was a triumph for American
skill and genius and will stand pre-emin
emily alone until some of our new war
ships beat 1t.
The performance gives the Cramps a
ipremium of 100000.