The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-23
The New York Develops at Her Official Trial
the Remarkable Speed of 2109 Knots an
Hour for $3.50 Nautical Miles.
Her Builders Entitled TO a Premium of
Two Hundred Thousand Dollars.
Big Lumps Of Burning Coal Blown Through
Her tunnels During the Test-Three Huge
Russian War Ships Coming to America.
PRIDE OF THE NAVY.

The Cruiser New York Makes Wonderful
Speed Record on Her Trial Hun.
BosToN. May 22-With forward torpedo
tubes buried deep in the sea and the water
pushing almost as high as her foreoastle,
the armorea cruiser New York steamed
across the line to-day, breaking the worlds
record and winning for her builders the
largest premium ever paid in any
country. When twenty one knots
was predicted as the speed for the new
cruiser. many hoped. but few believed.
that her engines would ever be able TO
drive such an immense mass Of steel
through the water at this rate. When she
crossed the line to-day. however. with
speed of 21.9 knots through the water and
some corrections yet to be added for tide,
the enthusiasm on board was intense.
To-day's performance Oft the Massachu-
setts coast will be echoed from one end Of
Europe to the other, for it places the
United States in the van among the navies
of the world, and gives us not only the
most powerful, but the swiftest armored
cruiser vessel. There has been great en-
thusissm In England over the per-
formance of the cruisers Blake and
had attained speed of twenty-five knots.
In the first place. their vessels are not ar
mored. but simply protected by four-inoh
decks over machinery and boilers. Even
equal speed for them, therefore. would be
nothing remarkable against vessel carry
ing, in addition to q six-inch protective
deck. five-inch SIDE belt and two turrets.
each eleven inches thick. In the second
place. neither of these vessels has ever had
an official trial over o measured course.
The Blake broke down from leaky boilers
after reaching o speed of 1871 knots in
shoal water and developing only 1900
horsepower, while the Blenheim was
gauged only by O patent log. which, it is
claimed, indicated 22ls knots This same
instrument on board the New York shows
speed to-day of 20 knots. and the differ
ence between that and the actual distance
covered Is proof of how unrella Dle patent
logs are as official tests.
No battle ship ever we ent into action with
her decks more thoroughly prepared for
work than did the cruiser New York enter
the race for $500. 900 to-day. When Mr.. Ed
win s. CramD looked out across the water.
this morning, and saw the sea as smooth as
the traditional mill pond, and the wind
blowing light from the northwest there
was q sparkle III his eyes.
What do you think of the condition. of
wind and sesi' he was asked.
1T could not be better" he replied. IL
high but if the New York does not go
through that water at the rate of twenty
one knots an hour to-day, shall be very
much disappointed man."
THE START AND TRIAL.
At 7:3O o'clock, sharp oil hands wore
called to get the cruiser under way, and
just as the bells were sounding by the fish
er's fleet. near by. the New York hoisted
her ponderous anchor and headed for the
open sea. She moved off at an easy pace
of about seventeen knots, with her
engines making ninety revolutions
to the minute Gradually she warmed
up to her work. however. and by the time
the Vesuvius was In sight, the cruiser was
making over twenty knots, with her
engines spinning around about 130 turns to
smacks awaited the big cruisers coming,
and they looked aghast at the great col
umn of water that she threw up in front of
her cutwater.
The little village of Gloucester. nesting
behind the rocky hills of Cape Ann, was of
the port beam at o'clock. Twenty-Five
minutes later red flag was broken out at
the porty ardarm and the New York went
over the line, making $50 revolutions per
minute. The steam pressure was then 165
pounds to the square inch and the vessel
was making trltie over twenty knots.
In few minutes the revolutions jumped
ND TO 135 and the steam to ITO pounds, both
of which we're held there throughous the
entire trip.
Now the great furnace began to roar in
the very bowels of the ship. aud immense
Jumps of burning coal were drawn out of
the funnel by the powerful blowers. Thick
and fast they fell, until the surrounding
decks looked like the land at the base of
volcano. One of these sparks foil upon q
canvas boat cover and igniting 1t. caused
quite sensation. The flames were quickly
extinguished, however, without any seri-
Gus damage.
On flew the great cruiser. increasing her
speed at every Jump. The Nina was passed
at GAG. the Bennington at 1905 and the
Fern. the halfway mark. at 1921; Then
came the tug Fortune at 1910. the Leyden
at 11:05 and finally the historic old Kear-
sarge at 11:25 The rigging of the COrbett
was black with men who cheered the war
ship as she passed. A neat turn was
made and the race back over the
course began. At 1l:44 the Kearsarge
York headed to the southwark. The Ley
| den was passed at 1901. the Fortune at
| 1921 the Fern at 1916. the Bennington at
1:0l. the Nina at 1:20. and the Vesuvius at
| 1:41.
The entire course was 41.e5 nautical
| miles. which was steamed over twice. On
| the first run the speed was SO knots and
| the second 21.55 the difference being
! due TO the tide, which was against the ves-
| sci on the trip north. The average of these
speeds gives 81. 90 knots. with possibility
| of it's being greater when the true current
| correction is added On the whole to-day's
| record was q triumph for American skill
! and genius, and will stand pre-eminently
| alono until some of our new war ships
| heat iC.