New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-17

THE WIND KICKED Up TOO HIGH A SEA
WONDERFUL SPEED MADE ny THE CRUISER IN
HER PRELIMINARY RUN-sHE MAKES
o4o KNOTS AN HOUR.
fpr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBrNE.i

IBT TELEGRAPH TO IHf IhibtNH'I
Boston. Nov. 1S-The cruiser Columbia did NOT
have an opportunity to show her speed III '"e
official trial except to a limited extent, although
her builders made brave effort IN the iaoe
of obstacles 10 fulfil the requirements of their
contract Wednesdays ranstorm was followed
last night and to-day by a cold wave. accom-
panied by high wind. The mercury fei 'hls
morning to 2s degrees. and the wind from the
westward to-day attained velocity OF thir'y-sM
miles an hour. This kicked up an ugly sea IN
the harbor while out In the bay the waves were
not reassurng 10 timid landsmen. Mr.. Craihp
had made all arrangements for the ofhcial triai
to-day and decided to make the attempt al
though the conditions were certainly not faVor-
able for the best results The Trial Board came
down to Boston Light on a tug early this morn
ing and at about o'clock the Columbia was
under way, headed for Cape Ann. The bay was
covered far as the eye could reach. WIN
huge white-crested billows and as the Columbia
preceded out into the open water the wind IN
creased in violence sending up from the white
caps Il veil Of mist, through which the sun maze
a constant succession of rain5owc. The decks
were soon covered with the spray as the Column
ba plOughed her way through the heavy seas
Notwithstanding the rough weather the ship
stood up as stiff as a rock not pi,cnlhs H"'
rolling perceptibly, although her stern pu'"-
cred and vibrated beneath the tremendous
strokes of the rapidly revolving propelIers Inc
wind struck her on her quarter so heaVhy
that II unsafe To walk the deck unless
supported by rope or projection OF her super
structure. and while the cruiser was not sent
straight into the teeth of the gale. she. never
theless not being tested under the most
advantageous conditions. The stakeDoatS were
the Dolphin stationed opposite Thatchers
Island: the Iwana. stationed about two ana "a
half miles to the northwest: the kearsarge. more
than six miles further on; the Leyden. Fern,
Narkecta. Fortune and Nesuvius.
The Columbia ran down leisurely toward the
starting line. the speed gradually increasing.
and when within a few miles OF the start forced
draught put and she crossed the line
at 10:i5:25 She passed the second mark at
1851 - her engines making from l30 TO l3o rev.
Olutions. and running al the rate of about 22f.
knots She continued for a few minutes.
when II was discovered that she was going out
Of her course. and then investigation showed
that the Kcarsarge. the third marking boat. had
been blown OF her course. her anchors drag
ging for nearly two miles. II was Impractical
bic 10 finish the test to-day. The stnkeboats
were supposed To I've making observations OF
the tides. and with the kearsargc out O! the
list the result would not be accepted. The en-
gines were slowed down and soon The big com
mcrcc-destroyer was headed back toward Bos-
ton The head Of the Board. Admiral Bslknap.
sent orders To the Dolphin To- notify 20 the
other stakebOats the postponement Of the race
against time and the Columbia steamed back
to her anchorage. Another attempt II the
weather permits. will be made on Saturday
The preliminary trial on Tuesday was more
significant than at first supposed Mr.
Cramp In his modcs'y did not give out the exact
speed IL his splendid ship by careful estimate
made by the members of the Trial Board on
the ship on Tuesday the following speed was
shown: Going north and while the ship had
been under forced dgauCht for only about ten
minutes the Columbia ran between the last two
buoys distance of about seven and three
fourths knots. at the rate Of 2f2s knots al hour.
She then made the long turn, and coming down
the course under fresh impuls" OF the forced
draught she covered the same seven and three
fourths knots AT the rate Of 2i9 knots. almost
at the rat" OF - knots or about % land miles
hour This has never before been done by
any large Vcssc. for n long short period.
far as Is recorded. and naval officers could
scarcely credit their senses when the time was
computed. oi course no one expects that the
Columbia viii be able 90 keep up that rate OF
speed over the entire course of nearly ninety
miles but there H. little doubt that she will
with favorable conditions exceed . knots on
an average. and win AT least 100000 bonus for
her cnterprising builder.