The sun., 1893-11-17
WENT UNHEARD-0F SPEED
THE CRUISER COLUMBIA MADE Al
MOST e5 KNOTS AN HOUR.
The Trial Yesterday Abandoned Because
OF Rough weather-omeiai Test to Ho
Made To.uorrow-Her Phenomenal Work


OF Rough weather-oniciai Test to he
Made To.u,orrow-HerP Phenomenal Work
BosroS. Nov. 16-In n stiff southwesterly
breeze tho cruiser Columbia started out from
this harbor this morning to make her omcial
run on tho Government trial course to tost her
speed. She came hack soon after noon
in q wind that was considerably more
than half a gale. having given up the
trial at the request OF the dovernment
Board as soon as 1t was seen thae
the gale was blowing the numbering but gal
lint old man-of-war Kesrsarge out to sea. and
that It was impossible for the Government
vessels to keep their alignment along tho
course. When the trial was called of the
Columbia's engines were making an average
OF 14O revolutions q minute. and were do
ing even more satisfactory work than on
Tuesday on the preliminary trial. when
for 7,74 knots on the homeward run the Co.
lumbia made tho unheard-of record OF 24.e5
knots speed. This time was made according
to tho computations OF the Government en-
Qineers and observers. and also according to
the figuresof Capt. SARGENT and Mr.. E. s. Cramp
OF the contracting shipbuilding company. This
was so startling that 1t resulted In the close
comparison OF timepieces and the sharp veri-
flcation Of distances. but the accuracy OF the
figures could not be shaken. They SO astound-
ed the contractors that orders were given to
slow down the ship at once. lest something
serious might happen. 1t was no longer
question OF what the Columbia was able to do.
but OF what Il was safe to let her do.
1t was not expected to-day that she would
mako 80 high q record On Tuesdays test the
English tactics were followed. That 10. It
might be said that steam was accumulated In
a long. natural draught run. and then sud
denly let go into the engines. This was be-
tween the last two buoys ct the upper end OF
the course.
The figures show that going north the cruis
or made "a. 20 knots on this stretch. and that
coming back over the same stretch. after
long turn. she made her unsurpassed speed OF
4.95 knots. After tho cruiser had been slowed
down bit the Cramps hit her up again Just
to see II this work was really 2 fact. and
batween two OF the buoye near Cape Ann the
an spesS a under forced dSaas6t for exactly
one hall Of the course ct 22s7 knots. Knot as was
printed in w.dnssdss SgS rae Sra%ps
speed speed wa was som msthing over y knots. They
wanted TO- 81 he 81 sure J and not anticipate too muoh
'0F whsn tnSr the Columbia startsd ou. this forming
with The full board fe fhe he o ema
monder rnonG Hiiibene. Chief Ensineers Farmer and
A"sFsSs sssn sSs hs p could
sst xsp 4ss,s &C. b ss
crested with foam. and as the vessel dashed
through the white Gaps. the spray spread rain;
rain bows from the ieethery tops II the ridges
cPs soos ae essS
the beginninR ei the course was reaensd y the
stacks ss !hoaeh the vessel had passed
nt1stS E2sa tSs brdse got got an occasional wettine.
When I, for was as es
spesd S Of the
bined made what nautical men call q strong
gale" which Is aiteen miss g, an hour stronger
than q moderate gale. inc wino seemed to
DtSS SSvertheIess M % the be Columbia kept on her way
oeF fsss sIs.sss iss s. Z Il. aSs
Va stationed: Althoash heT engines xere
lumbia was laboring u little to hold her own.
The second buoy was only 2 SS hnots syTay
sseonds s0H, to reach it. and i was % seem that hat the
speed was reduced by wind and wave to about
22h knots. Still she kept on. Blk knots and
stationed. but those on the colu@6is could
see that something was wrong. The Colum-
and. as she neared the Ksarsarae: It became
apparent that. even while doing her utmost
steaming. the Alabama's oonqueror could
scarcely hold herself anywhere near the course.
the glass showed no trace OF other tugs along
the course Admiral Belknap ordered the
wind flag hauled down. and the ship put back
for port.
On the way back. at natural draueht she
went BY the Kearsarge as any express train
a natural and vivid illustration Of the wonder
full progress in shipbuilding In these days Of
high mechanical achievement.
On tho way into port the weather sharps
caucussed. and It was decided that to- morrow
the wind would be strong still. and so II was
for speed on Saturday. 1t 10 probable that the
record will not GO above twenty three knots
for the entire trip. because the Cramps are
this experiment on tho theory that
1t is better to be sure than to be sorry.