New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-07
A NEW Sc GLADIATOR.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE CoLUMBIA'S TRIAL
TRIP
EXPECTATIONS THAT SHE WILL PROVE HE
FASTEST PROTECTED CRUISER AFLoAT-
ar c.<Dy HOOK.
Inv rrIEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNEI

ORDNANCE TESTS At SANDY HUM
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
wosb,rgtoD Julv APPROPRIATIONS for the trtal TRIP
OF the tripc-screw protected cruiser 'oi'"ph' ~"
nearing completion at the Cramps yaru' wv"
gun TODAY The vessel Is to be docked nj 'he Lc"N"
Island Navy Yard on saturday, ana ooaru VI "'''"'
officers will on Monday make a preliminary ihNpec-
tion OF her hull and external fittings. such III
snections are customary and made for the pnr-
nose OF determining whether a vesseis po''o"''
screws outboard valves aud other features are j,
accordance with contract requirements. NO N'"''
for the board 10 examine the Columbia has pceh an
nonpced by the Department, but II is probable lha'
the regular inspection board OF which Admrai "'l
KNAPP is president will perform the duty Wml9 III
dock the vessel will be painted and otherwise mane
ready for her trial trip. 1t Is now intende1 by Tue
Cramps to have preliminary trial on the 2o'h III,
slant II the trial is successful the Official tests VIII
follow In few days. The date OF the "ov"rh-
ment's tests depends upon the working OF the snip
engines and boilers. There is little or no doubt as
TO the satisfactory condition OF the hull and its ap
purtcnances.
Great expectations are entertained as to the
Columbia's speed. Her contract calls for an in
dicated horse power Of u 900, and speed OF twenty
one knots be maintained for four consecutive homH
at sea For every quarter Of knot in excess OF
contract requirements her builders will receive Soo-
oOO Penalties for a failure to develop twenty
knots are at the rate Of $4,000 for each quarter OF
q knot. The Cramps arc confident OF cNcecilhs 'he
contract speed. Henry Cramp. in speaking OF Inc
vessel few days ago. said that he felt sure tha'
she would provo to be the fastest protected race
horse OF the Her material Is of the hnest Cd
tainable quality and the workmanship Is OF the best
Unusual care has been observed In the details OF
her construction. Mr.. Cramp will not be surprised
II the ship makes twenty three knots on her onciai
trial Naval constructors and cnciUeers predict that
the Columbia-the Pirate" they call her-will
prove a wonder in the matter Of speed Few OF theSe
officers look for less than twenty-five and lmlf
TO twenty three knots. Enthusiasts 60 so far as TO
put the vessel down for twenly-thrcc and hflf
knots. They say that if the Machias can gain pre-
nnums on 246 knots the Columbia should at least
equal such excess of speed.
owing 10 some temporary arrangement Of her
machinery the final trial OF the Bancroft has been
ssstnoned until the 18th instant. The trial was TO
have taken place today and she was Cooked To pre-
pare for It some time ago. but did not ge' rea"H.
The Chief OF Ordnance of the Army to- day approved
the programme for the official trials OF the "oidoh
disappearing gun carriage and the Brown Seemehtal
wirewound gun at sandy Hook. Inc programme
was made ont and submitted 10 the War Department
BY Captain Frank Heath, commanding the proving
grounds at sandy Hook. The trials are 10 take
place at an early date. TO be fixed by Captain Heath
The new gun carriage is the invention OF captain
Gordon, Of the Army. and Is said to have NUMBER
of advantages relating TO simplicity and strength
which recommend it to favor. If adopted 1t would
be used for heavy guns placed at various Seacoast
forts and defences. The Brown SeementaI gun Is
number OF steel segments which are IN
closed in a steel tube and wre-wound Guns Tor the
Army are usually composed Of forged steel tubes
etc which are assembled in what is known as the
huilt-up- manner while the parts are heated 10 a
high temperature. The coming tests at SANDY HOOK
are chiefly for the purpose of determining TIE new
guns endurance. TO This end 500 shots In all VIII
be fired Both battering and service Charges VIII
be employed with view u obtaining pressures
ranging from 80 600 10000 pounds square
inch Ordnance experts decline to say what they
think the results Of the severe trial WI be; II
The tests prove successful II H. probable that num-
Der Of the guns will be purchased by the Govern
ment. -. ,.oo,oro
Brown and Captains Dewey, Miller ana Howell wa
ordered to-day meet at the Navy Department on Mon
doy next for the purpose of re-eXamining Commander
NJ L. johnson for promotion Commander Johnson
was examined and found qualified 10 perform the
duties OF the next higher grade that Of captain q
few DAYS ago Although the report of The board
was approved by the secretary Of the Navy. the
findings were rejected by the President who directed
that another examination be held.