The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-05-19
FASTEST In THE WORLD.
The Cruiser New York Likely to
Win That Distinction.
HOW SHE WILL RACE AGAINST
TIME ON MONDAY.

With Her Big Guns on Board She Win
Present a Formidable Appearance as
She Flies Along the Coast-On Her:Way
from Philadelphia She Travelled at
Nineteen Knot Pace Once Reaching
Rate of19.47 Knots.
BosToN, May 18.-The cruiser New
York reached Boston this afternoon at
1890 after good run from Delaware
Breakwater. Though with only nat
ural draught in the fire room, and at no
time the revolutions of the engines ex-
ceeding 102 minute, speed of 19.47
knots was attained. The average rate at
which the vessel went through the wa
ter may be safely put down as 10 knots.
This glorious burst of speed was made
under steam pressure of 140 pounds to
the square inch, and only unsolicited
coal was used, no effort being made to
force the cruiser. Consequently this
record stands alone. If existing condi-
tions hold on the official trial, it is be-
lieyed she will prove the fastest an
mored cruiser in the world. Monday
morning early the New York will get
under way and steam mp to the starting
point off Cape Ann for the great race.
The contract with the government calls
for 20 knots an hour, $50, being paid
for every quarter knot in excess and
like amount forfeited for every quarter
knot below.
The trial board will consist of 2S mem
bers. There will alse be large number
Of invited guests on board, the most
prominent of whom, perhaps, is Mr.. E.
street friend. Contrary to the usual
custom the Cramps have invited small
number of newspaper men to go on the
trip.
Under the new management of that
firm, the younger men of the family
have taken charge, and it is said to be
their desire that the public shall have
the fullest opportunity of knowing not
only about the methods they employ in
running the new ships before they are
turned over to the government, but also
that every detail in the construction of
the ships may be seen, and that the most
intricate working of the machinery may
be observed. The vessel will be under
the command of Captain Sargent, for
merlv of the American line steamship
Ohio, who has sailed for many years
from Philadelphia to Liverpool. Cap
tain Sargent takes the place of bluff old
Captain Sterile, who for many years was
the Cramps sea captain, but who died
year or more ago.
The cruiser will be provisioned for ten
days, and will carry about 1000 tons of
selected coal. She will be the first of
our new navy to carry full battery on
her trial trip. Some of the larger guns
have not yet been mounted, But all of
them are on board, and those that
are not mounted have been
placed in position and made firm. The
muzzle Of every gun points toward the
bow, and the vessel will have warlike
look that none of her predecessors had.
1t has been customary touse pig lead as
substitute weight for guns on trial trips.
The armor for the vessel has not been
delivered to the Cramps, however, and
an extra weight of pig lead will do duty
for that. The vessel has not had its
final coat of paint, but its rough
looking exterior gives it more busi-
nesslike look than if she were clean and
white. She is going out for prize money
and good looks are an entirely secondary
matter on this trip.
The course from Cape Ann to Cape
Porpoise for the trial of the cruiser has
been completed. Steamer Geranium, of
the first lig ghthouse district, today placed
the buoys in position on the western
part of the course. Lieut.. Cooper, in
the steamer Lilac, of the second district,
proceeded to the eastern end of the
course, off Cape Porpoise, and perforEa-
ed like duty.