Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-03-30

PHILADELPHIA, March 26.--The cruiser
New York returned to Cramps ship yard
This morning with the distinction of having
broken the record of all preliminary trials,
aud OF being tho fastest armored vessel in
the world. From the hour she steamed
down this Delaware until her arrival to-day,
naval experts have awaited with deep in
terest the result of the great warship'e
initial performance.
Despite heavy rain squalls and biting
wind, 5000 Philadelpbias were present and
cheered the warship rs she backed out into
the stream and stood down the river Tues
day last on her trial trip. The run down
the river and bay was made with fires half
banked and under natural dreught. The
maximum pressure of steam carried was
1870 pounds to the square inch. Starting
with 10 revolutions, a speed Of 10 knots was
attained and held until Greenwich Point
was well abaft the beam.
After this the vessel seemed to warm
up to her work, the throttle was thrown
open, 50 revolutions was reached and the
speed increased to 40 knots. The vessel
seemed to glide through the water as noise
lessly as yacht, and there was scarcely
any vibration through the ship. At the
end of an hours run the steward reported
the compartment in which his provisions
we're stored ankle deep in water. An
examination revealed the fact that the water
had been forced in through the forward tor
pedo tube
At anchor this opening is few feet
above the water line but at high rate of
,peed il is almost completely buried in the
sea. Constructor Nixon placed a water
tight buckler over it in place OF the tenn
porary one, and the leak gave no further
trouble. Nixon also had small hole drilled
through the steel deck. This drained the
compartment into another on the deck be-
low, one that could not be injured by the
introduction of n smaller amount of water.
The New York anchored at nightfoll about
seven miles
To the Northward of Brenkwater.
Wednesday was cold and damp, with fresh
breeze from the northeast. The New y ork
lay ut anchor in the early morning. AT 5
o'clock it Frightened up and the cruiser got
under way for the purpose Of correcting her
compasses and adjusting the compromising
magnets. This accomplished the vessel re-
turned to her anchorage to walt for good
weather to begin her trial. By Saturday
morning the wind had hauled TO westward
and the weather was clear. Fires were
lighted at daylight and before O'Clock the
New York was under way, running for the
five tathom bank !ightship.
The race was to be between this and the
northeast end lightshp distance of 9SS
nautical miles, the depth of water being ~
fathoms.
The following table tells the story of the
Two tras
Five fathom bank lghtship to northeast
End lightship, course north by east, distance
y. So nautical miles; start S:94:10, fiaish
S:53;58, difference 30 minutes 80 seconds;
speed 20. 03 nautical miles an hour.
Second trlal-Northeast end lightship to
five fathom bank lghtship, course south by
vest distance 9.S nautical miles; start
D:13;07, finish 942. IS, difference 80 minutes
81 seconds; speed 10. 81 nautical miles; aver
age for the two trials, 70. 80 miles.
In the afternoon the cruiser was headed
to the eastward IN search OF deeper water.
In q run OF four consecutive hours, she
maintained Il speed OF 90. 3S knots, reaching
as high as 90 81 tho water deepened.
With these satisfactory results, the New
York anchored for the night and steamed
up to the ship yard on Sunday morning.
She will be ready for her official trial with
in three weeks.
Capt. Bedford w. Sargent was in COM
mand Of the New York during her trial, as
sisted by Capt George l.. Chambers, an old
Delaware river pilot. There was $40 peo-
pie on board. Edwin Cramp, superintend-
lug engineer OF the company, was practical
ly in charge Of the trial. Capt John w.
Phillips, who will command the cruiser
when she is turned over to the government,
and other prospective officers of the vesse
were among the crew who made the trip.