Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-03-29
BY TELEGRAPH.
The PHILADELPHIA.
Admiral Gherardi's Flagship and Her Career
A Noted Vessel-Her Record.

NEW 1uEK, March 2S.-Ihe cruiser
( Philadelphia. which Admiral Gherardi has
| selected as Lis flagship for the naval
/ pageant next month. which will therefore
/ lead the procession from Norfolk to New
| York and up and down the Hudson river,
Is one of the best known vessels of the new
navy. She has been in the service not
! quite three years, and has been the flagship
of the North Atlantic squadron, during
most of which time Admiral GherardI has
used her as his flagship.
| Unlike the Baltimore or Yorktown the
Philadelphia has not done any naval scr
vice that has drawn general attention to
her She has had no honors such as ear
rying Ericsson's body to Sweden, and has
been IN no grave situations, such as con
fronted some of the new boats in the re-
cent Chilian affair. Here has been peace
ful life, thus far occupied in making calls
Mt ports from Bar Harbor to various South
American countries.
1t was before the Philadelphia became
one of the new Nays fleet that she became
most famous, She was the first of the new
vessels to make n four hours race against
time. Her contractors were required to
produce 10 knots speed on continuous run
Of four hours.
premium or penalty of $50 600 for
every quarter of kno. in excess or in fail
ure to equal the speed was to be given to
the contractors or required from them. The
race wac on feggy day in June, 1890. Il
was along the eastern end of Long Island
to roint on the bun of Block Island with
a return TO the starting point. 1t was a
course Is miles long
The government had erected two beacons
at the starting point on Long Island AMI
two at the turning point on Block Island.
In each case one of the beacons was near
the shore, and the other half mile inland.
directly behind the one on the beach. When
the racing vessel, two miles Off shore, passed
these beacons, both being in line at right
angles to the vessels. then the race had be-
gun and the stop watches were set going.
At intervals ~ nearly ten miles the govern
ment had stationed vessels as guide posts on
the trip,
The race was to begin at In O'Clock in
the morning. Half an hour before that
time great banks of fog, occasionally lIft-
ing, rolled over Long Island and out to sea
The Philadelphia started from Fire Island.
90 ~ to get up fine speed and be at the
highest pressure when she crossed the iae
near Southampton. Three sets of observers
took their places on the boat TO catch the
time of crossing. \ great pennant of black
smoke rolled out of the smoke stacks and
mingled with the fog.
Tin beacon, could scarcely be seen from
the vessels. Two OF the observers. how
ever, caught the same time of crossing the
line. 1t was a glorious race, through fog
and streaks of sunshine in lazy sea, and
along straight line on the ocean Tide
and wind were against the ship. Tire veg
sells anchored along the coast had groJse
their way to their places in the fog, anil all
were more or less out of position.
At times this made it seem that the Phila-
delphia was far ahead of the requirements
and then again far behind. At length Block
island was abeam, but no one could az Q the
beaeons. Two hours had passed, ard i, was
time that the vessel was on her return trip
if she should win premium for her build
ers. There was much excitement oil board.
Capt. Erben, now commodore an conf
mandans of the Brooklyn Navy Yari, was
in charge of the trial board He alone
claimed to see the Block island beacon.. al
though dozen pair of eyes were stfAining
for them through glasses. The contractors
thought they had been passed, but finally
Capt. Erben exclaimed there they are e
1t was nearly twenty minutes behind time.
and the contractors were very grave. Capt.
Erben rushed from the bridge gesticulsling
ike an excited stock broker
II saw EN-" he exclaimed. Turn her
round Turn her round and 90 back
William Cramp Of the contracting firm
was in charge of the vessel He could not
conceal his ehagrin at the performance of
the vessel if Capt. Erben was right, He
thought it strange that only Capt Erben
had caught the beacons. He looked stead
lily at the excited and somewhat clustering
captain and said nothing. The ship was
plunging on ahead and the wind was whis-
ting in the little rigging she carried an a
storm does in smaller boat going at less
speed.
Turn her round, / say said Capt En-
ben. 81 tell you / got EN-, turn her
round" Then Mr.. Cramp quietly u s.del
to his captain, the turn was made, and the
race back began. Tide and wind we're