Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1893-11-15
SHIP AFLOAT.
The Cruiser Columbia Beats
Even the Cunarders.
A sPURT OF "a KNOTS AN HOUR.
On a Preliminary Spin over Her Course
on Cape Ann She Reels on ee.s7 Knots
an Hour-The Cramps Looking Forward
20 Premium OF $4,000

Boston, Nov. l5-The new commerce de-
stroyer Columbia was sent on a preliminary
trial spin over the government course from
Cape Ann, Mass, 20 Cape Porpoise, Me-,
with the most gratifying results. Under
forced draft she developed speed OF
22s5 knots per hour and under natural
draft 2O2 knots.
This means that In sustained sea speed
this new vessel OF Uncle Sam is a marvel
of naval achievement and practically the
most remarkable vessel, merchantman or
naval, ever built. This record beats that Of
the Campania on her best "A hour average
by half knot, or, TO be exact, by forty nine
hundredths Of a knot, aud IL is thirteen.
hundredths Of knot faster than the best
seagoing time of the Lucania.
Faster Than Cunarders.
The Lucania and Campania, however, are
credited with over 28 knots on their trial
trips. Naval officers on board the Colum-
bia today say that the time for the Cunard.
ers was taken between certain headlands
at well known distances, say 10 or Is knots
apart, aud in this way their trial record
was made.
Tooflset this, one OF the trial board timed
the Columbia between two buoys, dis
tanoe Of 81 knots, and found that in a
squirt dt was just after the forced draft
was put on she made "a knots and trine
over IL is safe TO say that on her record
yesterday, when selected coal was used un.
der only two Of her eight boilers, she is the
fastest ocean going vessel in the world
But this is not all
On Thursday, when fresh fires are to be
started, when every pound of coal 10 bg
used Is hand picked, when all boats and
luggage Of every kind are to be stripped
| from the decks, when every man not espe
| cially concerned with conducting the tria
must get behind cover, so as not TO imped,
the speed in the smallest possible degree, Il
is reasonable to predict that the ColumbiI
viii 60 % knots easily, probably % ant
| may exceed even that figure.
AT the rate of $50 900 a quarter knot pre-
MUM, she will undoubtedly make S4OO, ,OO
for the Messrs, Cramp, her contractors
She will cost Uncle Sam that much in ad
dition TO her contract price of about g., $50,
600, but she will be better boat than th
contract calls for by just that amount O
money. The cruiser New York on he
official trip made half knot more thar
on her preliminary spin over the course
If the Columbia does as well on Thursday
her record ought to be 1887 knots. or .. 3
knots in excess of her required speed. Al
the naval men on the trip were simply a.
tonished at the result
The Squirt For Home.
The average run northward under ma
ural draft, including the slow speed a
the start, was 209i knots. Then came th
start for home, the wind and water neiths
increasing nor retarding her speed
The trained crew of the Cramps hit he
up for all they could, and she forged ahea
faster not only than any vessel ever did b,
fore carrying the American flag, but taste
than any carrying any other flag bRrrin
of course little torpedo boats, which an
not to be considered properly as seagoin
craft. She dashed by buoy after buoy, an
finally crossed the Cape Ann line As IL sh
could keep that speed mp clear across th
ocean and call it fun. There was nothin
broken, no straining, no injuryof any kin
to either ship or crew.
The race on Thursday bids fair, ther,
fore, to be the most exciting contes
against wind and water ever seen anywhei
in the world.