Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-05
TRYING THE MINNEAPOLIS.
She Will He Put Through All Sorts of
EvolutiOns.

PHILADELPHIA. Pa, June 5.-The
cruiser Minneapolis started down the Della
ware river from Cramps ship yard in a
driving rain storm at 10 o'clock this morn
ing on her preliminary or builders trial
trip.
She will reach her first stopping place be-
low Reedy Island, the government quaran-
tine station, early this afternoon, and after
the compasses are adjusted, a tedious pro-
cess consuming several hours. anchors will
be dropped and the big cruiser will wait for
flood tide before crossing the dangerous
Dan Baker shoal. Tomorrow morning the
Minneapolis will pass out of the Dela ware
capes, and, II the weather conditions are
favorable, she will be given a long run up
and down the coast.
The principal object of the present trial is
to find cut just what the ship is capable Of
accomplishing, and she will be put through
all sorts of evolutions. Exhaustive data will
be recorded. and any mechanical defects or
shortcomings which may develop will be
remedied before the cruiser is turned over
to the government for her official trial
On Thursday there will be a further test
at sea, and probably a limited speed trial
over the nine-knot course between the
northwest and southeast lightships, which
are anchored ten miles OF the Cape May
coast. Then, IL everything Is satisfactory
the start for hcme will be made and the
ship Will be In her dock Friday afternoon
Although the Minneapolis is confidently
expected to beat anything of her size afioat
nothing extraordinary in the way of speed
IL looked for on her present trip. for the
reason that for the first time I'm many years
the Cramps have been compelled TO send a
ship on her trial trip with hard ccal owing
to the scarcity Of the bituminous article
and II VIII not be possible TO reach the
maximum steam power. There is plenty OF
soft coal at the yard. but the miners
strike which produces the scarcity may be
prolonged indefinitely, IL wss deemed wise
to NIL the Minneapolis bunkers with anth-
racite, the largest size being used
The Minneapolis Is a sister shin of the
Columbia and Is her counterpart in every
respect except that she has one-seventh
more heating surface, and is. consequently,
able to produce more steam. The Columbia,
on her official trial off Cape Ann last fall.
made the unprecedented record of - S-l0
knots an hour for four consecutive hours.
and IL the Minneapolis does not beat this
record by knot when she is speeded off,
cially, over the same course some time in
July. there will be lots of disappointed men
aboard.
The Minneapolis, as she steamed down the
Delaware. was devoid of the white paint and
brilliant polish that will help to make her
a thing of beauty when she takes her place
as the queen of Uncle Sans navy.
Nevertheless, she was given a hearty
greeting by craft on the river and the
thousands of people who lined the shores
The cruiser is under the command of Capt
r. W. Sargent, who navigates all of the
vessels built by the Cramps until they are
turned over to their owners. experimenting
Engineer Edwin s. Cramp has charge of
her. assisted by Constructor Lewis T. Nixon
and Chief Engineef Towne
A number Of people are on board as the
guests OF the builders, including Passed AS
sistant Engineer A. b. Willetts. who rerre-
sents the government: Brigadier Gen. d.
w. Flagler, chief of the ordnance bureau at
Washington: Willis Holly of New York.
Mayor Gilroy's private secretary; f. Cres-
son Schell of Philadelphia. the well-known
rtvaa ar tfcss Il Il
lain Of the imperial Russian navy, at pres
ent attached to the Russian legation at
Washington. and Naval Constructor Hans
com and Lieut.. @. W. Donfield, United
States navy.