The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-07-28
THE CRUISER MINNEAPOLIS.

overhaul the valuable prey. During the
Revolution and the war OF 1919 snpe-
rior speed ON the part OF our war ves-
sells was a great factor in their success.
In the first year of the war for Amer
ican independence the Yankee warship
Providence. under the command ct gal
liant John Paul Jones, time and again
escaped capture by her ability to outsail
sa.auIIIs ars0 u1Esb46d cfzs.-aSef ---E Ea-r5-
escape British ship OF line and bon.
tinue her depredations along the English
coast in 1777, and superior speed alone
allowed the Lexington, Surprise and Re
venge TO remain in English waters and
sweep away the enemy's commerce I'm
that memorable conflict.
During the war of 1919 the United
States navy Of barely II efficient ships
was pitted against /, 200 vessels of the
British, and yet by superior speed such
famous Yankee cruisers as the Presi-
dent Essex, Chesapeake, Wasp, Pea
cock, Enterprise, Siren and Adams
secured the seas where Britannia was
supposed TO rule and inflicted unprece-
dented loss upon the kings commerce.
In one cruise the Adams was chased five
times by British frigates Of superior
armament and at one time remained
within gunshot for 40 hours before she
succeeded In getting away. How valu-
able then was even an extra quarter of
knot of speed!
In 1915 the Hornet was chased for re
hours by the ~ gun ship of line Cornwall
lis. Commander Biddle lightened ship
by throwing overheard arms. powder
and about every movable thing aboard.
but he finally succeeded in eluding his
big pursuer. At another time the Re-
prisal escaped by saving away her bull
warks and throwing overheard her guns
and shot She at once refitted and con-
tinued her career Of destruction Run
ming away, however, was not all our
gallant ships did, for during the first
seven months of the war Of 1912 they
captured over so British armed vessels,
$50 merchantmen and 8, 900 prisoners
The premium and penalty system.
which has given the navy such excel
| lent ships. was introduced by Secretary
/ whitney Since then ~ vessels have
earned in premiums the big sum Of %, !
284, 586, according TO the New York
San, and vessels awaiting trial will
increase the sum to an even 8, 200, 900.
Among the 10 contract ships remaining
to be tried ID the torpedo boat Ericsson.
1 which must show speed of "a knots.
She will receive $2, 500 for every guar
/ ter knot she makes above "a, and IL she
exceeds as knots $s, 500 per quarter be-
/ yond that point. She will probably dis
place the Minneapolis as the navy's
fastest ship. The ram Katadin will re-
ceive $l5, 900 for each quarter knot be-
yond the contract stipulation Of IL
knots, and the gunboats Penguin, AL.
batross and Porpoise are to get $40, 00o
for full knot in excess Of the contract
| speed ss
The battleships Indiana, Oregon and
Massachusetts,. built for fighting and moi
running away, will receive $25. O0C
per quarter knot above l5 knots. The
gunboat Castine earned $50, 1000 pre-.
mium and the Machias and Bancroft
o4E, 900 each. In the case OF all these
ships similar deductions are made pro
vided they fail TO develop CONTRACT
speed
The Minneapolis Is 412 feet long, 81
feet beam, 90 feet 8 " inches draft and
. displaces 1850, tons She can carr,
., 900 toms of coal. Her armament con
sists OF orls Q inch 40 caliber rifle, tws
o inch, eight 4 inch, eight six pounders
Y four one Founders and four gatling guns
~ / F.