New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-20
THE MONTGOMERY 4 QUEEN.
NEARLY TWO KNOTS FASTER THAN
HER CONTRACT CALLS FOR.
TRIAL RUN OF UNCLE SANS CRACK 1000
TON CRUISER on LONG ISLAND SOUND
NINETEEN KNOTS AN HOUR AND
MAYBE BETTER.

MAYBE BETTER
New London, Conn. Jan. 19.-The Montgomery
is queen of Uncle Sans 2000-tonners On her
trial trip here to-day she proved herself speedier
than the Detroit Marbehead and capable OF
doing nearly two knots more than her contract
calls for. In a northwest wind that stirred up
the white caps on Long Island Sound and Kept
the forecastle wet with spray. and against a
strong tide over the course on her outward run.
but favored by tide of less force on the re-
turn, the Montgomery made 1885 knots. Tidal
corrections will increase this to nineteen knots in
which case the contractors will be entitled to a
premium of 100000.
All hands were stirring on the ship al an
early hour this morning. The members OF the
Trial Board and their assistants went out on
tugs at $50 and the anchor was pulled out OF
the mud at o'clock. Everything on deck was
made secure. and volumes Of black smoke pour
ing out Of the tunnels showed that the iremen
were not idle below. The Dolphin. the Nesu-
vius and the four Government tugs which
served as stakeboats left the harbor during the
night and took their positions at equal
distances along the course which lay In the
broadcst par; of Long Island Sound The rain
had ceased at dawn and with clear skies above
and a mild wind abeam. gradually increasing
official trial She passed out into the Sound
and headed westward. Full steam. with forced
draught was turned half an hour before
the course was reached It was lO:26:33 o'clock
when the cruiser entered the course, passing the
DOLPHIN to port at anchor off the first buoy.
There was 1GG pounds Of steam in the boilers
and the screws were revolving at the rate or
III turns a minute. The wind was abeam ana
blowing al n l6-knot gait The tide was at the
middle Of the ebb and against the cruiser the
second buoy, marked by the tug Leyden, ana
six miles from the start was reached In twenty
minutes and three seconds. showing that the
ship was doing nearly eighteen knots against
the tide The tugs Iwana. Fortune and
Narkeeta were passed at gradually increasing
speed and the Vesuvus. at the end or the
course. was passed AT 12:26'4o. The thirty-six
miles were covered in two hours ana seven
minutes.
The MONTGOMERY ran on for five minutes and
then turned in large circle without reducing
the speed Of either engine. When she headed
up into the wind the spray dashed completely
over the ship The turn was made and the ship
WAS back on the course on the return trlp III
twenty-five minutes. 1t was just l2:4so6 When
the Montgomery entered the course. passing lne
NcslNius on the return trip. The N1rkeeta, '.25
knots from the Vesuvius. was passed at l;ll;35
The Montgomery had travelled this distance at
the rate Of $50 knots going out against the
the tide. an ave rage with the tide practically
eliminated II 10 g knots. The engines were run
ming at $50 revolutions with scarcely a Nar1a-
ton. and the steam was ut l6h pounds.
T-D f. this point there had not been an acci-
dent Of any kind. The cruiser was rapidly APP
preaching the third buoy on the run nome When
the wheel which works the steam steer1ng-gear
in the pilot house became unkeyed. and the pilot
los. contr1l of he ship The wind blew her on
her course and she headed straight for the Gov
ernment tug Fortune. at anchor near the DuoY.
ebf ta,L Sf1rhOard
passed 100 yards 10 the right instead of 10 the
left Of the tug and all on board breathed easier
The engines were kept driving ahead at luH
speed. though for five minutes the steering dp-
paratus was useless Then the wheel on the
bridge WAS connected and the ship brought back
To- the course. Her deviation caused loss of
about one minute. The Iwana was passed at
1870 and the Lcydcn at 2:2045. The last run
on the course was made at a 2o-knot gait. and
the Dolphin was passed at 2:3';@' Inc return
run Of thirty-siX miles was made IN ! hour
IS minutes and 80 seconds, or at n 1992-knot
gait favored by the tide
Tho tidal allowances figured from observations
taken from the vessels at anchor along the
course will not he announced for day or two
Tho reports were made to Admiral Walker this
evening They show that the outward run was
made against tide running at about one Knot
an hour ana the return with Il tide of from one
quarter t. thrac-Quarters of n knot In favor or
the cruiser The corrections when made VIII IN
crease the actual rate Of 1SS5 knots TO IL knots
and possibly T. 1925 knots. The engines worked
smoothly and without mishap. They made ten
revolutions n minute more than those OF the
Detroit and five more than the Marbleheads s.
The Trial Board on the Montgomery was made
up as follows: Commodore John c. Walker Com
mander F. II. Cooper Commander r. B. Brad
ford Chief Engineer a. w. Morley, Lieutenant
I. L. Reamcy. Recorder and Naval Constructor
Samuel W. Armistead their assistants were
IAeutenants Charles G. Bowman. and \. y,
Mayer. and Ensigns S 5. Wood and j. l.. Jayne
The Horsepower Board was Chief Engineers a.
W Morley r. w. Mgan and Harry Webster.
Commander G. II. Davis. who will be captain or
the Montgomery when she goes into commits
sion: Chief Engineer J. \. i. Smith and Ll"iten-
ant Commander +. j. Drake. who are also as
signed to the ship. were on board. The designer
OF the ship, Naval Constructor w. II. Narney
was also present. The Montgomery will leave
here for Baltimore tomorrow about noon.
The contract price of the Montgomery Is s6l2-
500 and the contract was signed by the Column
ban Iron Works Of Baltimore on November ,,
1889.
CONDTTyOV or THE STATE PRISONS.