The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-19
THE IND|ANA'S fast RUN
The Cramps New Battleship Is q
Regular ScOrcher.
IT EARNS A SPLENDID BONUS
In Every Detail the Trial Test Exceeds
Expectations and Demonstrates
Anew the Marked superior.
ity Of Yankee Brains.

Boston, Oct. 1S.-In her official trip
between Cane Ann and Boone Island. u
distance of thirty-one knots. the battle
ship Indiana made an average speed OF
1881 knots for four hours. This Is
6l-lOO knots above the speed required
by the government. and as there was
a premium offered of $4,000 for every
quarter knot made over fifteen. the
Cramps will receive $500 as a bonus
In excess OF the contract price offered.
This may be increased to $4,000 when
the tidal observations are worked out.
as the allowance for tidal distractions
will probably give the ship 1915 knots.
The very satisfactory speed developed
by the Indiana is secondary to the Won
derful way in which the machinery
worked. The run to Cape Ann con-
sumed two hours, and on the way there
the big boilers were bottling up steam
for the dash across the line. Forced
draught was turned on an hour before
the starting point was reached.
At 10 o'clock the Indiana approached
the starting line. At l0.03.13la Captain
Bradford cried Mark" and the Indi-
ana was off. The run to Boone Island was
made against the tide, an consumed
two hours. two minutes and seven sec
onds. the ship passing the last stake
boat at 1905 The average speed for the
thlrty-one knots was at the rate of 1924
knots per hour. The average speed be-
tween the six buOys was as follows:
14.5S, 15.2S, 1854. 1915. 1919.
The Return Journey.
The speed made to Boone Island was
disappointing, but II was expected, and
the expectation was fulfilled that the
ship would do better on the way back.
In making the turn nineteen minutes
was consumed, and the Indiana passed
the Fern at 1224.01k. The speed of
the ship was noticeably greater. I'm
der the able superintendency of Walter
s. Cramp the engineers and firemen
were straining every nerve. The en-
gines were revolving faster and faster,
and the immense hull was quivering
and vibrating with the rapid pulsa-
tions. The first leg was reeled off al an
1912, the third at 1885, the fourth at
1870, and the last stake boat was left
astern at a speed of 1880 knots.
1t was 2.3021 when the trial was over.
just one hour. fifty-fve minutes and
thirty-five seconds from Boone Island,
and a total Of three hours, flfty-eight
minutes and twenty-eight seconds. A
gain Of eight minutes on the westward
run was made and the average speed
was 1899. This brought the average
for the four hours up to 1851, com
Portable excess over the contract speed
Of fifteen knots.
A Genuine Yankee Triumph -
A remarkable circumstance was the
speed made between the last two stake
boats. 1t proved that the Indiana was
able to do better after her machinery
had been driven at high pressure for
considerable time than when the en-
gines were first put under forced
draught. This Is in marked contrast
to the performance Of English battle
ships Of the Royal Sovereign class. The
English have never succeeded in get
ting much better than sixteen knots
out of their first-class battleships. and
when they have attained this speed, 1t
has been at the expense of ruined ma
chlnery. The Indlana's machinery Is
triumph Of American construction.
The engineer officers of the trial board
were surprised at the wonderful per-
formance of the engines today. Not
the slightest difficulty developed, and
the engineers were unanimous in the
opinion that the engines were the best
they have ever handled. During the
last fifteen minutes Of the run 1.1,s00
horse power was developed. The aver
age horse power developed was 9,700,
which Is 700 more than required by the
government.
1t is expected that the Indiana will
go into commission some time about
the first of next month.