Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1895-10-31
TIE. "INDikNN."
The --latest Addition Ia tnri" ~Hrt's
Navy.

y
powerful ship is added to the feet Of the
United States navy. Unlike her immc3-
late predecessors, the indiana is not a
record -bre:lcr IN l5e.nt e speed. L was
NOT intended that -hc should be. But
this giant nrmor-e.ad Is the Iarses; war
vessel which the Cramps Of Philadelphia
have eyer produced, and she furry de-
serves to be accounted an even more ex-
traordinary ship than the M inneapolis,'
columbia" or New York" for she is
jndisputably the mightiest fighting ma
chine which has ever haated on he ocean.
There il not in nil Europe a hattleship
which. in the power OF her battery or The
strength aud completeness other arrnor
protection. eau compare with this latest
new world wonder. IN the descriptions
of our new ships the American people
have become accustomed to superiatiyes.
As a matter OF fact, they are the only
things which Will do justice to these
ships. and they are more conspicuously
true than ever of the Indiana"
This splendid sea warrior is an embodi-
ment OF American determination to excel
and straightforward American common
sense applied to the solution OF problems
which, for twenty years, have challenged
the skin and experience OF Europe. 1t
has become almost a maxim OF foreign
naval architecture that ship cannot be
created which is capahl" OF carrying
very heavy armament, attaining high
speed and possessing entire safety and
stability in all weathers. In the ON
bue
been successfully performed
By her official trip, which developed
maximum speed OF 1854 knots and an
average of 1851, 1t is demonstrated that
the "Indisna" is one OF the fastest vessels
of her class in existence Indeed, 1t is
proba BILE that no vessel OF her class has
ever maintained so high speed for so
long a time under similar conditions.
1t should be remembered hat the speed
required OF the Indiana by the terms OF
the contract was fifteen knots that the
recent trial was made with the ship
at her normal draught, with boats and
deck fittings in their places, guns aboard
and the vessel throughout almost ready
to 20 into actual commission. No foreign
nation subjects its new warships to any
such exhaustive tests. And yet in
strong wind and a ehoppy sea the in
diana without the slightest difficulty,
exceeded her required speed by more
than half a knot, and was running a good
deal faster at the finish line than when,
four houfs before. she had started. 1t
should be borne IN mind, moreover, that
the sIndana" had not been locked since
she was launched, and that n foul bottom
prevented her from reaching the full
limit OF her capabilities.
But more important even than her
speed. gratifying though that Is, IS the
demonstration of the fact that the "lndi-
ana" possesses an extraordinary degree OF
stability and freedom from vibration. In
this particular she resembles the new
American transatlantic liners st. Paul"
and st Louis American designers and
builders have succeeded in giving the;r
ships symmetrical model ana an even
adjustment OF weights which, with
greater cHrc and thoroughness in work
nanship have enabled them to achieve
results which defy the best efforts OF
their foreign competitors. Among the
observers and guests gat hered on The I'm
diana's" decks were scores OF veteran sea
officers OF the United States, who have
sailed in all kinds of ships, in every ocean.
They We're one and all OF them, impressed
with the "Indiauas" apparent solidity Of
structure and ,tcadiness under the tiercest
impulse of her tremendous machinery,
and the manner in which the great vessel
stood straight up on even keel When, at