Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-02
HOLDS THE RECORD.
The Columbia Has Exceeded All tn
Expectations.

The Columbia Has Exceeded All the
Expectations.
The Columbia, named in honor of the
seat OF government, now holds the trans
atlantic record for speed against the ships
of all other navies in the world. She has
exceeded the expectations of her most
aroent admirers in her trip across the At
lantic, and is justly entitled to be known
hereafter as 1.-The Gem of the Osean."
Seldom has any event caused SO much
pleasure and excitement as the rews that
reached the Navy Department Of the un-
paralleled performance of the Columbia.
The news of her arrival was first known
at the department through the Associated
Press bulletin, saying that the Columbia
had been sighted of Sandy Hook at $50
o'clock this morning. Subsequently the
rews was received in official form through
the following telegram from Captain Sum-
rer. commanding the ship:
Capt. Summers Announcements.
NEW YORK, August 2.
The Secretary Of the Navy, Washington,
d. c.:
Columbia-Needles, PM, 26th ult
Sandy Hook hghtship, $3.50 today. Aver
age hourly speed for whole run. 1S.41
knots. Whole run under natural draught.
Twenty-six hours Of fog, but no delay
therefrom- SUMNER.
Acting Secretary McAdoo responded TO
this telegram at once, saying:
1.-The department extends to you, the Off
GERS and men of the Columbia, its ccngrat-
run from the Needles to Sandy Hook light
ship, thus making an unexampled record
for warship."
Her Sailing Orders.
The Columbia was one Of the vessels at
the Kiel celebration representing the
United States. She started on her home
ward run from Southampton last Friday,
under orders from the department to make
her best speed to New York under natural
draught. She was known to be fast ves-
sci for short run, but many critics were
skeptcal as to her endurance and capacity
for q long run, as compared with the ocean
greyhounds of the merchant marine. This
trip was to demonstrate her abilities in
that respect, and the department conf
IDENTIFY put her in practical competition
with the mail steamers of record-breaking
speed.
Prior to her departure the Columbia had
been placed in dry dock at Southampton
and her hull cleaned of its marine growth
ard barnacles. Incidentally the hull was
strained by false adjustment of keel
blocks, but according to Capt Summers
report the injury sustained was too slight
to be counted as factor in the vessels
long distance speed trial. His judgment
has been fully sustained
The Columbia passed the Needles, bound
from South ampton to New York, at 20 p.
m. on Friday. The Augusta Victoria was
at that time on her way across the Eng
lish Channel to Cherbourg to take on pas
sengers from France She did not leave
Cherbourg until pm. Then the Columbia
was probably more than 100 miles ahead
of her. She arrived today also.
A Gratifying Point.
A prominent naval officer pointed out
what he considered the most gratifying
points concerning the speed trial. He said
that when all the conditions under which
the Columbia made her run are considered
the result must be regarded as remarkable.
In the first place, he said, the coal, while
good, and probably much better than the
cheap variety usually supplied our vessels
at home was not the best quality of Welsh
coal. Then, again, the engine departments
of our cruisers are not as fully manned as
either the ships of the merchant service
or those of foreign governments, and con-
sequently the endurance Of the men in the
engine and fire rooms is more severely
taxed. AS an illustration of this fact, it is
only necessary to give the following COM
pariSon between the Columbia and the
English cruiser Terrible, which was re.
| Gently launched:
Columbia. Terrible
Horse power. 10000 p, ,0oJ
Number of engineers.....
Men in engineer dept. 1876 :;3I
In other Hords. the work on the engineer
off 10 i,1Sf har