The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-04
THE ST. PAUL..
Trial Of the Big
Steamship.
A Sharp Ron of 1884
Miles Out to Sea.
The Noble Vessel Crossed the Start
ing Line at 8:4l O'clock.
This Effort Will Decide Whether She
Is Fit for War or Not.

! BosToN Oct. 4.-The American Line
steamship ST. Paul left quarantine last
night at IL o'clock and steamed slowly
down the bay 10 point of Boston light
| where she remained at anchor until
O'Clock this morning, when she started
| for Cape Ann to make her preliminary
trial trip over the Government ocean
| course
The st. Paul's trip today will decide
whether she is entitled to be classed as n
| auxiliary cruiser in case of war, and also
| IL she Is eligible for the transatlantic
| mail service. To be successful, the ship
must make 20 knots an hour over a
| course from Cape Ann eastward to Cape
Porpoise and return, total distance of
| 81. 934 miles.
Yesterday was a busy day on board the
| big liner. The brackish water, which
was the cause OF Wednesdays failure, hav-
ing been drawn from her boilers, they
were cleaned thoroughly and refilled. A
finishing touch was given her machinery
here and there ana when the great ocean
flyer left quarantine everything as far as
the boat men were concernd was consider
ed favorable for most successful trial to-
day.
The day selected for the second attempt
at speeding against time the good ship ST.
Paul of the International Navigation
Company's line, opened slightly hazy. A
fresh northeast breeze was blowing the
old ocean as Ear as the eye could see.
Looking seaward the haze, as the sun
began TO assert its warming influence
| gradually grew less distinct, until prac-
| tically clear view could be had TO the
horizon. Contrary to the announced
| programe of starting at noon, word was
| passed that change would be made in
| the arrangements and that an early start
| would be made, consequently before
O'Clock everything was life and hustle
aboard the good ship. The black smoke
| began TO pour from the huge smoke
| stacks, showing that those below decks
were attending to their duties About
| 1880 the orders were given to weigh
anchor and soon the chain was up and
down. The order was given to go ahead
and the stately ship headed toward the
open sea.
she started out at O fair pace gradually
increasing, until at s O'Clock the tug
June, at the starting line, was sighted
and Immediately she was headed for the
line. No preliminary warming up was
given the throbbing machinery today,
the run down from her anchorage at
Presidents Road being all that was re-
Qulred for her run against time over the
great American marine derby. Captain
Sargent was in the pilot house of the
speedy liner, and through his previous
experiences on this course he was enabled
TO get his ship in just the right position
her knife-like bow cutting the white
crested waves, parting the greer waters
into two great white topped billows. The
huge tunnels by this time were beiching
forth great volumes OF black smoke,
which, mingling with the escaping steam,
almost enveloped the huge ship. The
rapidly revolving propellers were making
q seething white cauldron at the stern of
the black ship and far astern she left a
long white wake. The red flag was fly
ing at the fore, denoting this TO be the
official trial. At S:4S 80 a. N. she was over
the line and away for the goal post
at Cape Porpoise, .967 miles away.
In remarkably short space of time she
neared the horizon, reaching this point
in exactly 90 minutes, and was soon
speeding on the last half of her down
course.
At :51 80 p. M, the black h ulled
liner reappeared on the horizon return
ing. The wind since the start had grad
ually increased until, at this time, il is
between 80 and 80 miles an hour. The
few sailing craft in sight from Associ-
ated Press observatory were under reduced
sail and the wave crests were tinged
with white water in all directions. The
ST. Paul was ploughing the waves like the
veritRble monarch she is, and leaving a
long black trail behind her. She was
making straight for the line and COM
ing fast
Unofficial summary: Start, s.4s: :3s;
crossed line at Cape Porpoise, IL ;02; to-
tai elapsed time first run, 2 h. Ia MN. 3S
sec. distance, 43. 967 miles; average
speed for run, 9.6S knots; crossed line
on return, l119; totsl elapsed time sec
ond run, 2 h. 2 min. II sec; average speed
run back, 21.58 knots; average speed
both runs, 20:57.
In comparison to large fleets OF yachts,
tugs AMI other craft, which have saluted
Uncle Sans crack vessels al the end of
their record breaking runs, only one
small down east coaster was near
the finish line, and the small but patri-
otic crew took of their caps and waved
them in honor OF the craft. The st.
Paul. from her great momentum was
Obliged TO run about two miles before
she could stop, which she did, ana watt
ed the coming OF her tender, the Juno,