The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-10-05
THE ST.PAUL ASUCCESS
The New American Liner Meets
-, ALI Expectations.
FAST TIME IN A STIFF BREEZE

The Speedy vessel Travels at Rate Rx-
ceediaE Twenty-thres Miles an Hoar,
and nc IL Believed shs WIN Yet Equal
the ss. Louis' Time.
GLOUCESTER, Mass, Cst 5--The big
ocean steamship St. Paul, built by the
Cramps, Of Philadelphia, as sister ship
to the st. Louis, for the International
Navigation company's limo, made an aver
age speed of 2o.5 knots an hour in her
official trial trip of almost SO knots over
the government course off this coast yes
terday, and scored another success for
American shipbuilders. In every respect
the trial was most satisfactory one. The
vessel machinery worked perfectly, there
was no foaming of the boilers, As on the
preliminary run last Wednesday, and the
vessel cut through the waves gracefully
and easily, with q noticeable lack Of vibra-
tion. Her builders and the officials Of the
International Navigation company are
well satisfied with the result of the
trial, and aro confident that after she has
been docked and cleaned little work will
greatly add to her speed and when the
stiffness Of her machinery has worn away
she will equal the st. Louis record of 22.3
knots an hour.
Yesterdays trial was under the super
vision of Commander r. M. Bradford, U.
8. n, Lieutenant Commander Seaton S.
Schroeder, Lieutenant J. N, T. Hatch and
Lieutenant Mulligan, OF the government
trial board who took careful notes of the
vessels performance to determine her eli
gibility as a United States mail steam
ship and as an auxiliary cruiser of tho
United States navy in the event of war.
She met fully the speed requirement Of 20
knots an hour, proved herself steady and
powerful and in every respect met the de-
mands Of the government.
Assistant Secretary of State Adee, Ed
win S. Cramp, as representative of the
builders, and President Clement A. Girls
com, representing the International Nayi-
CATION company, closely watched the trial
of the ship, and expressed themselves as
greatly pleased with the result. The ST.
Paul left her anchorage of Boston light
at o'clock yesterday morning, with her
boilers thoroughly cleaned nd filled with
fresh water, her machinery in perfect or
der and 400 tons of coal in her bunkers.
Only light mist overhung the ocean,
but few clouds hecked the sky, and the
stiff breeze which was blowing from the
northwest did not seriously disturb the
surface of the soa, although it retarded the
speed of the vessel considerably. The big
black liner made good time from the light
down to Cape Ann. She warmed up to
her work rapidly, and at $3.50 she was
headed for the starting line. She crossed
it at $3.50 aud pointed down the course to
Cape Porpoise, Me.
Her twin screw propellers were then
skipping her through the water at the rate
of almost 20 knots, with o 10 knot breeze
blowing dead against her. Every piece of
machinery assisting her In her propulsion
was working perfectly, the boilers were
performing their duty faithfully, and tho
big black liner sped to the eastward like
frightened sea gull. Her vibration was
noticeably slight, the 'bone'' at her bows
was small as her PROV cleaved through
the waves, but the milk white wake astern
churned up by her rapidly revolving pro-
pellers and the whirl Of the patent log
which dragged behind gave ample evidence
of her speed.
The second mark boat on the course, an
chored of Boon Island, 3e knots from the
start, was passed at 1922 at speed of
about 20 knots, and soon afterwards the
tughoat, anchored at the finish line, off
Cape Porpoise was sighted. This mark,
which ended the first half of the trial,
was passed at 11:o1, hours and ii min
utes after the start, making the average
speed for the 43.98 knots coll knots an
hour. Less than 10 minutes were occupied
In making the turn, and at II rs a. m. the
began her race back.
The wind, which had risen somewhat,
WIS with her now, and her speed increased
slightly as she reached the Boon Island
mark, which was passed at 11;55. The tug
which was anchored here got under way
as soon as the st. Paul passed, and with
the smoke pouring in dense volumes from
her stack followed the big ship at her top
speed, but she was soon lost to sight. The
stake boat off Thatcher's Island Indicating
the finish was in view soon after noon,
and as she neared it the ocean racer sped
toward the line like race horse tearing
down the homestretch.
She crossed the line and terminated the
trial at 1:22 p. m. She had made the run
westward on the last half of the trial In 3
hours and z minutes, at an average speed
of 20.S knots m hour, making her average
for the entire trial EOS, or more than %
miles an hour. The average revolutions
Of the vessels screw during the run were
S93 going east and 30 on the return west
ward. The boilers steamed easily, at no
time giving trouble, and the indicators
showed an average pressure of 1870 pounds.
All attending conditions being consid-
cred, the builders and owners OF the yes
sci were well satisfied with the work of
the ship, and believe that abe will prove
one of the fastest and best in tho world
The st. Paul stopped few moments off
Gloucester Immediately after the trial,
and then proceeded to New York.