New-York tribune., 1895-08-21
THE ST. LOUIS A FLYER.
RACES THROUGH THE ENGLISH CHANNEL
AT % $40 KNOTS AN HOUR.
NO FLAG HAS BEEN CARRIED FASTER THERE
OFFICIALS WELL PLEAsED-THE
STEAMER WINS A MAILCARRY-
ING CONTRACT FOR TEN

YEARS.
SOUTHAMPTON. Aug a.-The American Lines new
steamer ST. Louis had official trial to-day ana
maintained a speed Of % 3l0 knots hour for over
four hours carrying the Stars and Stripes raster
than any flag had ever been carried through the
English Channel The course from Portland
Bill TO Start Point. a distance OF hfty-two kno's
The St Louis made flying start due west. WIN
the tide The time consumed was hours IL MN
utes S seconds showing a speed Of 26 knots. Ihe
return trip was made in hours Is minutes ~ Sec
onds. a speed OF 21 knots. The sea was smooth
The St Louis left Southampton at $3.50 a. m On
board the vessel Captain Royal b. Brad1ord
and Lieutenant Richard T. Mulgan. OF the United
States Navy. who we're designated by secretary
Herbert to conduct the speed tra. of the st. Lohs
Commander w. 5. Cowes. Naval Attache OF the
United States Embassy Frank l.. Fernad. United
States Naval Constructor: w. S. kinkead. United
States Consul at Southampton; Clement =. Griscoh
president of the International Navigation Company
and James Wright, also official OF that company
The trip was begun In misty weather. The ST.
Louis took $50 tons OF ordinary coal of the same
quality that Is used on regular voyages Her drausnt
was twentythree feet forward and twenty-four feet
aft The quantity of coal usually carried on voy-
age Is $500 tons and the draft Of the vessel Is then
a foot deeper than It was to-day. BY the time the
vessel reached The Needles the weather was clearer
and there was no wind Outside Of The Needles the
ST. Louis turned twice in circles TO adjust her COM
passes The time consumed for each turn was M
teen minutes The range Of the two lights at Port
land Bill was passed at II 3S:0o. The screw was
making ninety five revolutions per minute. with
half-inch water pressure-practicay a natural
draught. The ship was perfectly steady; there was
not the slightest vibration in any part The weather
the remainder Of the trip. The St. Louis passed
line bearing on Start Poing. which had been de-
termined by the photographic Office OF the Navy
Department. and which was hfty-two miles from
the starting point. at 1:soll The steamer then
made a long turn. still going at full speed. and
passed the same line her return at 2o93s A
of various descriptions were lying near by. A tor
pedo-catcher. which Is supposed to have 26-knot
record was easily passed. The weather was superb
The st. Louis finished at 4:3S :l5 The run 10 Ihe
Needles made at increased speed.
Captain Bradford expressed his pleasure at the
performance OF the st. Louis and sent favorable
report Of tho vessel to Secretary Herbert.
Mr. Griscom said that he was glad that the frst
great American ship had made the finest measured
record 1t was engine test that did credit TO ihe
fremen all Of whom were shipped in New York for
that he was confident that the St Louis would break
the record next year. wher the yesse! would
be provided with larger snokestacks: The machn-
cry In perfect order and not heated after run
the showing made by her compared well with the
maiden record Of the Paris on the Clyde. The fact
Of only ls $40 knots was explained when she went
into the dock at southampton on Sunday. 1t was
then found that her bottom was In very foul con-
diSn pe'ne by ber performance today wins
ma-carrying contract for ten years at the rate OF
81 per mile for a weekly service between New-York
and Southampton. This contract VIII take effect
October H. The ST. Louis returned to Southampton
The Naval oflicials have not finished their calcua
tions but they inclined 10 the opinion that to-
pect that the ST. Louis will show record Of 22.5
a