The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-30
STEAMSHIP ST. LOUIS
SUCCESSFUL TRIAL TRIP OF THE BIG
NEW AMERICAN LINER.
Very High Speed Not Attained Be-
cause of Faulty Stokfng-Gifts
from the People Of ST. Louis.


NEW YORK, May 2s.-The ST. Louis, the
new steamship of the international Naviga-
ton Company line, completed her trial trip
at sea at 4:S0 this afternoon, at which time
she made fast to her pier at the foot OF
Vesey street, North river. Coming up the
bay the st. Louis was the recipient OF a
splendid ovation, the due OF a craft OF her
imposing appearance and magnificent pro-
portions. She was sighted of the light
ship about / o'clock; at 2:i5 p. m. she
passed Sandy Hook and forty-eight minutes
later quarantine was passed. Everything
afioat between the places indicated saluted
the newcomer. Steam whistles shrilled a
welcome. ensigns were dipped and flags
were waved in honor of this latest addition
to the commercial marine OF the United
States, and over the waters were sent en-
thusiastic cheers to seamen and guests on
board the st. Louis. 1t was the same
thing all the way up to the pier.
The trial trip thus happily ended began at
9 o'clock Monday morning. Capt. w. G.
Randle was i'm command, but until she
passed quarantine this afternoon the build
ers controlled her every movement. Repre-
sentatives of the Cramps express satisfac-
ton at the result Of the trial. which I'm par
ticular showed the possession OF engines
we'll nigh perfect. Only twice during the
trip did any part OF the machinery become
heated, and that was the worst that de-
veloped. One journal and one bearing did
become hot, but that was attributed to
negligence on the part of the oilers. BY
direction there was no attempt to force the
speed for any considerable length of time.
1t had been promised that the st. Louis
should develop a speed OF q knots. This
was not fully realized during the trip. For
thirty minutes yesterday afternoon the
great ship was propelled through the water
at the rate of 20 knots an hour, and in or
der to do that it was found necessary to
blamed for most OF the difficulty in this re-
gard. The steam pressure was at no time
stipulated speed 200 pounds may be re-
CURED. When the fastest time OF the trip
was being made the engines were making
ty-five TO 100 revolutions being required TO
bring the speed up 10 Il knots. Much as
the inferior quality or coal may be to blame.
and TO both of these drawbacks there was
added an Indifference, or worse among the
when the st. Louis enters upon yer trial
trip across the ocean next week.
Before the steamer left the Cramps ship
yards, the dissatisfaction among the fire.
men at the fare which was served to them
became so great that they gathered up
their luggage and went ashore in a body.
Under promise that the cause OF complaint
would be corrected, the men returned TO
their work, but throughout the trip they
g1ua = bslfr hesh and tPssbia1l w 9hfir wSps
slight alterations in the furnaces, and with
a more careful selection of coal, IL Is rep
resented that the St. Louis will, on her
transatlantic voyage, which begins June 5.
develop a we'll sustained speed OF twenty
one knots an hour.
VERY CALM WEATHER.
from the capes OF Delaware to North Shoal.
off Nantucket. was not such as TO put the
st. Louis TO a test. for the ocean was at
no time more than moderately rough. while
at the time the twenty-knot rate was
reached the sea was as quiet as 1t could
well be. On the whole. the builders and
owners Of the St. Louis have good reason
to be proud Of the result of the hfty-five
hours trial trip. and the best of grounds
for claiming that her plan is among the
most palatial OF the transatlantic liners.
On the arrival OF the steamship st. Louis
the following letter was handed to Presi-
dent Griscom by George II. Morgan. secre-
tary Of the committee representing the
citizens of St. Louis:
Dear Sir-The action OF your company
In adopting the name st. Louis for the
first steamship built In this country from
American plans and with American capital.
American material and by American work.
men. is regarded by the city Of St. Louis
as a marked recognition of the city's i'm
portance, and as an evidence of frienili-
& 1t t Is i@ oP s&rasefu t. e has aasa Sssn shs PPM 1pni-
testimonial should be provided which should
take the share Of a pe RI ,Sslr m aspnec,al
as s,sr an q, a ,Ss c@moiinent rendered Sl snesd sPpre''A-
9TH undersigned committee appointed 70
carry out this wish. after consulting with
yourself and associates. came to the con,
o1ncsap tbos tho fnOSf QDDrOprlate gift WOull
be a large and handsome library. The
committee, acting in behalf OF the citizens
of st. Louis. takes the greatest pleasure ln
now formally presenting TO yoS. ana
through you 10 the International >aviga-
ton Company; the following sruf zee 20 o y
the passengers thereon.
.'First-A library for the first cabin, con
sisfing OF l.662 carefully selected volumes.
handsomely bound and numbered
"Second-A library for the second cabin.
containing, $50 volumes, also espev Sn,esyrnsiy v
bound and have stamped on the frent cover
in gold leaf, Presented to the 5. > 81;
on the reverse cover the seal or your COM
pany. The first cabin library contains zoo
,ihrayv 10 Ten bound catalogues and fifty
unbound each library.
"Third-Two hundred copies each OF
Hymnals and Prayer books especially bound
and bearing the names Of the ship and the
u"Fourth-Two handsomely bound albums.
containing td(n HAs tbAotoStcPAAN 49,.
with descriptive matter covering a brief
history OF the city and OF each picture.
These volumes will. We trust. be placed on
tables I'm the cabin.
.sFffth-A monograph descriptive OF the
new Union station. donated by the presi-
dent thereof.
~''sixth-Ten ornamental glass windows for
the first cabin library room
"Seventh-A full set OF nags, inciudins
the American ensign and the house nag
in silk. and a bursee bearing the name
st. Louis
I'm conclusion the committee ventures 10
express the hope that these testimonials
will be accepted by your company with the
assurance that every loyal citizen OF -.
Louis will follow the fortunes OF the great
ship bearing its name with never-nagging
interest, and that the metropolis OF the
Mississippi valley will forever entertain Tor
the international Navigation Company
feelings OF highest possible regard. consid-
Grafton and respect.
The letter is signed by G. 4. Walbridge.
Mayor. VIM. q. Boyd. l.. ID. Kingsland. T.
r. Boyd, 5. w. Cobb and q. III. Morgan.