The record-union., 1896-05-15
Beats the Worlds Record for Her Class
in the Official Trial Trip.
Makes an Average Speed of Nearly
Seventeen Knots.
The Grand Lodges of Odd Fellows and
Rebekahs Elect Officers for the
Ensuing Term-PrOceedings of the
High Court of Foresters, in Session
at Ukiah.

nIXn (Ourt OF FOrcSterS, IN SESSION
at Ukiah.
SANTA BARBARA, May 14-After
months of patient toll, after weeks
spent in preparations, after trial trips
On San Francisco Bay and speed tests
in the Santa Barbara Channel, the Ore
gon to-day repaid her builders by do
ing all they asked of her. She made
an average speed of 1913 knots, beat
ing the worlds record. The weather
to-day was perfect. There was scarcely
ripple on the channel. AT 6:15 a. m.
the big battleship got under weigh and
headed for Point Goleta. The tug I'm
adilla was already in position, and the
manner in which the ship acted showed
that the swell was not heavy.
Orders were given for the battleship
20 swing around and head for point off
Point Carpinteria, where a small stake
boat had been anchored in line with
the starting point. Once headed for the
tug Unadilla the engines were gradual
~ opened, and passing the Santa Bar
bara wharf the Oregon was going like
a deerhound and taking tons of water
over her bow at every jump. More and
more way she gathered, and passing the
scratch line she was beating 1612 knots.
Between the Unadilla and the Gedney
there was ten-mile course, and in COW
ering that the big battleship increased
instead of diminished her speed At
times the patent log showed a speed
better than II knots, and the firemen,
to whom the news was communicated,
were spurred on to fresh exertions
Passing the Gedney half a dozen people
took the time, and on sped the Oregon
toward the Albatross, the next stake
boat. Captain Goodall steered the
battleship closer to the kelp than ever
he steered any of the cruisers, and SO
escaped some of the swell.
On sped the Oregon, and only ten
miles of the first part of the course re-
mained to be covered The speed to a
landsman did not seem to have dimin-
ished in the slightest, but the ensigns,
who were keeping time, became little
serious, and there was a general air of
expectancy. Down in the fireroom the
firemen worked like beavers. Eventu-
ally, with one big burst of speed the
Oregon passed the Macarthur, on the
western range near Point Conception.
While the long turn was being made at
full speed the run was worked out. and
when 1I.OS knots an hour was an
nounced the scene on the deck of the
battleship was almost indescribable
Admiral Beardslee, Captain Cotton and
all the other officers and the guests con-
graduated Builder Scott
From Gaviota Point to Point Con-
ception the swell had been heavy, but
hzv1 RI
Macarthur the second time it was at
once seen that both wind and swell had
Increased and in consequence sea after
sea broke over her bows The turrets
in which the big guns are placed were
under water twice, but the vessel never
swerved from her course. 1t was a
hard battle to Gaviota Point, and had
il not been for the ten-mile stretch
through a heavy swell the Oregon
would surely have beaten II knots.
From that point to where the Una
dilla was stationed the work was easy
but when the result was figured out it
was found that the battleship had only
averaged 16.49 knots. When the final
result of an average of 1918 knots was
announced, however, and the trial was
over the firemen lost their self-control
and a cheer went up that was plainly
heard on the upper deck above the
rush of the ship and the roar of the
machinery.
Almost before Irving NJ. Scott and
Admiral Beardslee were aware of the
fact three brooms (whisk brooms, the
only ones that could be found were fas-
tened in a triangle at the truck of the
fighting mast, while on the bow was
fastened a live rooster and on each of
the turrets was painted 170S in big,
black letters.
The following is an official account Of
the trip, furnished by one of the Off
GERS The time given is chronometer
time, and four hours slower than local:
Clear weather moderate swell light
westerly breeze. Passed Montecito
range '3h Ann. los; Santa Barbara
5:ss.; Pelican Point, Al. Ism. As. Point
Conception, Oh Am. As; average speed,
11.0S per hour.
Returning: Point Conception, Oh.
1om 35s: Pelican Point, Sh. SIN. 39s ;
Gedney, Sh. 12m. 40s.; average speed,
1886 per hour; average of both runs,
16.1S7 knots per hour; maximum run
for six miles, 1874 knots an hour.
"we met with heavy swell off Point
Conception Wind also increased and
hauled to northwest. Shipped several
seas Engines and boilers performed
satisfactorily. Boilers made all steam
engines could use. We made the turn
at Point Conception and return course
without slowing"
The time made by the Oregon is a
record On her trial trip the Indiana
made 1851 knots. which was not a
great deal over the Government re-
ouirements The Massachusetts made
IL. II knots, and earned a good premi
um for her builders. Now comes the
Oregon, however, with her 16S4 knots
and over, and earns a premium of S115.
600 for her builders. Out of this sum
each fireman gets So for each quarter
OF a knot over the speed. and the en-
gineers in proportion. AS there were
100 men in the engineers department,
the amount to them as a bonus will be
considerable.
She carried 160 pounds of steam
throughout. and the revolutions were
from 12S to 130 a minute, or less than
the Government allowance. Every
thing on the Oregon was given thor
ough test, and then she headed for
Santa Barbara. She lay here half an
hour and then sailed for San Francisco