The San Francisco call., 1896-04-26
FASTEST OF HER CLASS.
Wins Glory for Herself and a
Handsome Premium for
Her Builders.
a RUN FULL OF EXCITEMENT
With Her Sister Ship, the Indiana,
the World Is Challenged to Pro.
duce Their Equals.

BOSTON, MASS, April 25.-In her Off
cial trial trip the battle-ship Massachusetts
covered the sixty-two knots of the official
Government course in 3 hours so minutes
and % seconds, making the magnificent
average speed for the four hours of 1914
knots-a speed which places her in the
front of ships of her class of all the navies
of the world. The average speed OF the
Massachusetts, was over half q knot
greater than that of her sister ship, the
Indiana, which made 1851 knots on her Of
fetal trial trip.
The contract of the Cramps with the
Government called for a bonus OF $50, 600
for every quarter knot made by the ship
above fifteen, and by her great perform
ance to-day the battle-ship earned for her
builders premium of $100, 900. The man
ner in which the machinery worked was
as satisfactory as the speed developed.
With their usual good luck the Cramps
had a day set for the trial on which the
weather conditions and the sea were per-
feet.
The Massachusetts, got under weigh just
before o'clock. The course was from
Cape Ann to Boon Island, off the Maine
coast. lu6 ulSidnCG Is Unity -Olio hlOlS
and was marked off in equal periods by six
can buoys. At each buoy was stationed a
Government vessel,
The ship passed the first buoy where the
Dallas was anchored at 9:51 As, and with
scarcely vibration of her decks steamed
up the course. The other stakeboats were
passed in the following order: No. 2,
10I6:35; No. 3, 10: 5000; No. T. II :o2 :1111Iz;
No. 5, IL ;26:15; No. 6, IL :47:47
The average speed of the up run was
1904 knots. The little advantage she may
have gained from the tide was counterbal-
anced by the wind, which was dead ahead.
On the run from Cape Ann to Boon
Island the Indiana averaged but 1924
knots, and her maximum speed was 1854
The Massachusetts passed the Fern at
the upper end of the course on the return
to Cape Ann at 12:03:14.
The run back was full of excitement, as
it showed for certain that the Massachu-
sets would exceed her contract speed by
fully knot. The engines were watched
with the closest attention and streams OF
water and oil were poured over bearings
and journals.
Twenty minutes before the finish line
was crossed word was sent to the engine
room to drive the ship for all she was
worth, and when the finish line was
crossed, at 1:57:351z, the Massachusetts
emitted one long triumphant below from
her whistle and cheer after cheer went up
from her decks.
On the run back she averaged 1926
knots, which brought up her average speed
for the distance to 1915. The time in
passing the stakeboats on the return was
as follows: The Fern, II :03 IA; the Wood
bury, 12:34:59; the Iwana, II AS IA; the
Katahdin, 1853, and the Dallas,
57:35II.
The total time consumed for the up and
down runs was 8 hours so minutes and %
seconds. The speed between the stake
boats to Cape Ann was as follows: 1866,
15.3 1873, 1874, 16.9-an average of 16 26
knots. The average run of the Indiana on
this course was 1893; on her maximum
speed, $3.50.
The steam pressure varied from $50 20
165 pounds. The horsepower developed
can hardly be given, but it was undoubt-
edly over 10000.
Edwin S. Cramp, in speaking of the re-
suits, said:
The trial to-day makes the Massachu-
setts, ana consequently the Indiana, class
absolutely unriValed among the ironclads
of the world. 1t was already conceded
that her offensive qualities were superior
to all others, and it only needed this trial
to prove that she can carry the powers into
action at speed greater than that of any
of her rivals.
"The average speed of 1915 knots prac-
tically for five hours shows beyond ques-
tion the ability of sustaining a great speed
for long periods. In every respect the
engine performance was without equal
There was not droy of water nor leak
ing joint or tube or started rivet any
where"