New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-13
NASHVILLE'S TRIAL PUT OFF
THE GUNBOAT READY, But THE
WEATHER UNFAvORABLE.
TIE VESSEL INSPECTED BY Mr.. ROOSEVELT
MACHINERY AND ARMAMENT OF

THE NASHVILLE
Bridgeport. Conn. May H-The trial trip OF the
new gunboat Nashville. scheduled for to-day. has
been postponed account Of the weather.
Theodore Roosevelt, Assistant Secretary OF the
Navy arrived this morning and conveyed on
the torpedo-boat Porter to the Nashville where he
inspected the new vessel. Afterward he had a
chance TO the speed Of the Porter on run
over to oyster Bay, Long Island. which was made
in forty-nve minutes. showing a speed OF over
twenty-six knots, although only two-thirds boiler
power used.
The condition of Captain G.. w. Coffin. a member
Of the Government Trial Board. which is TO super
wise the trial trip OF the Nashville. who was taken
suddenly III train while on his way to Bridge
port. is considered critical DIT. Haskell the at
tending physician gays that Captain Coffin Is suf-
fering from pneumonia and heart trouble.
The fine performance OF the Wilmington and the
Helena on their recent trial trips has occasoned
added interest in the test of the NASHVILLE.
These vessels provided for by act OF Congress
approved March g. 1893. and In January Of the year
following their building awarded TO the New
port News Shipbuilding Company. of Newport
News, Va. So thoroughly have the builders car
ried out their contract that only have the YES
sells won the highest praise for workmanship. fin
ish and performance but their excess development
Of speed has already netted the contractors the
snug bonus Of sl,i52 while the premium on the
Nashville has yet TO be heard from.
The Nashville is go feet long the watcr-line
mas a maximum beam Of SO feet inches and draws
II feet Of water on a normal displacement OF l.Jl
tons When ready for sea- under the usual cruis-
Ing conditions she will carry about $50 tons OF
coal, but her bunkers have total capacity OF SSs
tons, and that will be her supply when loaded TOT
a long trip. With this latter supply she should De
able 20 a distance OF quite six thousand mites
at a cruising speed of eight knots an hour-aa OK
-odi,, n
The Nashville is rugged as ,wo-masted schooner
and will carry just enough sail 70 steady her IN
seaway Like the other vessels. she Is ouilt OF
steel and in model is rightly considered pret'hE
formed craft. She Is designed for speed OF lour-
teen knots but II Is needless 10 say she VIII reacn
sixteen on her trial To attain this era the VesSe'
mas had her engines designed with especial CON
sideration for economical efficiency under oo'h
cruising and full-speed conditions. Her motive
power consists Of two sets of quadruple-eApa"S''i
engines driving twin screws. and IL Is oil lh'e'rS'
10 know that she is tho only craft III tAc set'''e
other than torpedo boats carrying ina'Hl'''E Va
tbi. sort For the sake OF economy the .ow-?'ess-
IRE cylinders are arranged TO discoH1ec' '"i'He
the three other cylinders to do the work az ciu',s
snecd but ut full speed all four CT the cyihlcra
will be pushed TO their utmost. NitaoI' b''.'
into the technique o: the arrangement, i may %
said that an engine Vs''n; w llaos, eneoG and
b, ,iein. these engines ~ ..v aaSir'nn' ritir h"
nj or
running with one 'Elihn.F '..nh "a ..taio tht-
result s economical p"fforman =. - -" 81.
erd mon reasonable expenditure OF C'H,' ~, ~
Kin 81 ftted win two kinds OF bo!iei s-oHe KIM
developing steam az WOO hlns ~ "a, -
POUNDS an ~ ~ mounds inder cruising conditions
lie two lGopourd boilers VIII 'aees ne r ,hc
har boilers viii be called into acquisition onIy
chen The vessel is making her maxim .n Se' '.,
uiirs viii sem TO eyist only FOR tho mia! supply
of the two hgn-prcSSU7r c!'Iv. = ~ - ,bat az
ho mi bead from the TWO l5O-pound boilers ~.
such is not the fact ior tha ia hounds and to-
@nfber sIlppv the added tax upon nc pt me- ~ -.
d.rs This IS only par; OF me carrIu I'LL. ma
power and nice adjustment N tue
chinf r. expected that with something HE three
nynansion form the engines will develop iso ~" ,'r
power and induce speed OF ,Scre vii be no diff
Guilty in maintaining an easy Jog OF elsl'l H"o'' "''
h% The upper deck runs without break from sem
IN Stern and besides adding 10 the wca merry qua a.
tiles and strength of the Gra c6Verne Far the
e emns on the gun deck Within this berth'ng space
NIL DE }bie aft comfortable accommodations are
nroyided for a captain and ten other ohGerrs. T., ,h
brae ef n rides Four Of those guns are
mounted on the upper deck 1--WE i3rHtIa a Th rs
an nrotected by fixed segmental shie as Inc re-
NAMING four are paced the gun deck and be
sides the protection OF shields. are mousse bi
Snsc atter guns have each total Of fire OF
40 degrees. while those on the upper ueS~ nav
even a wider fed OF action ~. .. ,,
The secondary battery consists OF four o-lounu 1
or and two l-pounder rapd-hre guns ana w ,
Gotiines The s-pOunders are mounted on the
gun deck in Sponsors armored WIN onehcn stee
earrings are located on the upper deck wherever
promising the most effective service .,..o, .,o,,
4 minute from each OF the big guns TO possible
Va n Of two thousand in the same time from the
a,,,Dss II is needless 70 say that only armored
craft Could venture within range without FEAR OF
cartain Sestruction while moderate powered bat
teries ON land would have TO be snugly placed 70
withstand the storm OF those explosive shells. In
adJItion the boat has been fitted with a bow tor,
r,edo-tuLe and the ship has yet 70 be fabricated
whose sides are invunerabie TO the blast or a
charge OF n-cOtton. ,., ,,,.
Tbe vessel is lighted throughout by electric lights.
while a powerful searchlight on top OF the pilot
house will send its dazzling beams OF brightness
miles into the darkest night