The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-05-15
SHE IS WITHOUT A PEER
GUNBOAT NASH YILLE THE FASTEST
 BOATIN HER GLASS ABLOAT.

At Her Trial Over the Sound Course Yes terday She Developed an Average Speed Exceeding Sixteen Knots-Earned a Bo- nus of $6O,Oo0 for Her Builders-The Vessel Shows Splendid Qualities.
 Bridgeport, May 14-"The fastest ves- sel of her class in the world" was the verdict accorded by the officers of the trial board at the conclusion of the speed trial of the new gunboat Nash vilie to-day on Long Island sound.
 The speed required by the govern ment was 1907 knots. The average speed made by the vessel was 16.7O6 knots making an excess of speed very near three knots. With a bonus of $20,000 for each excess knot this means total of nearly $6O.OOO for her build CTS
 It was shortly after midday when the Nashville weighed anchor and started for the first stake boat. It took about twenty minutes for the vessel to reach the torpedo boat Porter, which was anchored near Middle Ground light After circling around the Por- ter the Nashville, with nose pointed straight ahead started with engines at full speed for the "Ericcson" six miles distant. There the splendid qualities of the vessel were made manifest. With the screws performing 30704 per min ute, not the slightest jar was percep- tible.
 With the increased steam pressure, urged on by score of brawny firemen, the vessel fairly cut the water. The speed constantly increased until the in dicator in the pilot house showed S11O3 That was the highest speed at tained by the engines during the trial. From the second stake boat the trip was without incident. An evenness of speed andsteam pressure was maintain ed that was considered remarkable by the trial board. With the highest speed of 311.03 and the registration of 30704 on the first leg, the average shows 308.64 for the entire course.
 This was regarded by the engineers who participated in the trial as the most satisfactory evidence of the ves- sers steadiness and stability. From the third stake boat the same even speed was maintained. On this leg, while the speed of the vessel was at its height, heavy fog, that threatened to do much damage to the speed of the vessel, settled upon the sound With con- passes most accurately adjusted the Nashville ploughed on through the heavy blanket of fog. At any other trial this would have been sufficient cause to have had the trial declared off, but not so the Nashville; not for a minute did she slacken speed.
 After a half-hour had passed the fog lifted and not thing occurred to mar the success of the trial.
 After the last stake-boat had been passed and the vessel turned toward this city, the mathematical sharks aboard got in their work. The time for the thirty-mile run out, was one hour 35 minutes 36 seconds. The elaps- ed time for the second run was one hour AS minutes 16 seconds. The aver age speed was 1907 knots. On the run out the speed was 1879 knots. The home run was trif1e slower, 1863 knots being the average. The mean speed for the two runs was 16.706.
 The steering qualities of the vesse were excellent. The helm was put from "hard on'' to "hard on'' In twenty seconds, the ship only keeling three degrees during that time.
 Immediately after the conclusion oi the run the Nashville started for New port News, Va, where she was built Upon her arrival there the engines will be taken apart and a thorough exam ination made bofere the official report is made to the government. The yes sel will be commanded after her ac- ceptance by Commander Maynard, who is a member of the trial board.