The herald., 1897-04-08
QUEEN OF
CRUISERS
Among American Ships of
War
THE NEW BATTLESHIP IOWA
RUNS AWAY FROM THE SPEED
RECORD
THE NEW BATTLESHIP IOWA
The Last of the Premium Built Yes
sells Is the Most Formidable
Cruiser Afoat
Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
BOSTON, April THE battleship
Iowa, the last of the premium built bat
tleships, earned today for her builders,
William Cramp & Son of Philadelphia,
100000 by making an average of II even
knots an hour over the regular govern
ment course off the Massachusetts, coast
in the four hours speed trial required by
the government under the contract.
The Iowa by her grand work proved
herself to be superior to either the In
diana or Massachusetts, and is today
the acknowledged queen of the American
| navy, if not the most formidable battle
ship afioat.
The weather could not have been sur
passed. A light northerly air shifting to
northeast just as the trial began helped
the forced draught considerably, and
as it shifted around still further to the
east on the run back it did not hamper
the work of the big blowers.
The trial board came down from the
city about o'clock and with them were
some 200 guests of the builders, as we'll
| as many naval officers stationed in and
about Boston The ship got under way
almost Immediately, heading straight
for the twin lights of Cape Ann, and
| after run of over an hour to the first
mark boat, the crack-a-jack was in sight
with signals out denoting the 33-knot
course. Like racehorse not quite pre-
pared for her great effort, the Iowa
scored twice. running up to within Il
mile of the line and then shying off to
sea, in order to bottle little more steam
and develop a few hundred more horse
power.
At the very outset of the trial It was
evident that every one of the picked
crew was in dead earnest. The wake
ieft straight astern showed that the
steadiest of pilots, Lew Chambers. was
at the helm. while the regular rumble of
the engines and the twin screws denoted
that another master hand. hidden from
sight, was directing the ponderous ma
| chinery.
There was not the slightest deviation
| in the course as the ship rushed by the
second mark boat. making the leg In
1880, which was very satisfactory. In
| the next leg of the course. the ship be-
| gan to show what was in her. for she
topped the 17-knot record by averaging
|
creased on the next leg to 17.41. put on
the fourth there was falling Off. which
decreased in the last the speed running
down to 1885. 1t was proved. however.
that the last leg of the course was some
what long.
While the ship was preparing for
the run back. the ready reckoners on
board figured that on the run down TO
ka
1887 knots per hour. The time was SO
we'll up to the builders expectations
that in order to consume the allotted
four hours. the ship was sped around
twice before starting. For thirty min
utes and As seconds she kept up her
jockeying and then dashed for the line
ayain. passing the last mark boat at
12:cs:25. On this leg there was an av-
crage of 1912 knots per hour. graft
fving increase over the last time in this
leg.
For over an hour after passing the
ffth mark boat the speed of the battle
shin did not apparently vary a hun
dredth part of a knot. supposing, OF
course. that the buoys were in the right
nosition. The fourth. third and second
legs of the course were all made In ex-
actly the same time. % minutes ara ~
seconds. so that when the second mark
boat was passed, the ship was only six
nautical miles from the finish. and the
reckoners had figured that. barring acci-
| dents. she would make something over
| II knots.
The Iowa did it. and that was all. In
fact. so near was the margin that the
reckoners had to carry their figures to
the fourth decimal point in order to make
| the speed for the whole course average
II knots an hour. 1t came out all right,
in the end, however and with broom
on her fighting top, the queen OF the
American AMY, after two or three half
circles, to show just what she. could do
in quick maneuvering, she slackened
speed and headed for Boston.
Throughout the trip the boat behaved
admirably The heavy turrets. well
above the water line, gave her much
greater roll than the Indiana or the
Massachusetts. but except for this she
was much steadier than the other battle
ships The tidal figures will not cut the
17-knots mark. but. on the other hand.
will probably increase 1t to some slight
extent.
The Iowa anchored off Boston light at
o'clock, and will remain there all night.
leaving at o'clock tomorrow morning
for Philadelphia.
The Iowa is officially known as "Sea
going battleship No. IL The contract
for her construction was awarded on
February II. 1898. to the William Cramps
& Sons Ship and Engine Building COM
pany of Philadelphia. the famous ma
rine architects. The Iowa is larger than
the Indiana in length, beam and other
measurements. but disposition Of tha
battery is the same. except that she car
ries four 12-inch guns where the Indiana
carried four 13-inch and six 6-inch guns
as against the Indiapa's four 6-inch and
her secondary battery Is % rapid.
fire and machine guns as against the 20
Of similar caliber on the Indiana. In .