The evening times., 1897-02-27
sPEED|EsT CRAFT AFL0AT
Torpedo Boat No. 6 Anchored at
the Navy Yard.
SHE GOT HERE THIS MORNING
It LIS Claimed That Under Forced
Draft and Favorable Conditions
She Can Make Thirty-two Miles
an Hour-The Length of He Stay
in Washington Undecided.

Torpedo boat No. the fastest craft in
Uncle sani's navy, dipped her black, bedk-
like bow i'll the waters OF the Potomac off
Blackstone Light at O'Clock this morn
ing, and at 1870 O'Clock anchored at
the Navy Yard wharf. She was in charge
OF Lieut.. j. G. Fremont, her commanding
officer, and Ensign u C. Dawson and a
crew OF twenty-seven men. Immediately
upon arrival at port Lieut.. Fremont re-
paired To the Navy Department, iii answer
to a summons from Secretary Herbert. I he
officers in charge were unable TO state the
reason OF the boats coming TO Washing
ton, or the length OF time she would re-
ilain. 1t is known, however, that the YES
sci is To stay until after the Inaugural ton,
when the Congressional Committees on
Naval Affairs will have a complimentary
spin on the navy's infant.
The torpedo boat left Norfolk ut noon
yesterday. Since she went in commission,
on February 20, she has been scanlpering
around in the seas from Bristol To Book
lyn and along the coast On her trlal trip
the craft made record OF 2S.74 knots
per hour for two consecutive hours. She
can go even faster than this, IL is claimed,
and some of her admirers believe she can
under pressure cover thirty-twO miles an
hour In that event the boat would be
without a rival In the world for speed.
The trip to Washington was by no means
a speed trial, though, and the little boat
came up the river at leisurely pace.
She reached Black kstonelight at 6 20 o'clock
last evening The weather was bad ana
stormy. and as there was no need for
n Ia p. I1x
until this morning As stated, the boat left
at O'Clock Even If desired, 1t would be
impossible to make the sane time in the
river as in salt water In addition To this,
but one OF the three improved boilers
was III use and the boat was under only
one-tbird power.
About O'Clock she pas sed Indian Head,
and the fact was communicated to the
navy yard officials. When the boat first
came into view there was little 10 be seen
save two very large smOkes,acks, from
which great clouds of blae smoke were
rolling in lazy manner, and black hull,
some fifteen feet wide, across the surface Of
the water The VeTiest little tug would
have been more assuming and certainly more
noisy From Al staff a dozen feet high
waved u small American pennaRt that could
be seen only a short distance away, while
a small navy flag Tapped from the stern
mast When she reached port the vessel
turned completely around and anchored at
the wharf, with her bow down stream.
Fully half a hundred visitors and en-
ployes Mt The navy yard, who had heard OF
the boats coming. were on the wharf when
she anchored, and in less than ten minutes
after her arrival her deck was swa rming
with curious people Others came fas., and
i'm a half hour hundred people had seen
the craft.
The deck Of tie vessel does not set more
than ten feet above the water. and its
monoteny is only broken by the pilot
houses. the smoke-stacks and the torpedo
engines In ordinary seas the water would
wash across her in a free nd easy manner,
and If the waves are the lea It BIT naughty
it is necessary to close every hatchway
closely and force a draft below. Com
pactncss is the essence of the whole CON
Germ.
on the foredeck is tic captains coming
tower. 1t is circular in shape, and does
not rise five feet above the deck. The
vessel is steered and managed from this
point when running or in action. There is
an aft-Conning tower OF somewhat similar
design near the stern, and this can he used
in case the forward one is disabled
TIE captains loom is in the low Of the
oat and adjoining the foremost magazine.
Immediately back of it, and partly Under
the forward coming tower, is the officers
mcSsIoam. The rooms are trimmed in OAK,
and have oak furniture. The curtains are
of brown plush, while black leather cush-
joaed hunks and Oriental hangingS add to
the utility and beauty of the rooms. In
close and compact order come the china
and silver closets, the pantry and other
officers hunks. Steam heat is furnished
and oil and electric lights are added to the
Co1veniences. The lamps are shaded in
red.
In the center of the craft are situated the
engine rooms, where the power for pro
peling the vessel and hoisdng the tor
pedoes is generated. In the stern of the
boat the crews quarters are situated
In the extreme rear is another magazine.
Two torpc1oes ready for instant service are
stored in the aft coming tower. There are
three projcctile engines on deck. One is
situated in the stern. The other two are
placed at the respective sides of the beat,
but not directly opposite. Two small rifle
guns are also in position on the deck.
The boat is not more than seventy feet in
length, and looks fully worthy of the speed
i1f,S Shp q 10