The record-union., 1897-04-08
Over the Government Course On the
Massachusetts, Coast.
The Big BattIeship Made an Average
of Seventeen Knots an Hour, Earn
ing for Her Builders Premium or
Two Hundred Thousand Dollars
Behaved Admirably Throughout
the Trip.

BOSTON, April THE battleship
Iowa the last of the premium-bullt
battleshps of the navy, earned to-day
for her builders, Messrs. William Cramp
& Son of Philadelphia, S2O0,O0O, by
making an average of seventeen even
knots an hour over the regular
Government course off the MaSsachu-
sets 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
Indiana or Massachusetts, and is to-
day the acknowledged queen of the
American navy, if not the most for
midable battleship afloat
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 back run it did not hamper
the work of the big blowers.
The Trial Board came down from the
city about s o'clock, and with them
We're some 200 guests of the builders,
as we'll as many naval officers stationed
in and about Boston. The ship got un-
der way almost Immediately, heading
straight for the twin lights of Cape
Ann, and after a run of over an hour
from the first mark boat, the cracka-
Jack was sighted with signals floating,
denoting the thirty-three-knotc course
Like a racehorse not quite prepared for
her great effort, the Iowa scored twice,
running UP to within a mile of the line,
and then shying off to sea, in order to
bottle a little more steam and develop
a few hundred more horsepower.
At the very outset of the trial it was
evident that every one of the picked
crew was in dead earnest. The wake
left straight astern showed that the
steadiest of pilots, Lew Chambers, was
at the helm, while the regular rumble
of the engines and the twin screw de-
noted that another master hand, hid
den from sight, was directing the pom
derous machine.
There was not the slightest deviation
in the course as the ship rushed by the
second mark boat. making the leg IN
1850 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 seventeen-knot record by
averaging a tenth over. This was still
further increased on the next leg TO
II Al. but on the fourth there was a
falling off. which decreased in the last,
the speed running down to 1885. 1t was
proven however, that the last leg of the
course was somewhat long
While the ship was preparing for the
run back the ready reckoners on board
hot no down R0Onp
Island the Iowa had averaged 1857
knots per hour. The time was so well
up to the builders expectation that, in
order to consume the allotted four hours
the ship was sped around twice before
starting For thirty minutes and for
ty-five seconds she kept up her jockey
ing. and then dashed for the line again,
passing the last mark boat at 12:39:23.
On this leg there was an average OF
1912 knots per hour. gratifying in
crease over the last time in this leg.
For over an hour after passing the
fifth mark boat the speed of the battle
ship did not apparently vary a hun
dredth part of a knot. supposing, Of
course, that the buoys were in the right
position. The fourth. third and second
legs of the course were all made in ex-
actly the same time 22 minutes and 40
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
accidents she would make something
over seventeen knots.
The Iowa did 1t, 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 seventeen knots an hour. 1t
came out all right in the end, however,
and with broom on her fighting top.
the queen of the American navy, after
two or three half-circles to show just
what she could do in quick maneuver-
ing, 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 bat
tleships.
The tidal figures will not cut the sew
enteen knots, but, on the other hand,
viii probably increase il to some slight
extent.
The Iowa anchored off Boston light
at 4 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. l." The contract
for her construction was awarded Feb
ruary II, 1893, TO the William Cramp
& 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 the disposition of the battery is the
same, except that she carries four
twelve-inch guns, where the Indiana
carries four thirteen-inch and six six
inch guns, as against the Indiana's four
six-inch. and her secondary battery is
twenty-five rapid-frng and machine
guns, as against the twenty eight OF
similar caliber on the Indiana. In a
word, while the Iowa is the larger ship
of the two, her armor and armament
are both lighter than those of the In