New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-15
THE NASHVILLE A FLYER.
NEARLY THREE KNOTS ABOVE THE
CONTRACT REQUIREMENT.

HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL TRIAL TRIP IN TIE SOUND
THE AvERAiE SPEED. le7oe KNoTs-FoG
No OBSTACLE TO THE GuNBoAT.
Bridgeport, Conn, May l4.-'The fastest YES
so, 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 gunboat
Nashville to-day on Long Island Sound
The speed required by the Government
IA knots. The average speed made by the
vessel 16.7O6 knots. making excess of
speed almost three knots. With bonus Of
$4,000 for each excess knot. this means a total
Of nearly 100000 for the builders.
IL was shortly after midday when the Nash
Vile weighed anchor and started for the first
srakeboat. II took about twenty minutes for
the vessel TO reach the torpedo boat Porter
which was anchored near Middle Ground Light
After circng around the Porter the Nashville
started with engines full speed for the Erics-
son, six miles distant There the splendid Quan-
ties OF the vessel were made manifest. With the
screws performing 307O4 per minute not the
slightest Jar was perceptble. With the in
creased steam pressure. urged on by a score of
brawny fremen. the vessel fairly cut the water.
The speed constantly increased until the In
dicator in the pilot house showed 3ll.0S That
was the highest speed attained by the engines
the trip was without incident An evenness of
speed and steam pressure maintained that
was considered remarkable by the Trial Board.
With the highest speed OF 81 .O3. and the regis
tration of 800 on the first leg. the average
shows 3OS64 for the entire course. This was
regarded by the engineers who participated In
the trial the most satisfactory evidence OF the
vessels steadiness and stability.
From the third stakeboat the same even speed
was maintained. on this leg. while the speed OF
the vessel was at its height a heavy fog. that
threatened TO do much damage to the speed OF
the vessel. settled upon the Sound. With COM
passes most accurately adjusted. the NashViHe
ploushed on through the heavy blanket AL any
other trial the fog would have been sunclent
cause TO have had the trial declared of, but not
40 in the case Of the Nashville. Not for minute
AID she slacken speed After a half-hour had
passed the fog lifted and nothing occurred 10
mar the successful termination OF the trlaI
After the last stakeboat had been passed, ana
the vessel turned toward this city the inaIne-
NAUTICAL sharps aboard got in their WORK d ne
time for the thirty-mile run out was i',9:3 90
The elapsed time for the second run was 10
The average speed was 1907 knots. on the run
OUT the speed was 1919 knots. The home run
was trihe slower, 1868 knots being the aver
age The mean speed for the two runs was
16 zoe.
The steering qualities Of the vessel were ex-
cellent The helm was put from hard on to
hard on" in twenty seconds. the ship only keel
ing three degrees during that time.
Immediately after close OF the run the NASH
VILE started for Newport News. Va. where she
was built. on her arrival there the engines VIII
be taken apart and a thorough examination mace
before the official report is maze 10 'he uo'ein
ment. -
The vessel will be commanded. after her ac-
ceptance by Commander Washburn Maynard
who is member of the Trial Board