The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-31
THE IOWA'S SPEED.
Excellent Record Of the New
Battle Ship Collision
With a Buoy.

NEW YORK, March 81, 1S97.-The
battleship Iowa arrived at the BROOKLYN
Navy Yard from Philadelphia at $3.50 this
dock there tomorrow morning to have
her bottom cleaned for her official trial
trip next week off the Maine coast.
The Iowa left Cramps shipyard at
Philadelphia at $50 Monday morning in
command of Captain r. W. Sargent, the
Cramps shipmaster, ard with a crew of
300 men. Edwin S. Cramp was aboard
as the representative OF, the firm, but the
Government was unrepl'esented by any of
the trial board of navy officers, who will
join the ship at the Navy Yard before
she sails for Boston
The Iowa picked her way carefully
over the shoals and rocks of the Della
ware River and the Delaware Breakwater
was not reached until 1890 Monday night
The ship anchored over night and early
yesterday morning passed out the Capes
to sea.
The ships course was laid for the
southeast Ightship on Five Fathom Bank
Shoal, where Mr.. Cramp intended to give
the Iowa a short speed trial and collect
some engine data for his use in preparing
for the Government trial. When about
fifteen miles off shore the new gunboat
Helena passed astern of the Iowa, head
ing for Newport News.
When the Iowa was sighted the Helena
changed her course ana headed for the
big battleship, but as she did so the Iowa
swung round to clear the lightship and
the gunboat soon passed out OF sight.
From $50 to 12:15 the Iowa was speeded
over the eleven knots between the two
nghtships ON Five Fathom Bank She
covered the distance three times under
forced draught. The first two runs were
made at an average speed of $3.50 knots
an hour On the third run squirt was
put on and the speed increased to 15 IS
knots.
The weather conditions were exceed
ingly favorable for a speed trial as the
sea was as quiet as an inland lake and
the wind was barely strong enough to
rPf'le out the flag at the sternpost.
The work of the engines proved satis-
Ia3ctory n3,t 70, Mr, Cramp. The average. rev
steam pressure OF lao pounds.
AT ITO revolutions, the maximum horse
requirement.
After the third trial Mr.. Cramp was
satisfied and the Iowa was headed for
New York. The ship followed the coast
line to Sandy Hook and throughout the
afternoon logged fourteen knots an hour.
Sandy Hook was aheam at $50 last
evening and the Iowa passed up the bay..
When about two-thirds Of the way IN
the main ship channel d big red can buoy
marked &C. G. put stop to the Iowa,s
progress for an hour The ship was
proceeding quietly towards an anchora 90
at Tompkinsville when the buoy loomed
suddenly up out of the darkness directly
over, but the ships ram struck the can 4
glancing blow and the current swept the
buoy close in along the side
The engines were Instantly stopped and
a search fer the buoy made It was
found bobbing up and down under the
stern with its anchor Chain caught in the
starboard screw.
hours work the buoy was cleared and
the ship proceeded to Tompklnsville.
where she anchored for the night
From the examination possible at The
time, it is thought that the propeller
blades were uninjured when the buoy
fouled them Even If it is found when
the ship is docied that: a blade is chin
ped or bent 1t will cause no DELAY In the
trial trip as there are spare propellers
at Cramps yard, and they could be
shipped on and fitted lin a few hours