The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-30

course down lle sound and back. marked
by the flags OF the torpedo boats. the care
ful watching of the speeding gunboat
through glasses from the stake boats'
the energetic firing of the boilers. the ca e
fd Oling Of the machinery, and exact
steering Of the ship and AL those little
things which go TO make a successful trial
trip were resorted 10 without an error Il
Judgment The prophecies Of the oihcials
Of the Newport News Shipbuilolng and
Dry Dock Company or board That she
would exceed fifteen knots was iuihlieu
when il was announced that she h"u
developed n speed in iour-hours run OF
fifteen and eicht-tenths knots an hcur
A NICE BONUS.
This means a nice bonus OF $o5ON. The
Wilmington made but fraction over
fifteen knots. and secured ten thousand
less for her builders
These beats were taken at less imam
cost by the Newport News company IN
order to keep the shipbuilding plant run
ming. and 20 give employment 10 us
force at a time when work was scarce
but il is thought that the handsome
bonus wen by both will leave good
margin of profit. a least the builders
seem satisfied with the excellent results
Of the speed trials Of their gallant craft
The Helena is a counterpart OF the
Wilmington. and her description con-
forms very nearly to that already gwen
of the Wilmington in Tie Times
PRESS REPORT
NEW LONDON. CONN, March 29.-The
Helena. the second OF the gunboats con-
structed for the government by the New
port News Shipbulding Company on her
official spced trial on Long Island Sound
to-day developed a speed Of l5s knots.
The government contract with the bulld-
ers calls for T. knots and premium OF
$50 1000 was offered for each knot attained
I'm excess OF that. The conditions Tor
the trial to-day were excellent Inc ul"i
hoard went aboard the Helena about
o'clock this morning and half an hour ar
forwards the ship started Tor norton
Point where the start was made.
one the way out every bolt pin. gear
and valve was Inspected. gauges tested
and fires got ready for the run thai was
10 make or lose money and reputation ior
the builders Of the trim little snip Oh
v,or Tho red flag was hosted from the
military mast OF the Helena indicating
that everything was in readiness lor tne
start and at $40 o'clock Commander lVuu
gave the signal and instantly the Helena
valves were opened wide ana she went
living toward ~ imaginary line.
L. a
Tho run began at S.2i. and iive-tonths.
u.he Helena went through the water IN
,,cnderful STYLE and reached the buoy
~, The end of the first lap in 2o.au' peat
,n,, the time Of the Wilmington by thie1
ni,u,cs She went by at a rafting CLIP
Increasing her sreed "a trile at the next
,,ark which was reached at -'.-o UT
o,.er half a minute faster than the llfa'
Ian and a minute and half better IMAM
,he time that the Wilmington ulu IT,
she reached the third mark III -'lo sho"
inc an excess of one minute tory sec'oHu9
over the Wiimington's speed on TINS ZAP
Then the Helena entered on we 70"
To-, ~ tho course She did not make as
zap - ,,e y, mis- lap as was looked for
and the time was 29:25 the sloN'S' l"P w
49, o,t,yord run. 1t was given out mere
-. Tho Helena was running urous"
shollo,y water. where the resistance wa
,,r.oteet The time on the run was LOU
- seven minutes and 81 SECONDS pe''vi
,ho, tho Wilmingtons speed on the OUT,
- I'm Trhe tide was about slack ana
tho wind from the northwest ,...orre
pr.T,rFR THAN SEVENTEEN kNOlS.
~, Helena carried $50 pounds OF steam
o,d an average revolution OF 80 ~ ~
minute The gunbcat came ABOUT i"1 'r
ret,,rn NJ l:42.2j. She rolled UP w -
md three-auartcr knots interNen'ns
,wccn the first and second mark D ,5, IN
90 O. on the second lap the he,eh9
,rade the distance in 2i.l" Inc -
,nr, nroycd 10 be the fastest and was made
r. 93.t. A pace better than seventeen o.'ad
rnots The last lap was covered Ia ~
making an average speed OF i':so , kho's.
The tidal calculations VIII ue sn9Iiy
tins, tho shin. but 1915 VIII be cialtheo
TO- the Helena. and II is expected 1i'''
10, I'm he allowed a premium of S1ooOV.