The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-28
The WILMINGTON A WINNER.
The New Gunboat Secures a Handsome
Bonus for Her Builders.
OFFICIAL REPORTS MAY INCREASE 1T,
The Little War Vessel Makes over Ftfteen
knots on Her Trial Trip, When Only
Thirteen Knots Were Required
by the Contract.

NEW LONDON, CONN. Marcn H-
Special.-The handsome little gunooat
Wilmington. which has been waiting here
for several days for the arrival Of the
trial beard and favorable conditions OF
the weather to make the effort OF her
life, got off this afternoon and made sue
ce.sful trial trip, meeting all the expec-
t. tions Of her builders and conhrmlnS
the speedy characteristics that she eAhio-
tied on her runs in the Chesapeake.
WINS A HANDSOME BONUS.
She made fifteen knots and one hum
dredth over, and IL the official computa-
tions and the tidal corrections beabr o.,
the figures as given. and the tidal correc-
tions are likely to increase the speed her
builders. the Newport News Shipbuilding
and Dry Dock Company should secure
handsome bonus.
As the bonus il $4,000 for each knot or
fraction thereof, she should bring her
builders something like $4,000. Inc eX-
act amount will not be known untli the
trial board report their calculations 10
the Navy Department.
The Helena will probably have her trial
trip Monday.
PRESS REPORT.
NEW LONDON, CONN, March IL
The new gunboat Wilmington. construct
ed by the Newport News Shipbuilding
Company was given her official speed
trial run to-day over the q knot course
In Long Island Sound. Tue course mark
ed out was from Horizons Point to Old
Field light and over this course the
gunboat sped along with ease and at a
rate that was admired by all who wit
messed the trial.
The speed made by the ship puts her In
the best OF her class and earns for her
builders bonus Of $4,000 and perhaps
sij. 900.
At o'clock this morning the Trial
Board went ont TO the Wilmington and
at 6.3O she weighed anchor and steamed
out OF the sound. The Wilmington was
well groomed for the race against time.
President Orcutt, of the building firm.
and Superintendent Smith were aboard
the Wilmington early and had everything
put In first-class condition. The Will
mlngton slid down the harhor
at an easy rate. hut she
gradually quickened her pace cut
side and of Horten's Point, she was
making twelve or thirteen knots.
About half mile off Horizons Point
the torpedo boat Porter stood with a red
flag flying from the guys of her military
mast indicating that everything was In
readiness down the line for the Whining
ton TO open up and speed down the
sound.
WENT LIKE a STREAK.
The gunboat went by the Porter Ike
a streak, and a short distance west OF the
torpedo boat she cut a wide circle in the
deep green water and then came around
at the start and headed off TO the west
ward at the top OF her speed. gun was
fired from the upper deck as the signal
for the start. The Wilmington crossed the
line at 9.O4.3i. The course down the sound
was marked with white caps as far as the
eye could reach. The distance to the
second mark, 6 ga miles. was covered in
20 minutes and 50 seconds, but the next
lap, which was to the tug Iawana, was
done in even better time, 26:5S. the third
in 1851, and the fourth In 1921.
On the westward run the wind was dead
ahead and the tide was favorable, while
on the return the wind was not so strong
The time as given was figured out by
George Mould. the draughtsman for the
Newport News Shipbuilding Company,
and is approximately correct. 1t was fig-
ured that the Wilmington On the out