Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-05
BATTLESHIP IOWA
Arrives at Boston, Sunday,
from Brooklyn Navy Yard.
viii at Once Be Put in Shape for He1
Trial Trip, on Wednesday.
One OF the Finest Vessels Afloat and Is Ex-
pected to Be Fast.

after run of little less than "A hours
from New York, dropped anchor out
side of Boston light, at o'clock, this
afternoon. The run although eventful
was nevertheless very satisfactory To
her builders, Messrs. Cramp & Co. of
Philadelphia, two members of which
firm were on board. The ship during
the trip behaved finely.
The Iowa left Tompkinsville, Staten
Island, New York harbor, shortly after
3 O'Clock. yesterday afternoon, and
proceeding down the main ship chan
rel. passed cut by sandy Hook, about
4 o'clock. The ships course was imme-
diately laid -by-scuth fer Nan
tucket South Shoal lightship, 17S miles
distant. and under natural draft ami
with speed of little less than If knots.
the big fighter settled down for her
run to Boston. Fire Island lightship
was abeam about sunset and under q
clear sky and with a light westerly
breeze that made but little sea, the
ship steamed off into the gathering
darkness.
The south shoal lightship was
rounded. at an early hour, this morn
ing, and after keeping well off the
shoals for few hours the ships bow
was turned in the direction Of Cape
Cod Highland Light was passed,
little after noon, today. and Boston
light sighted an hour afterwards, the
ship anchoring about two miles outside
the white beacon.
There was not a single hitch in the
engine room during the entire run, the
delicate yet ponderous machinery run
ming as smoothly as watch. No at
tempt was made to speed the ship over
IA knots, and the forced draft was not
used at all.
The Iowa did not enter the inner har
Dor as the tide did not serve, and also
for the reason that she will leave. about
. o'clock tomorrow morning. fer her
preliminary run over the government
course from Cape Ann to Boon Island
The Iowa was met by the tug ka;s
Jones, which viii act as her tender
while she is in Massachusetts, waters.
but none of the party on board came
up to the city, tonight preferring I"
remain on board until after the pre-
liminary run. Capt. Sargent. the nav
igating superintendent Of the Cramps
firm. had charge OF the ship during the
run and will guide her over the course.
on Wednesday.
The members Of the trial board are
already assembling in Boston, and a
number will accompany the ship on her
preliminary run, tomorrow. Mr.. Edwin
S. Cramp, late this afternoon, eX-
pressed himself as being delighted with
the fine run of the ship from New York
and particularly with the smooth
workings of the engines. He anticipates
that the ship will make great record
for itself. Wednesday.
Among the officers who will consti-
tute the engineer corps of observers
during the official special trial off the
New England coast on "Wednesday
next. should the weather be fine. are
Passed Assistant Engineers Moritz,
Leopold, W. +. Day and q. w. Dan
forth. OF the navy yard, and Passed
Assistant Engineer Rounell of the
Alliance
The members of the board of inspec-
ton and survey, who began their labors
while the Iowa was in the dock at the
yard at Brooklyn, Thursday last, will
go on board the ship al Boston. The
members Of the board are Commodore
George Dewey, Captain T. G. Picking,
Commanders C. II. Davis and w. II.
Brownson, Lieutenant S. A. Staunton.
Medical Inspector w. x. Van Reypen,
Pay Inspector Arthur Brotis, Chief En-
gineer G. w. Stivers and Naval Con
structor J. F. Hanscon.
The Cramps, who have a crew OIL
I'D ,t-i1I snlr = ho
Iowa over the required course Mon
day. for a preliminary trial. They will
then return to the anchorage. and in all
Tuesday. viii be spent in
and overhauling her engines
and machinery for the official speed
trial. next day. Her average mean
draught will be about "a feet.
The Iowa is the last of the war ships
for which the government will pay pre-
MUM for excess of speed over the re-
CURED minimum. The premium is $4,000,
for every quarter of knot over 16 knots. |
This is no small consideration. as may
be readily conceived.
While in the new dry dock at the
Brooklyn navy yard. she was carefully |
scraped and painted. one of her engineers
the belief that the ship would
make Il knots and hour, which would |
mean a bonus of 100000.
The contract price of the Iowa, made |
in February, 1898. was $30l0,000.
The Iowa which is larger than the In |
diana, Massachusetts or Oregon, is a !
battleshp. She is 500 feet in length and
2 feet. 212 inches in breadth.
With fun coal supply the Iowa has a |
capacity for 1880 tons of coal and her |
will be about 12500 tons.
Her water line steel armor is IA inches |
thick on y inches of wood backing, eX~
tending over 1S6 feet amdships, and is !
'eet inches wide. Below the water line
his armor belt tapers to a thickness of
six inches.
In her main battery the Iowa carries
four Finch guns. in two oval turrets |
light S-inch guns in four turrets, and six
-inch guns, in sponsors. She also has
. rapid-fre guns.
No ship of the modern navy that has
yet visited this navy yard has attracted |
50 much attention among naval officers.
The general verdict. upon hasty inspec-
ion Of the vessel during her brief stay
It the yard, was one of commentator.
The Iowa will probably be given over
o the government. should her trial prove
in the early part of May
leNt.
The government tug Nina. Lieutenant
\ c. Dillingham;. assistant to the cap
ain of the yard. left Brooklyn. Fri
Continued on rage %