New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-28
SPEED TRIAL OF A GUNBOAT.
THE WILMINGTON WINS A HANDSOME
PREMIUM
OVER THE LONG ISLAND COURSE YESTERDAY SHE
MADE. 1T IS ESTIMATED. OVER FIFTEEN

MADE IT Is ESTIMATED. OVER FIFTEEN
KNOTS AN HOUR.
New London Conn. March 27.-The new gunboat
Wilmington. built by the Newport News ShipbuiId-
ing Company and designed especially for river
vice. had her official speed trial to-day over
twenty seven-knOt course in Long Island Sound.
The course marked out was from Horizons Point to
Odfed Light. and over this course the gunboat
sped along at a rate that admired by all who
witnessed the trial. The speed made by the ship
puts her in the best of her class and for her
builders bonus Of $4,000. and perhaps $4,000.
At o'clock this morning the Trial Board went
out the Wilmington. and at $50 she weighed an
chor and steamed out to the Sound. Commander
George Dewey, chairman OF the Trial Board. had
sent the Porter out while the Wilmington was MAX
ing preparations to leave the harbor. and a few
minutes afterward the gunboat followed. Presi-
dent Orcutt OF the building company. and S-perin-
tendent Smith aboard the Wilmington early
and had the fires raked out and everything put in
nrst-class condition for the trial.
The gunboat went by the Porter Ike a streak,
and short distance west Of the torpedo-boat she
cut huge circle in the deep green water and then
| came around at the start and headed Off to the
westward at the top of her speed. She had been
| rolling slightly In the sea way, but quickly
steaded herself and at 0;Oi:3i she made the off,
| cial start. The marked with white
! craft far the eye could reach The first
! lap six and three-quarters miles, was covered IN
| 20 minutes and 30 seconds; the next lap, WHICH
was TO the tug Iwana, in even better time, 2o.oS.
! the third in 2GJI. and the fourth in 2o:2I
! a single instance out OF hundred had there been n
On the westward run the wind was dead ahead
| and the tide favorable. on the return the
wind was not so strong. The time as given was
! figured out by George r. Mould the draughtsman
| for the Newport News Shipbulding Company. and
| is approximately correct. 1t figured that the
| Wilmington. on the outward run against wind and
sea averaged l4i9 knots.
| The boat began the race back TO the starting
place at I1:Ot20 She covered the first lap In 2705,
the second in 245 the third in 243O and the fourth
| in 263j. on the return trip the Wilmington ran
into snowstorm. She reached the end OF the
| course I'm 3 hours, 80 minutes and a seconds. AS
the conditions regarding the test called for four
hour trial. she used up the twenty-four minutes re-
| naming in getting back 10 this harbor
The required speed was l3 knots. and the builders
| get $4,000 premium for each extra knot the speed
when figured out is expected TO be from 10 TO loo
| knots.
| The Wilmington. which constructed by the
| Newport News Shipbuding and Drydock Com
| pany is designed especially for river service. She
| Is $50 feet 81 inches long on tho water-lna, and
! 251 feet 10 inches over all. with maximum beam
| of 40 feet and a depth from the fiat keel to the
TOP Of beams of upper deck Of - feet and inches
| At draught of . feet her displacement is 1871
| tons. .She will have large military mast with
| two military tops There will be coming tower
on the mast just below the military top. thus
enabling her captain, at height OF forty-nVe feet
| above her water-lne. TO direct her movements.
Her borthng capacity is sufficient for many men
| besides her
| Her machinery consists of tripe-expansion twin
| screw engines having cylinders 1lia - and 23s,
| inches In diameter and 1S-inch stroke. Inc total
| coal bunker capacity is about $50 tons.
| TO facilitate landing large body OF men, she
has shipk boats of unusual size. her steam cutter
| and sailing launch being each thirty-t three feet
| long She is provided with searchlight. to be
| placed on her military mast but she has no tor
| pedo tubes.
The arrangement Of the batter. will be as fol-
| lows: Four finch guns. mounted in pairs two for
| ward and two aft. those aft being mounted on the
| main deck those forward the forecastlc deck.
| all protected by gun shields; four 4-nch guns.
| mounted in armored sponsors on the gun deck.
| two on each side amdshps, two 6-pounders.
| mounted in armOred sponsons on the gun deck;
two 6-pourders mounted forward on the forecas tie
| deck four l-pounders. two on the bridge and two
| I'm the lower top; two GatinS guns In the upper
ION All of the guns will be Of the rapid-nre type