Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-08-06
RACING OF WARSH1PS
Speed Tests of Some of Americas
Fighting Vessels.
Sailors Stake Their pny on the Abtl-
ity of Their Ships to Wfn-TiIt
Between the New York and
the NrGok7yn.

When the American feet left Mar
Unique, its squadron cvolutions must
have presented Il curious sight to those
on shore. For it was here that the
swiftest ships Of The feet gathered for
their great handicap race to Dominica,
an event officially designated as 4 mere
speed trial. The engines Of each snip
were subjected to u four hours trial al
full speed, the first two hours to be OF
natural draft and the last two on forced
draft. The surfing point was on 4 line
seven miles oil the lighthouse Of st
Pierre, and was crossed by each shil.
going at fun speed ahead. The better
TO curb all attempts at racing The
slowcst Vessels crossed the line With y
good start in their favor, thus evening
up matters, after the manner Of i rcyu.
lar handicap race.
For days and weeks before, the sail
ors and stokrrs aboard the different
ships had stahcd the better part of
their pay on the outcome Of this speed
trial. Greatest WAS the rivalr; between
the men Of the New York and Brooklyn,
since HE relative speed merits Of these
two vessels Lave been an open question
eyer since tie day when the New York
Btrove to overhaul the BROOKLYN in her
chase after the fleeing Crstobal Colon.
For several hours. While the Ships
were getting up steam, hey circlcd
about each other like huge white birds
Of the sea lowering over Inc brine. To
hose aboard the Brooklyn and New
York it almost seemed as if the two
swift cruisers were cycling each other,
and measuring points in anticipation
of the coming race.
The Indiana got under way first, and
crossed the line at u 12-llnot clip, with
Il trail Of dense black smoke marking
her course northwartl to Dominica. AS
the siowcst Of the five entries in TIE
race, she WAS allowed to take a long
start, aud her s,nokcstacis had nearly
disappeared under the horizon before
OF al! the five ships, the NIassac'
was best prepared for The race, having
been ovcrhauled but lately. so that her
engineers declared her to be al Stacked
and primcl for just such Il race and laid
their wagcrs accordingly. After the
Massachusetts was well on her w;7
after the Indiana, Capt. Sigsbcc started
in pursuit Of both With Il fine burst of
speed from the Texas. On the strength
Of the little Texas performance on
July Of last year, when she managed
to maintain the killing pace set BY the
Oregon in the great record run after
the Cristobal Colon. Capt. Sigsbcc's
men had high hopes Of winning back
some Of the money they lost on he day
OF the recent regatta in Havana harbnr
With this pack in full! cry ahead, the
BROOKLYN and New York got under way,
within 90 minutes Of each other, the
flagship starting at scratch.
The race became most exciting dur
ing he last two hours Of tho speed trial,
when all the ships were going under
forced dranght. Then it was that the
New York ovcrEauled one ship after
another. finally crossing the finish line
OF Dominica barely 4 ships length
ahead Of Indiana, and nearly even With
the massachusetts. Close behind her
came The painting Brooklyn, and far be-
hind, her bulk rising above the horizon
line came the vanquishctl Texas. Capt.
Si%sbcc's long protractcd stay in the
foul waters Of Havana had proved her.
uEdoing. Edwin Emerson, Jr., in Cal
}ier's Weekly.