The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-25
Sixty-Six Miles Covered i'm Rough
Water at an Average of 1857
Knots an Hour.
SEA WAS HEAVY AT TIMES
AND THE GREAT FLOATING FORT
SHIPPED TONS OF SALTY FLUID.
Builders Confident that When Figures
Are Revised They Will Show II
knOts-Test satisfactory.

Nov. 24.-Against tide, wind and
a heavy head sea for at least half her
course, the new battleship Kentucky made a
record of 1851 knots an hour to-day on her
official speed trial over the government
course. from Cape Ann 10 Boone island,
and by her work showed that she is a little
faster than her sister ship, the Kearsarge,
which recently was sent over the same
course. The trial satisfied her builders, the
Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry DOCK
Company, that she can justly be rated as a
seventeen-knot vessel, although her con-
tract calls for only sixteen knots. They ex-
pect that when the figures of to-days trial
are revised and tidal allowances made, it
will be found that she actually averaged
seventeen knots on her run.
The trial was in charge of the United
States Naval Board of Inspection and Sur
vey, of which Rear Admiral Frederick T..
Rogers is president, and the members OF
which included Capt. Robley D. Evans and
Chief Engineer Charles Rocker, Command
er Seaton Schroeder and Lieut.. Commander
A. v. Zane. The testing of the battleship
was accomplished without mishap of any
sort, and at its conclusion was declared to
be satisfactory by members of the naval
board, c.. b. Orcutt, OF the Newport News
Company, and by Capt. c. NJ. Chester, who
is to command the vessel.
A fog bank hung over the sea in the
morning, and when the sun was up the mass
began to break, and by the time the battle
ship was ready to start it was floating away
in snowy fragments. The wind was strong
from the northeast and it threw up a rather
heavy sea, into which the vessel repeatedly
plunged her bow, dipping up quantities of
water. which rolled along the forward deck
until it found outlet through the scuppers.
This head wind and sea, President circuit
said. doubtless had some retarding influence
on the battleship on her outward run and
on the way back, striking her heavily at
the stern, had a tendency to throw her off
the direct course, but due consideration was
given all these conditions before a start
The battleship took an hour and a half to
run down to the starting point of her course.
During this time she had been increasing
her speed steadily. She was not ready to
cross the line when she reached the United
States tugboat Piscataqua, which was the
first mark boat. Consequently she made a
wide sweep seaward, swerving first to star
board and then to port, to give time for the
steam to reach the desired point and the
revolutions of the propellers to increase
their force. By this proceeding more than
an hour was taken up, and it was 1927
o'clock when the Kentucky crossed the line,
at first leaping over the waves which raised
D1lOlt h1lg lh1h ulNllS lI8lO
them at top speed
The course was sixty-six miles and ii was
divided into five sections of sc knots each,
the vessel covering the thirty-three knots
outward and turning making the same dis
lance back. The stake boats which marked
the divisions of the course were: Start,
United States tug Pitscataqua; No. 2,
United States battleship Texas; No. 3,
lighthouse tender Mayfiower; No. 4, light
house tender Lilac; No. 5, United States
tug Potomac; No. 6, United States tug
Leyden.
The Kentucky covered the first leg Of the
course in % minutes, 46 seconds, showing
a speed of 1868 knots. On the second leg
she made the slowest time during the trial,
covering the distance in % minutes 551a
seconds, or at a speed of 6.o51 knots. On
until she reached 11y01S knots on the fifth
leg, which she made in q minutes 1872 Sec
onds. She took % minutes 17h seconds for
the turn at the end of the outward run.
On the return she averaged 1892 knots, ex-
ceeding IL knots on the first and last legs.
The final division of the course was COW
cred in the fastest time made during the
day, % minutes 81 seconds, or at a speed
of 1924 knots.
After passing the Piscataqua on her re-
urn the Kentucky was thrown around in a
circle. She completed the turn in about
three times her length and her list In Fer
forming the maneuver was about 8 degrees.
When she had completed the circle size laid
her course for Boston. She dropped anchor
in President roads just after ) l~'clcc;.. Fol
lowing is q summafv OF the trial:
Average, 23:153; 1892. Total averages,
23:23S; 1851. Start, 1927 :375; finish first leg,
12:A:39; time of turn, 2:175; return start,
12:44:565; hnish. 2:41:19O. Elapsed outward.
1~:57:015; elapsed time return, 1:56:16o. Aver
age revolutions of engines, 1926; steam
pressure, 163 to liz pounds; horsepower de-
veloped, approximately, IL 800. The Ken
lucky will immediately return to Newport
News, where the finishing touches will be
given to her.