The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-01

| French port OF Cherb0urg. after a savage
! fratricidal duel. Every sch0olboy knoWs
| the starry Of the light between the Con-
| federate cruiser Alabama and the United
| States Kearsarge. And now after hat
"A lifetime. the ships name that made
merchant SLIPPERS carry two sets OF papers
IN the COS has been rosurrected, Tor cap
tain Raphael SeUmcs' "Scourge or the
Seas has come % lie again IA one 81
the finest battleshi-s Of the new Aneri-
can navy. II she ever is put forth the
undo.ng Of an enemy. may she pile up a
record as formidable as that OK her name
! sakei
The United States blttleshio Alabama
has had her first ocean tgill. and has
demonstrated her ability 20 exceed her
contract requirements. Consequently she
returned 10 the yard OF her builders
the Cramp ship ana Engine Building
COMPANY Of Ihll8de phla. with a broom
az her f0retO1. Designed % steam SIX
teen knots am hour. the batteship plowel
over the measured trial course on he
Delaware CoDes ar am easily maintained
pace of 1888 knots Tor the fun run Of
y - knots.
The trial of the Alabama developed
three points In her favor. First. great
speed. second. perfect tractaDlity and
obedience % her HEINZ third. splendid
stability. assuring n perfect gun platform
in q heavy sea Tie latter qualification
IS perhaps the most important OF All.
Fault could be found with but one feat
the ventilation Of her smoke hold. This
can be easily remed.ed. and viii be- ccc
she goes on her official uip.
Now came the spectacular part % tho
trial. with the double intention Of stor-
ing steam for the nnal rush back and %
testing the steering gear. the Alabama
ran In an immense circle around The light
ship. CT uaily Pilot Long sent her
helm over harder and harder. until the
Hanged ruddcr stood almost az righl am
giles 10 the ship keel and then as she
lee Cd. with the tlD OK her port brid e
far down toward the water. IL was seen
that she could turn a complete circle IN
about three and one-hait times her own
length. less than 20 yards.
Finally out OF this ring of foam. The
Alabama was headed down wind toward
the lightshiD. due on the course FOR what
proved 20 be her re,ord-bretking run
4 couple Of crazy squalls s,roled atm
lessly over tho waste u water and
yiclously peltei ths unarmcd battleship-
The screws were still turning al ia re-
yo.utions when the lightshlp was lert
for the last time and the battleship be-
KAN ~ HMRh AfA NHHt|s -AAAA H0N ~
the unique experience OF carrying wet
forward decks while running dead 20 lee.
ward. The wet and grimy Congressmen
and the phlegmatc RusslaH dreaming
Of their own SHIPS bulIdiagH ooking INTO
the mist. waited % raise the lightship.
which would mark the finish OF the run.
They did not have 10 strain their eyes
long. II bodied into view IN about TWEEN
" minutes. and IN precisely - minutes
and y seconds after tie start the finish
line was crossed. This showed a speed
OF 17:N knots per hour. or an average
out and In OF 1913 knots.
Mr.. Town, the big chief engineer. hav-
ing cheered ~ the tired but comolaeent
enginemon with the assurance that they
were all right" gazed with huge content
and medltatively az the distinguished
group Of naval officers and civic dig
nitaries that decorated the deck. and muir
mur came softly from nobody In par
ticular: