The Portland daily press., 1899-11-25
Admiral Sampson One Of Guests
On Board.

Boston, November 2i.-Agsinst tide,
wind, and heavy head sea, for ut least
half her course, the new battleship Ken
tuoky made u record Of 1857 knots nm
hour, today, on her official speed trial
oser the government course from Care
Ann to Boone island, and by her work,
showed that she is O little faster than
her sister ship, the kearsarge. which re-
Gently was sent ever the same course.
The tr ial satisfied her builders, the New
port News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock
CON pany that she Gun justly be rated as n
II knot vessel. although her contrast
calls for only 16 knots, as they expect
that when the figures Of today's trial ars
revised and tidal allowances made, 1t
will lie found that she actually averaged
II knots on her run. The trial was In
charge OF the United States naval board
OF inspection and survey, OF which Rear
Admiral Frederick ID. Rodgers is presi-
dent, and the members Of which include
Capt Roblsy ID. Evans, Commander and
Chief Engineer Charles X. Rocker,
Commander Ssaton Schroeder and Lieu
tenant. Com mander A. V. Zane.
The testing of tn, battleship was At
compllshsi without q mishap Of any
sort and at Its conclusion was declared to
To satisfactory by memb bers Of the naval
board, MIR. e. K. Oicutt, OF the Newport
ter, Who is to command the vessel.
The weather today, In spite Of the sd-
verse pIed.o:ions of the weather p. .ophsts
Of greater or less reputs and of those who
rsisea q CRY OF superstitious fsar when 1t
was announced that the trial was to be
held Friday instead of Thursday. as origi-
nally announced, was of nature rarely
experienced in November. fog bank
hung over the sea, early In the morning,
but when the sun was up,the mass began
to break up and by the time the battle
ship was ready to start, IL was floating
away In snowy fragments. The wind
was strong from ths northeast and 1t
threw up rather hsavy sea into which
the vessel repeatedly plunged her bow. dip
ping up quantities of water which rollsd
along the forward deck until 1t found
an outlet through the scuppers. 4 1sEl
This hsadwind and sea, President Or
cutt said, doubtless had some retardipg
influence on the battle ship ON her out.
ward run and on the way back, striking
her heavily at the stern, had a tendency
10 throw her off the direct course, but
due confederation was given all thess con.
ditions before start was made.
The Kentucky had the general appear
ancs of u vessel in commission. Her sides
were almost stainless white and the great
guns In her double turreted towers were
sharply outlined against the snowy
rask- ground. Along her siees were
ranged the smaller weapons and hsr tor
pedo tubes looked as II they were ready
FIR Instant actiun. The absence Of sa!lsr
d s,,d men among the erIw and the unfn-
ished condition of some parts Of the craft,
showed that she was still owned by the
builders. The battlsship took an hour
and a half to run to the starting point
of her course, increasing her speed stead
lily until che reached the first mark boat.
to give time fer the steam to reach the
desired point and the revolutions Of the
propsllers to increase their force.
BY this proceeding more than an hour
was taken up and 1t was l0:27:S7 Ia
when the Kentucky crossed the line.
The course was 66 miles and, as usual,
was divided into five ssetions. 60 knots
each, the vessel covering the 3.8 Knots
ut ward and turning, making the same
d stance back. Ihe stake boats, which
marked the divisicns Of the course. were:
Start, United States tug Piscataqua;
No. ., U. S. Battleship Texas; No. .,
lighthouse tender Nay ayhower: No. 4,
II iahthouss tender Lilac; M. 8. q. S. tug
Potomac; No. 8. U. S. tug Leydsn.
The Kentucky covered the first leg of
the oouree ii % minutes 10 seconds, show