New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-25
THE KENTUCKY'S TRIAL.
AGAINST HEAVY SEA HE M"
BATTLEsHIP MAKES A REO-
ORD OF 1GS7T KNOTS.

pos,or Nov 24-Against tide. wind ana
heavy head sea for at least half her course 'ne
NOW battleship Kentucky made recoru Va
10 ST. knots an hour to-day on her official speeu
trail over the Government course, from C"po
Ann 10 Boone Island, and by her WORK sho"eu
that she is little faster than her sister SNIP
the Kearsarge which recently was sent over
the same course. The trial satisfied ner puiiu-
ers the Newport News Shipbuilding ana Dry
dock Company that she can justly DE rateu a'
a II knot vessel although her contract calls lof
only 16 knots They expect that when the hs-
ures OF to-day's trial are revised and tidal al
lowances made It will be found that she actually
averaged II knots on her run
The wind was strong from the northeast, ana
# threw I'D a heavy sea- into which the vessel
repeatedly plunged her bow, dipping up quahu-
ties OF water which rolled along the forward
deck until 1t found outlets through the scuppers'
This head wind and sea, President circuit sald'
doubtless had some retardirg influence on tine
battleshp on her outward run and on the way
back.
The battleship took an hour and a half to
run down to the starting point OF her course,
and It was 1O:27:37Ik when the Kentucky crossed
the line The course was sixty-six miles, ana
as usual It was divided into five sections OF
three knots outward, and, turning making the
same distance back.
The Kentucky covered the first leg OF the
course IN % minutes AG seconds. showing
speed Of 1G65S knots. on the second leg she
made the slowest time during the trial, covering
the distance in % minutes 551a seconds or at
q speed of 1861 knots on the next three legs
she increased steadily until she reached lGolS
knots on the fifth leg, which she MADE IN 20
minutes 1872 seconds. She took ~ minutes
171h seconds for the turn at the end or the OUT
ward oooo .
on the return trip she averaged 16.932 knots
exceeding II knots the first and last legs
The final division Of the course was covered III
the fastest time made during the uagI.@ nm
utes 81 seconds or at a speed Of 1I.2J4 knots.
After passing the Piscataqua, on her return,
the Kentucky was thrown around IN circie.
She completed the turn in about three times her
length, and her list in performing the maneu-
vre was about three degrees.
The Kentucky will Immediately return 10
Newport News. where the finishing touches VIII
be given her.
one of the chief features Of interest in to-
days trial is in the question Of how the Ken
lucky compares with the Kearsarge, her SIS
ter ship which had her trial In September. Inc
Kearsarge averaged 1854 knots for the run OF
sixty-six miles. This Is .O3 OF knot less than
the Kentucky's speed to-day.
An accident to a feed pipe on the kearsarge
during the run, II said, prevented her from
making better showing The fastest leg MADE
by the Kearsarge on her trial was at speed OF
1875 knots; that OF the Kentucky was lhZot
knots The average number of revolutions on
the Kearsarge was 114.3; of the Kentucky.
112G5; the highest steam pressure OF the Rear
sarge 175 pounds; Of the Kentucky, liZ pounds
Rear Admiral Rodgers, of the Board OF lnspec-
ton and Survey said that the trial of the Ken
lucky showed her to be practically the same as
the Kearsarge. The same elements were pres
emf namely speed and stability What he had
said of the Kearsarge was equally true of the
Kentucky.