The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-19
WARsHIPs IN ARACE.
Five Vessels of SIMPSONS Fleet In
dulge In q Friendly Rivalry.

New York May 1S.-This stirring account
Of q race at sea between three battleships
and two cruisers of Admiral SIMPSONS
squadron was furnished by an officer Of
the Massachusetts, who shall be known
as J. C, and who witnessed it from the
deck of that ship:
When the battleship Massachusetts, ar
rived OF Port Castries, Santa Lucia and
Joined the squadron under Admiral Samp-
son her officers and men looked forward
Indies Signals from the flagship New
York soon Undecided them however, and
The New York notified the deet that
upon leaving the next port. St Pierre,
hour fun speed trial Each ship was in
Structed 70 make the best possible speed
friendly rivalry between the crews OF the
vessels would turn the trial into 4 race;
ne race, thus assured. promised % pc
a unlqqs competition As ever took
dtSd rs L5lach1nsS aHoaI- coSrInS from 81
10000 10 S5.ooo.Uoo each and having an ag-
carried from 800 10 800 men-a village on
the back OF each ocean courser-
II must. perIoTce- De handicap ever,
on account OF the unequal speed OF the
BROOKLYN on account OF their better GO
ing, stood in q class by themselves. and
gave promise Of an interesting duel
HThe three battleships. Massachusetts,.
slower records. The trial records Of these
three men-of-war. although differing
insure an interesting match The Texas
claimed 10 knots the Massachusetts 10 IS
and the Indiana 1925
Between the latter two sister ships,
a natural rivalry existed. and the desire
assured a good tight for supremacy. In
addition 70 this the Indiana and Massa-
their splendid sister snip. the Oregon be-
fore Santiago on July 8, and although they
TO encourage their men, still their crews
INTENDED 70 get what, speed there was in
The Contestants, the Massachusetts ex-
cepted. coaled at Santa Lucia, and on
rested until the Path; the, day fixed for the
Irl4l- A Q a M Monday ancnors we're
ing the signal TO start Arrangements
were made. that the ships should start 50
ing order: Indiana Massachusetts, Texas.
Brooklyn and New York ALI were to
The Indiana was first away, and as she
pleW heF ~ y aLsl.s sle was q very pretty
from her stacks and the foam rolled in
t5e Wate9 T6e AZ Ss G9t g Iarq 122
the starting point went at full specs get
Texas. Brooklyn and New York followed
al intervals in the order named
From the deck Of the Massachusetts
Stretched for twenty miles on a tro1icai
one endeavoring TO o7erhauI the other and
to keep ahead Of the one Following Tbe
Massachusetts started at 10 a m and
at 80 il was plain that were gaining
on the Indiana The Texas was holding
her own coming along behind with the
TWO cruisers fast overhauing the slower
battleShips- At $50 the Massachusetts had
craWled up even with her sister ship. and
there she stuck The Indiana would not
let her pass Inch by inch. it seemed,
the Massachusetts gained. until at a
she was leading the feet, but. had not
succeeded IN gaining much the Texas
The New York and Brooklyn were close
together and even with the Texas
At the end of the second hour. $40 a.
m forced drdught was put on the Mas
SaChusettS. and she at once forged ahead.
The Indiana dropped quickly aSCern and
the Texas faded from view on the horizon
leaving nothing but a trail Of smoke visi-
BILE The Brooklyn and New York with
"a pidly on the Indiana and Massac husetts-
All were now using forced draught- and.
being close together, presented a fine pic
ture-
AT 10 a m the New York had passed
the Indiana and had the BROOKLYN well
her men were making every exertfOn TO
keep ahead Of the New York until 11-I0 at
least when our trial would end When
We did slow down at 11-10 the Massachu-
miles. the New York next.two miles ahead
of the Brooklyn The Indiana. which had
finished thirty minutes before was follow
ing slowly in the rear The Texas vas
not in sight When the Brooklyn stop
ped the New York was four miles head
of her and still had some minutes to run.
She therefore beat the BROOKLYN
The Massa chusetts beat the In llama and
Texas, and the surprise OF the feet was
that the Indiana gave such a good ac-
low"