Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-26
THE KEARSARGE
Covers 1854 Knots on Official
Trial, Monday.
Builders and Government Representa-
tives Delighted.
Exceeds Contract Requirements and Is a Grand
Addition to the Navy.

D'''oi' ''P'' lth the splendid
average of 1854 knots to her credit the
United States first-class battleship
kearsarSe, the latest and greatest adj
dition to our navy, ended her official
speed trial, this afternoon-a trial
which was successful in every detail
ana which for marine picturesoueness
has been uneQualled in our naval
career. The run over the famous Cape
Ann course, in short. came up to the
expectations OF the kearsarge's build
ers-the Newport News Ship Building
and Dry Dock Co.-and delighted the
official representatives, of the govern
ment beyond measure
Greater interest, il may be said. Gen.
tered in the trial of this battleship of
honored and historic name. than in any
previous trial runs of our line of bat
tie craft. There We're many reasons for
this. chief Of which was the desire to
compare the Kcarsarge type with the
Indiana and Iowa classes. both Of which
50 remarkably proved their worth in
the recent war.
The new battleship, with her sister
ship the Kentucky, now nearing com
pletion, dcscriptiVcly. is DISTINGUISHED
by super-imposed turrets, called Samp-
son turrets. after Rear Admiral Samp-
son who stands sponsor for them. These
turrets carry l3-inCh guns in the lower
and S-inch in the upper barbettes and
the main and secondary batteries con-
stitute the heaviest armament Of any
ship in the world. Again the new bat
tleship differs from the Indiana type
ii Ia N-jnp a. ~ ~ ,,f Il
likewise much additional ponderous
machinery.
ON her speed trial, today she carried
four bilge and two docking keels. the
Iowa alone being presented in this
shape for her trial run ana it is to the
credit of tho Kearsargc that her rcla-
tive speed. with 500 horse power less
and $50 tons greater displacement. was
approximately equ al to that of the
Iowa. although the latter on her trial
made Loo for an average.
The kcarsarge and Kentucky, while
nominally 16-knot craft. will probably
be spoken of in naval circles as of the
Il knots. based. no doubt on her per
Torrance, today. with a green crew,
and. as the builders say. under econom-
zeal conditions. The latter important
factor has interviewed through the abo-
ltion by our government of payment
of bonus for an extra quarter knot or
greater over the contract. Besides the
Newport News Co. being certain of
reaching the required Is knots but the
glory alone of adding to that figure.
AS to the Stability-determined by her
performance in sea way. and as gun
MIA fnrDl-fh1t iS n hn Iat
but, on the word of Rear Admiral Rod
gers. president OF the board Of inspec-
tlon and survey. she is remarkably
stiff ana a fine boat in every respect.
In the course of the run two remark
ably fine marine pictures We're pre-
scented. aside from the one of this mass
of steel being forced through the wa
ter at great speed. The most impress
sive of these was when, after crossing
the finish line. the ships helm was put
hard over, and around she went in Il
circle the diameter of which was
scarcely more than twice her length
As the screws turned up the water.
the wake made Il great wave of boiling
green water which rushed towards a
centre with the force of a tidal rip.
the foaming foamy tops meeting in
miniature cataracts. With this re
markably close radius of action the in
clination Of the craft was scarcely
three degrees.
The other picture was during the
homeward run. when, with a huge
bone in her teeth" the forward deck
was bathed in clouds of spray irri
descent in the autumn sun. The day
,,-o nNarha11 nd n ha n
except than on the run back the wind
freshened and the speed fell quite no
ticeaby. as the figures afterward
showed. This was due to an accident.
explained by c. e. circuit. the presi-
dent Of the Newport News Shipbuilding
and Dry Dock Co. to the effect that
shortly before the ship turned the stake
boat on the homeWard run a tube in
the feed water heater burst, letting
cold water into the boilers. running the
steam down. thus decreasing the revo- |
lutions of the propellors eight turns !
per minute. This mishap reduced the |
speed of the ship nearly three-quarters |
of a knot.
The trial was so successful to the |
builders and the margin SO handsome. |
that the slight mishap cut but little |
figure. The KearsarSe on her return |
trip lay to about three miles outside |
Boston lightship She will at once re-
turn to Newport News.
The Kearsarge dropped her hook,
Friday night. outside Boston light, and
from this point the start for the trial
was made, at an early hour today, on |
arrival of the tug Confidence with |
guests, and the navy yard tender
Iwana with Rear Admiral Rodgers,
president of the board of inspection |
ond survey, the board, and other naval
officers. The run to the starting line,
which for the Cape Ann Boone Island |
course is off Thatchers Island and |
she made moderate speed The sea |
was smooth and the wind abeam, !
very favorable day.
The first mark boat the United States |
ship Scorpion, was not far distant |
when the Kearsarge was put about, as |
the steam was not quite up to the de- |
sired figure. After one wide circle the !
ship came down the line and crossed it |
at 1027.511s and the speed run was on
with the tunnels sending out clouds of ,
Continued on page 3D.