New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-08-23
ALABAMA REACHES PORT
BIG BATTLESHIP ON HER WAY TO MAS
sACHUSETTs FOR HER TRIAL.

The first class battleship Alabama. one Of the
biggest warships in the Navy. anchored off
Thompkinsville at 7:2O o'clock last night. She
is on her way to the Massachusetts coast to
make her official trial trip.
The battleship left Cramps yard in hiladel-
phia at 4:30 o'clock Monday afternoon, and
dropped down the Delaware River. Before sun
down she reached Chester and anchored there
for the night her captain did not wish 10
go any further without adjusting her compasses
Ihe next day was cloudy, and the waters Of
Delaware Bay were running high but they
could scarcely make the big ship roll. When
she reached Delaware Breakwater the sun was
stIH hidden. and there was no opportunity 10
adjust the compasses. So the battlesh!p ran up
and down beside the breakwater waiting for the
clouds 10 break enough for the sun TO get
through But all day there was not a raw
Wednesday morning was still overcast but the
sun did come out and touch the compass al I'VE
or six points, enough TO permit OF going outside.
on the New-Jersey coast the Alabama passed
and saluted the Army transports sedgwick,
NcPherson Rawitns and Crook on their way to
philadelphia with the Cuban teachers on board
She was sighted off Long Branch al 3.o5
o'clock yesterday afternoon. But it was after
3 o'clock before she came in by the Hool,
Many who were on the lookout for the shin
wondered what had befaIlen her CAPTAIN P
L. Sargent, Of Cramps who always commands
the new warships built at the yards on the
Delaware on the trial trips picked up the pilot
a few minutes after he was sighted from the
Highlands. and he was again adjusting the
compasses- The Alabama went round and
round in wide circles out in the ocean. After
she had described enough Of them 10 make a
small ship dizzy and top heavy, her compasses
were declared TO be 1t and she entered the
Bay.
The first person TO board her after she an
chored off TompkinsviIIe was a newsboy who
had begged a ride in a rowboat When those
who wished to visit the big battIeship reached
the foot Of the sea ladder. they were told, NO
body allowed on board"
Then the eager question was added, Any
body got a paper?'
The newsboy with his arm full Of them was
then escorted aboard by half the crew.
Captain Sargent later received the newspaper
men The ship looks as might be expected. just
as though she had come out Of the shop. with
out stopping to clean UP. Her decks are COW
cred with dirt, and her crew are Cramps skilled
workmen, sooty and begrimed, who do not
wear the neat uniform Of the Navy's jacktars.
The Alabama's immense 1S-inch guns on her
counter balancing turrets are done up in can
vas and tied around by heavy cords.
For several hours after the Alabama came to
ancnor she used her strong searChllght on the
shipping in the harbor. and picked out prom
inent buildings in Manhattan and Brooklyn and
Staten Island
The revenue cutter Gresham lay not far away,
and the Alabama amused herself by turning a
food of light of about the strength Of midday
on the deck of the Treasury Departments
vessel.
Captain Sargent said that the Alabama would
leave Tompkinsville at 6:3e o'clock this morn-
ing and go 10 the Brooklyn Navy Yard TO wait
for slack water, which comes at s o'clock in the
morning. There the ships bottom will be
cleaned and everything on board made ready for
her speed trial
By Saturday she will be prepared for the
run. her captain says, and then she will hurry
fast as possible TO Boston. In that city the
Board Of Inspection meets Sunday. and the
course, marked off by the ships of the North
Atlantic squadron cannot be held before Mon
day.
Besides Captain Sargent and the Cramps
crew aboard the vessel are these representa-
tives Of the United States Navy. Captain ".
H Brownson, who will command the ship when
she is put in commission; Lieutenant-Com-
mander C J. Badger, executive officer; Lieu
tenant-C Commander A. V. Zane, chief engineer;
Lieutenant H. B. Wilson, inspector Of equip
ment; Lieutenant James G. Doyle. inspector Of
ordnance; Assistant Naval Constructor r II
Robinson and Assistant Surgeon ]. F. Legs
The chief officers among Cramps men are:
Drs. Metzger and Pennock, J. H. Null c. J.
Dougherty. Harry Long. Philadelphia pilot:
John Hand, compass adjuster. Young Frank
Cramp the son of the builder. is also on the
ship