Holbrook argus., 1900-06-30
RACING OF WARSHIPS
Speed Tests of Some of America's
 Fighting Vessels.
Sailors Stake Their Pay on the AbII- Ity of Their ships to WIn-TiIt Between the New York and
 the Brooklyn.

When the American fleet left Mar unique, it's squadron-eEolutions must have presented curious sight to those on shore. For it was here that the swiftest ships of the fleet gathered for their great handicap race to Dominica, an event officially designated as mere speed trial. The engines of each ship were subjected to four hours trial at full speed, the first two hours Co be on natural draft and the last two on forced draft. The starting point was on line seven miles off the lighthouse of St. Pierre, and was crossed by each ship going at full speed ahead. The better to "curb all attempts at racing" the siowest vessels crossed the line with good start in their favor, thus evening up matters. after the manner of regu- lar handicap race.
 For days and weeks before, the sail 'ors and stollers aboard the different ships had staked the better part of their pay on the outcome of this speed trial. Greatest was the rivalry between the men of the New York and Brooklyn, since the relative speed merits of these two vessels have been an open question ever since the day when the New York .strove to overhaul the Brooklyn in her ,chase after the fleeing Cristobal Colon.
 For several hours, while the ships were getting up steam, they circled about each other like huge white birds ,of the sea lowering over the brine. To those aboard the Brooklyn and New York it almost seemed as if the two swift cruisers were eyeing each other, and measuring points in anticipation of the coming race.
 The Indiana got under way first, and crossed the line at 12-knot clip, with "a trail of dense black smoke marking her course northward to Dominica. As the slowest of the five entries in the race, she was allowed to take a long start and her smokestacks had nearly .tiis.lrneared under the horizon before fine M s~nchusetts slipped her leash. Of all 'Fe five ships. the Massachusetts was best prepared for the race. having been OverhaUled but lately. so that her engineers declared her to be all slacked and primed for just such race and laid their wagers accordingly. After the NdSSdNluSetlS 'WdS WcIi Ou Her way after the Indiana. Capt. Sigsbee started in pursuit of both with fine burst of speed from the Texas. On the strength of the little Texas performance on July of last year, when she managed to maintain the killing pace set by the Oregon in the great record run after the Cristobal Colon, Capt. Sigsbee's men had high hopes of winning back some of the money they lost on the day of the recent regatta in Havana harbor. With this pack in full cry ahead, the Brooklyn and New York got under way, within 2n minutes of each other, the flagship starting at scratch.
 The race became most exciting dur ing the last two hours of the speed trial. when all the ships were going under forced drHught. Then it was that the New York overloaded one ship after another. finally crossing the finish line off Dominica barely ships length ahead of Indiana, and nearly even with the Massachusetts. Close behind her came the panting Brooklyn, and far be- hind. her bulk rising above the horizon line came the vanquished Texas. Capt. Sigsbee's long protracted stay in the foul waters of Havana had proved her undoing.-Edwin Emerson, Jr., in Cal Hers Weekly.