Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-08-29
QUEEN OF NAVY.
BattIeship Alabama Averages
II Knots, for Four Hours
At Trial Off Cape Ann--Contract
Required 16 Knots.
Probably the Fastest Of Our Line Of Battle
Craft.

Boston. Aug. 2S-There is a new
queen of the American navy. the
| United States battleship Alabama,
| which, today, won the title in one OF
| the most magnificent speed trials yet
| held in the history of our navy. Her
| average speed for four hours continu-
Gus steaming was exactly II knots, a
| figure not quite as high as that made
| by another great battleship, as pro-
/ duced from the same builders yard,
| three years ago-the Iowa-but nota-
bic from the fact that it gave an idea
| Of the undevelOped power in this lat
| est and greatest product of American
| ship builders. The Alabama was
\ built by the Cramps at Philadelphia,
and while of the first class, she is un-
| like any of the earlier craft, both archi-
| tecturally and as a fighting machine.
Built under a contract that required
at least an average speed Of 10 knots
per hour she has been turned out to do
II knots or better under conditions
that Will not be termed extraordinary,
an das such she becomes, probably, the
| fastest of our line of battle craft. The
Alabama, called after a favorite state
of the South, has a name of greater
significance to the American people,
but it was not simply because Of her
name and the figure of IL knots she
made that a big broom was at her
fOretopmast truck as she dropped an
Choir tonight, below Boston light. A
few months ago. another ship OF her
class-but unlike her in many respects
built by a rival shipbuilding firm a.
Newport News-was sent over the
same course to meet the same require
ments and under almost identical con-
ditiOns. That other ship-the Kear-
sarge-with a name even more famous
and linked insolubly with that of the
Alabama-eXceeded her contract figure
and made an average speed of 1853
knots. If one kearsarge on a day ia
nous in history had a triumph over
one Alabama, a new craft of the same
name, today, achieved a triumph over
another kearSarge. Aside from the
desire of the builders of the Alabama
to produce a craft that would suit the
government, there was not a little anx-
iety that she beat the Kearsarge's
figures made on November 25th Last.
The Il knot record, today. is not the
highest for speed trials. but 1t is the
highest for battleships since the bonus
for extra speed has been abolished.
mt udy LOT the lTldl WIS an eACtl-
lent one with a smooth sea and
breeze sufficient to temper the sun
shine. The company on board as
guests of the builders We're the largest
since the days Of the Brooklyn and
Minneapolis trials.
The Alabama came down to the
starting line about 1890 under fair
Roadway. There was no tearing
across the line as if something mo-
mentOus depended upon er speed. but
she went by as if on a cruise. The
first stake boat was the Texas and in
the clear light the people on the Cape
Ann shore could have seen the marine
spectacle with ease and also watched
the newcomer until she had passed the
L. $. $. Osceola, the second mark
The third leg was marked by the Kear-
sarge. and as the Alabama went by.
now at great speed, Capt Fogler had
his jackies lined up to cheer This is
not customary, but the great yell which
Continued on page 3D.