The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-29
ALABAMA QUEEN
OF AMERICAN NAVY
Won the Title in MagIll-
hcent Speed Trial.
SEVENTEEN KNOTS.
This Her Average for Four Consecu-
tive Hours.
THE DAY AN EXCELLENT ONE.
Sister Battlcships Were Used to Mark
the Course ard as the Alabama
Sped by the Kcarsursc ut Great
Speed the Jaclzics Drawn
Up III Line Gave Il
Great Cheer,
THE DAY AN EXCELLENT ONE.
lEr Associated Prcss.l

BOSTON, August z3.-There is a new
queen of the American navy-the United
States battiaShip Aiabama-Which to-day
wen the title ii one OF the most magnlfi-
cent speed trials yet held in the history
Of the navy. Her average speed Tor four
hcirs' continuous steaminS was Il knots,
Il figure not quite as high as that made
by the Iowa, but notable from the fact
that it gave an idea of the yet undevel-
o0ed power in this latest product Of Amer
lean ship-bulders.
The Alabama was built by the Cramps,
at philadelphia, and while of the first
class she is unlike any of the earlier crea-
ton. both architecturally and as a fight
ing machine. Built under a contract that
required at lenst an average speed of is
knots per hour, she has been turned out
to do Il knots or better under conditions
that will not be termed extra.
The day for the trial was an excellent
one The starting line was five miles
southeast of Thatcher Island light, near
the extremity of Cape Ann. The course
then ran about north-northeast for thirty
three nautical miles, divided as near as
triangulation could make them into five
legs. An interesting feature. and as it
proved q somewhat picturesque one. was
the use of sister battleships rs stake
boats, five of them being lined up. There
was the Texas. Massachusetts. Indiana,
Kentucky and kearsarge
GIVEN a ROUSING CHEER.
The Alabama came down TO the starting
line about lo30 under fair headway and
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 watched the new conner until she had
passed the u. S. S. Osceola. second mark.
The third leg was marked by the Near-
sargs, and as the Alabama wei's os',NnoW
s5fCiS S1ct'tI, nIf,..lIii IOIS5ssi' iIdt iiiJ
iackies lined up TO cheer. This IS not Gus
tomary, but the great yell which went up
as the Alabama went by seemed to gather
force as it swept over the waves, and a
cheer went back.
The fourth mark was the Kentucky; the
fifth the Indiana. and at the out-mark,
which was not far out to sea from Boone
Island, was the massachusetts,.
This latter ship was passed shortly be-
fore l2:5D. ana then the Alabama was
given q; few evoutions to test her helm.
The return of the Alabama over the
course had little more OF moment than the
run out She crossed the finish line about
$3.50 with a blast from her own whistle,
and a like answer from the Texas as the
centre, until she was cleaving wake
which in diameter was not over twice her
IL
bama was headed for the Boston Light,
the red flag Of the trial had been replaced
by the Cramps house flag, and broom
had been sent aloft
PERFECT SUCCESS.
The trial throughout, to use Mr.. Cramps
own words, was a success in every par
ticuiar.
Mr.. Cramp said further that the run. in
his opinion, in which many naval men
aboard agreed, was not a forced trial, out
a fair days work which he claimed can oe
eoralied at any time under ordinary condl-
tons. Moreover, he said that the trial was
the most remarkable the country has seen
The Alabama will be ready for delivery to
+ba Government in six weeks, when she
win go into commission under Captain w.
H Brownson-
The trial to-day was under the direction
of tho Board of Inspection and Survey,
he headed by Rear-lAdmiral Frederick Rods- @
ers. Among the guests on board were were
Captains Behr and Fernson' ana LiGu.sil-
ants Sverbieff and Vasilieff, OF the 4hpe-
riel Russian Navy.