The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-29
UNCLE SANS new FLYER
Alabama Develops Great Speed on
Her Trial Trip.
The Batticship Makes an Average
of IL Knots nm Hour for Four
Is Knots-TidnI Allowances May
Increase the Figures Considerably.

BOSTON, Aug 2s-With a new broom at
her fore emblematic of another speed vic
tory for the Cramps. the splendid new
United States battleship Alabama steamed
into the harbor at $50 this afternoon from
her trial trip over the deep water course
from Thatcher's Island to Boone Island.
The vessel had steamed at an average
speed of seventeen knots an hour for four
consecutive hours without taking into &C
count strong flood tide. which. when al
Iowances are figured out, will probably
contribute a substantial addition to her
, average
The Alabama also reached the maximum
speed of 1873 for a distance of Sc knots.
the space between two of the warships
marking the course. When the tidal al
lowances are prepared they will doubtless
show that the latest addition to Uncle
Sans navy is the fastest battleship aiioat.
and the general opinion expressed by the
naval men on the craft during her trial
trip was that her average will be about
III knots per hour for the four hours.
The contract requirement for the ship
was that she should steam sixteen knots
an hour for four consecutive hours. In
addition to her display of speed the Ala
bama executed som curves that made tie
people on board open their eyes in Won
derment. The greet steel craft was sent
ahead at full speed with helm hard to port,
and described a circle which had a tacti-
cal diameter of between 200 and 800 feet.
or triie over twice her length. Then
the helm was reversed and around she
went TO starbodrd, and. coming upon the
wake Of her first circle, made as perfect
a figure in seething white foam as one
could wish to see.
Before reaching Boston Light the vessel
was tested TO find her quickness in coming
to a dead standstill and in gathering stern
way with engines reversed. all OF which
proved satisfactory to the trial boa d.
A more perfect day could not be had
for a trial trip. The sea was smooth, and
the coasting vessels drifted about with
sails hanging idly from their spars. The
Alabama left her anchorage in the harbor
at O'Clock this morning with guests ard
the trial board Of Admira. Rodgers, Cap
tain Evans. Commander Hemphill, Com
mander Rocker. Naval Constructor w. L.
Caps. Lieutenant Commanders Vreeland
and Henderson. and Lieutenant Com
manders J. H. Perry and w. H. Hannah,
OF the STEAM DOdTu, VI WHICH
Commander Rocker is president. Rear
Admiral Sampson was with the party as
guest of Mr. Cramp and a number of
naval officers of lesser rank and naval
cadets were detailed as assistants to the
members of the two boards.
The course vas lsi1 out from a point
about five miles southeast of Thatchers
Island, marked by can buoy. and the
battleship Texas to the battleship Massa-
chusetts, about three mixes east OF Boone
Island. about thirty-tnree knots. At dis
tances as near 6.s knots apart as possible,
were anchored the naval tug Osceola, the
bsttleships Kearsarge. Kentucky, and In
diana. and also numbered can buoys.
Before reaching the Texas the Alabama
had been gradually speeded up and was
going at a good 15-knot clip when the
signals we're given that the ship was about
to start on her speed test: The buoy at
the beginning of the course was passed at
I0:29:35, and the thirty-three knots had
been reeIed off at 12:2+;52, the elapsed
time being 1:55:17, an average Of 1715
knots
Going over the course the ship covered
the distance between the first two marks
in % minutes 20 seconds, an average OF
1883 knots an hour. To the third mark
the Kearsarge, whose crew gave three
ringing cheers for the new ship. the
elapsed time was % minutes 80 seconds.
a speed of 1856 knots per hour.
To the fourth mark the time was the
best of the day, q minutes IS seconds Tor
the &c knots. or speed of 1903 for an
hour To the fifth mark it required "a
minutes Is seconds. which makes the
speed 1886 knots. and for between the
last two marks the time was % minutes
IA seconds, a speed of 1897 knots an hour.
The Alabama turned quickly. repassing
the Massachusetts on her return journey
at 12:42:26, and the Texas, at the other
end OF the course. at 2:39:5S, making the
elapsed time for the SO knots 81 30. an
average of 1886 krOts per hour for the
distance. Her fastest speed on the return
WIS made over the distance between the
Massachusetts, aud Indiana. the time being
% minutes 80 seconds, or a speed OF 1856
knots per hour. The vessel was under
forced draft all the time, with steam
pressure of $50 pounds. and the maximum
revolutions of her screws was 11S. The
estimated horse power developed was
II 500.
The Alabama win start back to Phila-
delphia at 2 O'Clock tomorrow, and her
builders say she will be ready to tu.n
over to the Government in about six
weeks. Mr. Edwin :. Cramn said the
speed test was a most wonderful one, that
the machinery worked perfectly. not a bit
OF water being used to cool bearings. and
the boilers making steam freely. In fact
the safey valve was blowing OFF for more
than half an hour while she was blowing
over the course. He said no battleship
had ever made such high rate of speed
for so many hours of steaming which
places the Alabama the peer of any vessel
OF her type afioat.
CLEVELAND AND HARRISON.