Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-29
NEW QUEEN OF THE
AMERICAN NAVY
The Alabama Wins Title IN a
Magnificent Speed Trial.
IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER SHIP.
Average Speed Of Seventeen Knots FOR
Hour Maintained for Four Hours An !
ihea' Day for tho TRIAL The Course Sc
lse'ed aud Pursued cheoreI By the
Grew of tho Kcarsarse as She Speeds by
on Her coarse--a Fine Days Work.


Z. on Her Courses Fine Days Work.
fBy Telegraph to virginlan-PIIetl
Boston, Mass. Aug. 2s. There is a
new queen of the American Navy, the
United States battleship Alabama.
which to-day won the title In one OF
the most magnificent speed trials YETI
held In tine history of the navy. Her
average speed for four hours con-
tnuous steaming was seventeen knots.
a igure not quite as high as that made
ny the Iowa, but notable from the fact
that 1t gave an idea OF the yet undeyef4
opea power in this latest product of
American ship builders,
The Alabama was built by the s
cramps at Philadelphia. and while OF
the nrst-class she is unlike anyaof the
eariier creations both architecturally
and as lighting machine. Built under
4 contract that required at least an
average speed of sixteen knots per
houf, She has been turned out 10 do
seventeen knots or better under condi- 4
tions that will not be termed extra
THE IOWA'S SPEED.
ihe iowa, when she left her huiders
nanos In 1881, was officially recorded at
l.,e4, Her speed trial was made under
N
lapse of more than two years the
kentucky, on September "a, and the
Neorsarse, two months later, came to
the New England coast and under
favorable, but not eStraordinary5gcon-
ditlons. made higher figures OF 1851 and
1851 knots, respectively. Those knots
nave now been beaten by az; narrdvr
MARGIN, TO be sure, but the Alabama
uppafentiy was not made to do buti e Z
h,t'e Beyond her mean speed.
THE TRIAL COURSE.
ne uay for the trial WAS an excel
81, s sr s X
light, near The extremity of Cape Ann.
me course then, ran about nortt-
northeast for SO nautical miles divided s
as near as triangulation could make
them into five legs. Over this course
the battleship was to do her four
hours or steaming. and In addition was
10 be tested for control and steering <
power. An interesting feature. and as
it proved shomewhat picturesque
one was the use OF sister battle
ships as stake boats. i've OF them be-
ing lined up. There was the Texas.
Massachusetts, Indiana, Kentucky and
kearsarge.
THE TRIAL,
me Alabama came down to the
starting line about 1880 under fair
headway and went by as II on a cruise.
The stake boat was the Texas. and 4
IN the clear light the people on thea
cape Ann shore could have seen the,
marine spectacle with ease and watch
eel the new conner until she had PASSED
the u, 5, Osceola, the second mark M
The third leg WIS marked by the
kearsarge. and as the Alabama went
by, now at great speed. Ceptain Fol-
ger had his tackles lined up to cheer
rms is not customary but the great
yell which went up as the Alabama
hNr md 10 -.
swept over the waves and a cheer. went z
back. The fourth mark was the Ken
lucky; the fifth the Indiana, and at
the out-mhrk, WHICH Was NOT Tar out to n
sea from Boone island, was the Massa-a
chusetts. This latter ship was passed
shortly before half past twelve. and 3
then the Alabama was given few
evolutions 10 test her helm
THE RETURN "TRIP.
The return OF the Alabama over the
course had little more of moment than
the run. She crossed the finish line
whistle and o like answer from the
Texas. as the central until she was
cleavinS q wake which In diameter
was not over twice her length. Fiji
teen minutes later the Alabama was
headed for the Boston light the red
fiag OF the trial had been displaced by
the Cramps house flag and q broom
had been sent aioft.
= SUCCESS.
The trial throughout, TO use Mr.. E:
s, Cramps own words, was q success =
in every particular. To quote d mem
Der of the engineering force the trial
was u perfect one. For nearly three
legs OF the outward run the boilers
made steam so fast that the surplus
was allowed TO blow on. At the same
time the men in both engine and stoke
rooms suffered no Inconvenience from
lack OF fresh air. and the Temperatures
were not high. The niaximum revolu- Il
lions of the engines We're uS. This
figure was only for q nalf hour, the
mean being below this. The highest
steam pressure was $50 pounds. or, nine
under the limit, The horse power de-
veloped was supposed to be 1850. al
though this figure, ike those for the
speed. will be officially given at Wssfi-
ington. 8sss
A FAIR DAYS WORK.
Mr.. Cramp said further that the run.
in his opinion, In which many naval
men aboard agreed, was not q forced
trial, but q fair days work. which he
Claimed can be equalled at any time
under ordinary conditions Moreover,
he said that the trial was the most
remarkable the country has ever seen.
The Alabama VIII be ready for delivery b
TO the government in six weeks. when
she will so into commission under g
Captain w. H. Brownson. The trial
To-Day was under direction OF the
board or inspection ana Survey. head
ed by Rear Admira, Frederick fsogers.
Among the guests on board we're CAPS
tains Behr and irefnsen and Liauten-
ants sSverhieff and yasiiieff, OF the Fms
perial Russian navy. rs
Washington. Aug. IS The census oss