The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-31
RECORD OF THE ALABAMA
New Battlesllips Remarkable Run
Home After Her Trial.
Fighting Ship Made an Average of
1926 iSnets Per Hour-ProspectiV e
Officers Delighted With the Ves-
sePS Performance The Ovation
From All Sides in Delaware Bay.

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 31.-A world
record for battleships has been established
by the Alabama. This magnificent product
of Philadelphia shipbuilders has made a
run in which the speed has never been
equaied for like number of hours. The
ship for fifteen and three tenths hours
made an average speed of 1926 knots per
hour. This was not done on an official
trial trip. but was accomplished on the
run home after establishing a record on
her official trial for ships of her class in
, the United States Navy
After having satisfied the trial board of
naval officers. on Tuesday last that she
was most superior ship, the Alabama was
anchored off Boston Light, late in the aft
ernoon OF that day At 40 o'clock on the
following morning the aehor was tripped
and the big ship steamed out of Boston S
harbor, homeward bound. None of those
On board had thought al that time of
calling upon the ship for any further exhi-
Dillon OF her capabilities, but SO nicely did
she slip along that by the time the Nan
tuclet Lightship was abeam. at Pa p. NJ.
on Wednesday, and a rapid computation
showed that she had made an average of
AZ knots from a Standstiu in the time
which had elapsed, Edwin s. Cramp who
was on board, determined TO show Just
what the ship could accomplish in a con-
tinucus speed trial
The naval cfSeers and others who were
enjoying the trjp lad no thought of record
breaking. 50 easy was the ship in all her
movement There was no perceptible IN
crease of speed; only the numerous cinders
told tale to the wise. The big engines
and their great bronze propelIers whipped
the water, and ahead went the Alabama
\ he af al Of ba 10Th
the snip sped along. The reports from the
engine room and the bridge told that a
record was more han possible
When morning daSned the Alabama was
well down the Jersey Coast, and at :25
a m the OveTfalls Lightship. off Cape
HenlcPen, vas abeam and a record had
| bsen established. Never before had aEy
! ba5tieship Of any nation been given sucA
| a trial The officials who were on beard
We're astonished.
The distance ! aversed from Boston
Light to the CyeTfalls Lightship was
425.03 knots, and the elapsed time was
p - hours, MAILING an average OF 1886
+ knots per hour from point 20 point; and
/ II should also be remembered that the
start fTGm which the time was taken was
from anchor. Another thing which re-
duced the average of the big run between
Nantucket and HeuIopen was the encoun-
tering OF dense fog. which caused 4 slow
down Of - minutes. and this slow-do"n
IS in the period covered by the splendid
run Of 1876 knots per hour.
After entering Delaware Bay the ship
was dropped down 10 cruising speed and
made her way up the river at an easy
gait. The ovation she received was worthy
Of such a gallant craft. Tug boats and
steamboats,. steamships. on the water blew
three welcoming blasts. and at every point
on the shore where there was a steam Wls-
a y IN or K-l
and industrial establishments along the va
ter front sent their greetings and the ear
rending siren of the b4ttleship responded.
At Washington Park cannon were fired ana
even the hunters III the marshes stopped
killing birds ana fired their
guns in her honor From Chez
ter up there was just one long
/ wild whoop of whistling- The passenger
boats on the river steamed close alongside
and the people cEeercd- Giving her an
sEering blasts. the big ship steamed K,
An anchorage Of the shipyard and then
all OF kensinstoH broke loose in a wild
paroXysm OF vocal bowls and steam whist
ling. and the famous trial run was over
Capt ". H. Brownson. who Will com
mand the Alabama when she goes into
commission. said: The performance OF
the ship was very satisfactory in every
respect. She exceeded my anticipations.
While l cannot say that she is the fastest
Gouht- the fastest battleskip in the United
States Navy and / doubt IL any batt;eship
in aBc navy of the world could sustain
the same speed for the same number of
hours This ship was laid down a year
later than any of the ships alioat and
of course, i any advancement has been
made she has the benefit, and she should
be superior 10 any other battIeship in our
Navy. You can safely say that she will
compare more than faVorably with any
other battleship in the world 1 consider
tbs r!!8 home a greater test than the Off
ciai trial The ship exceeded the contract
requirements for speed hour after hour.
under normal conditions"
Lieutenant Commander Charles J. Bad
ger, who is assigned to duty as the execu-
tive officer Of the Alabama. said: This
test on the run home was remarkable. The
builders certainly had the courage Of their
convictions, and the results showed that
they knew their ship. We viii surely be
proud to be in charge of such a magnificent
vessel"
Baron FerSen who is a captain in the
Russian Navy. and who is the naval agent
TO the Russian Embassy in Washington,
w1s on board, and he voiced his admiration
of the Alabama by saying: This is Won
derfuI ship. and 1 am glad that your Navy
will have such an acquisition"