The Portland daily press., 1900-08-29
The Day For the Trial
an Excellent One.
New Ship Returns to Philadel-
phia Today.

Boston, August 2s.-There is a new
Queen Of the American navy, the U. 5.
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 Tor four
hours continuous steaming was exactly
II knots. a figure not quite as high as
that made by another great battleship
produced from the same builders yard
three years ago-the Iowa-but notably
from the fact that it gave an idea of
the yet undeveloped power IN this latest
and greatest product Of American ship
builders. The Alabama was built by
the Cramps at Philadelphia, and while
Of the first class. she is unlike any of the
earlier creations both enthusiastically and
as lighting machine. Built under
contract that required at least an average
speed of 16 knots per hour, she has been
turned out to do II knots or better under
conditions that will not be termed ex-
traordinary, ana as such she beco mes,
probably, the fastest. of our line OF bat
tie craft. The Alabama, called after a
favorlte 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 II knots she
made that big broom was at her fore
topmast truck as she dropped anchor
tonight below Boston Light. A few
months ago another ship OF her class
but unlike her IN very many respects,
bui1t by rival ship building firm at
Newport News-was sent over the same
course to meet the same requirements,
and under almost Identical conditions.
That other ship-tne Kearsarge with
a name even more famous and linked In
dissolubly with that of the Alabama-ex-
ceeded her contract figure and made an
average speed of 16.S9 knots. If one
Kearsarge on day famous in history had
a triumph over one Alabama, a new craft
of the same name today achieved q tri-
umph 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
little anxiety that she beat the Kear-
sarge's figures made on November Goth
last.
The 17-knot record today is not the
highest for speed trials, but it is the
highest for ba5tleships since the bonus
for extra speed has been abolished.
The day for the trial was an excellent
one with q smooth sea and breeze
sufficient to temper the sunshine. The
company on board as guests of the bull.
ders was the largest since the days OF the
Brooklyn and Minneapolis trials.
The Alabama came down to the start
fn0 line about TO- 30 under fair headway.
There was no tearing across the line as
If something momentous depended upon
her speed, but she went by as If on q
cruise, The first stake boat was the lex
as. and in the clear light the people on
the Cape Ann shore could have seen
fine marine spectacle with ease and
also watched the new conner until she
had passed the u. S. S. Osceola, the Sec
ond mark. The third leg was marked
bv the Kearsarge, and as the Alabama
went by, now at great speed, Capt. Fol
ger had his iackies lined up to cheer.
rhis is not customary, but the great
veil which went up as the Alabama went
bv seemed to gather force as it swept
over the waves, and a cheer went back.
qhe fourth mark was the Kentucky, the
fifth the Indiana and the outward mark,
which was not far out to sea, from
Boone Island, was the Massachusetts,.
This latter ship was passed shortly be-
fore half past twelve, and then the Ala
bama was given few gevolutions tos test
her helm.
The return Of the Alabama over the
course had little more Of moment than
the run out, except the whales sporting
alongside the stake boats added the unex-
pected feature which, singularIy enough,
has seldom been missed during trial