The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-13
NN PRIDE OF IHE Navy
BATTLEsHIP ILLINOIS BREAKS ALL
RECORDS FOR SEA FIGHTERS
OF HER GLASS
OFFICIAL TRIAL TRIP MADE
Average Speed of the II, ,525-TOn. Le-
viathan for Four Hours Steam
Ing Was at the Rate of
1871 Knots.

BOSTON, June 12-With the proud dis
tinctiou Of being the fastest battleship
in America, and the speediest of her class
in the world, the sea fighter Illinois lies
at anchor in Presidents roads tonight,
after most successful trial Over the
government course from Cape Ann to
Cape Porpoise and return, g. distance Of
siXty-six nautical miles, she raced TO-DAY
under the watchful eyes of United States
naval representatives, and established
new record by maintaining an average
speed of II. 81 knots for four consecutive
hours. Not only did she demonstrate that
she was faster than any WarShfp of her
size afoat, but she proved her ability to
turn upon an enemy with extraordinary
quickness by describing a complete circle
within 800 yards, or little more tnan twice
her length, in three minutes and ten
seconds, while ploughing through the sea
at full speed.
Steadiness and reserve power charac-
terized the performance OF the ship
throughout the severe test. The work Of
her engines was smooth and even, and
the records of the day showed but one
tenth of a knot difference in speed De-
tween the northern run and the return.
The machinery easily met every require
marred the success of the day.
Rear Admiral Sampson, who was
aboard unofficially, and Rear Admiral
Evans vino acted as president Of the trial
board as we'll as the other naval Of
ficers who participated in the trial, were
thoroughly pleased with the new clam
pion, and as she steamed back to her
anchorage with a new broom at her mast
head, the officials Of the Newport News
Shipbuilding company, whose three years
of labor had reached such happy
climax. were enthusiastically congratu-
lated.
The day could not have been more per-
feet for the trial of a battleship. Hardly
a breath Of air ruffled the water as the
vessel steamed out Of Boston harbor.
RECORD OF THE RUN.
The first mark boat, the converted
Yacht Hist, was in sight just before L
o'clock, and twelve minutes past that
hour the ship crossed the starting line.
The ship passed Mark Boat No. 2, the
training ship Lancaster, at a seventeen
knot gait, twenty-five minutes seven
seconds after the start. The next mark,
the old Essex was picked up IL minutes
and 10 seconds later; the Newport in
22:12; the Peoria in 23:03 and the naval
tug Potomac at Buoy No. 6, indicating
the end of the hirty-three-knot run
northward in 22:S6.
For a part of the northward run the
Illinois had reached a speed of 17.S4
knots an hour, and at no time did she
drop below 1857. Buoy No. was passed
at 12:06O7, showing elapsed time for the
run Of 1874, and an average speed for
the thirty-three knots of 1875 nautical
miles. On the return the elapsed time be-
tween buoys was about the same as dur
ing the first half of the trial. Again she
reached a maximum speed Of 1874, with
minimum Of 1852. The finish line was
passed and the speed trial was over in
1883, the elapsed time being 1:54:42, and
the average speed for the second half
of the trial 1925. The completed figures
for the entire sixty-six knots gave 3:4S:46
elapsed time, and the average speed 1871
knots per hour. The tidal corrections
may make slight alterations in the fig
ures but the changes are not likely to
affect the result materially.
The Illinois is classed as a sea- -going
battleship. Her displacement is Il, ,s25 tons,
horse power 10000. Her main battery
consists of four thirteen-inch rifles, eight
eight inch rifles and twelve six-inch rapid
fire guns, with numerous and powerful
secondary battery,