New-York tribune., 1901-06-13
THE ILLINOIS is GOOD
DOES 1871 KNOTS, AND is THE FASTEST
AMERICAN BATTLEsHrP


Boston. June l2.-With the proud distinction
of being the fastest battleship in America and
the speediest of her class in the world the reu,
sea tighter ILLINOIS, lies at anchor in Presidents
Roads to-hlght after a most successful trial
over the government course from Cape Ann to
Cape Porpoise and return, distance Of sixty
six nautical miles she raced TODAY rnder the
watchful eyes Of Uncle Sans official representa-
tives. and established new record b,, maintain
ing an average speed OF 1871 knots for four
consecutive hours. Not only did she demon
strate that she was faster than any warship OF
her inches afoat bat she proved her ability
10 turn upon an enemy with extraordinary
oUickness. by describing complete circle within
three hundred yards. or little more than twice
her length. in B minutes and 10 seconds while
ploughing through the sea at full speed
Steadiness and reserve power characterized
the performance Of the ship throughout the Sc
we're test. The work of her engines was smooth
and even. and the records of the day showed
but one-tenth of knot difference in speed be-
tween the northern and the return. The
machinery easily met every requirement and
not a accident Of any kind marred the success
Of the day.
Rear-Admiral Sampson, who was aboard un-
officially, and Rear-Admiral Evans, who acted
as president Of the trial board as well as the
other naval officers who participated in the trial
were thoroughly pleased with the new cham
pOn, and. as she steamed back 10 her anchor
age with a broom al her masthead. the officials
Of the Newport News Shipbuilding Company
whose three years of labor had reached such a
happy climax, were enthusiastically congratu-
lated.
The day could not have been more perfect for
The trial Of battleship Hardly a breath Of air
rufied the water as the vessel steamed out OF
Boston Harbor.
A new snip on trial is not made attractive by
the establishment OF paint and polished brass
which mark q naval thoroughbred in time of
peace. and the Illinois was hardly thing OF
beauty as she laid her course for Cape Ann. But
The great white wave turned up at her bow the
sWiriing sea which her propellers churned astern
gave those aboard the impression that she was
out for busin esslike days work.
The first mark boat, the converted yacht Hist.
was in sight just before 10 o'clock, and twelve
minutes past that hour the ship crossed the
starting line. with her engines registering III
revolutions 10 the minute. The exact starting
time was l0:12:03 O'Clock.
on the bridge was Rear-Admiral Evans. head
Of the trial board. At the wheel was Quarter
master Martin Dixon y lille Captain p. H. Han
lon. representing the builders. was in general
command Astern cinders feu in showers while
below the fremen piled coal into the yawning
furnaces Barrel after barrel or oil was poured
on the machinery, and the great ship passed
mark boat No. ,, the training ship Lancaster. AT
q seventeen knot gait. % minutes and 53 seconds
after the start. The next marker, the old Essex.
was picked up 23 minutes and 20 seconds later,
the Newport al buoy No. 4. in % minutes l. sec
onds; the Peoria, at No. =. in % minutes and ,
seconds, and the naval tug Potomac Buoy
No. 6. indicating the end Of the thirty-three
knot run northward. in 22 minutes and sc sec
onds
For a part Of the nOrthward run the Illinois
had reached a speed Of l. 81 knots an hour and
no time did she drop below 1857. Buoy No
was passed at l2:o6:O1. showing elapsed time
for the run Of ! hour. - minutes. seconds. and
an average speed for the thirty-three knots OF
lG-36 nautical miles.
on the return the elapsed time between buoys
about the same during the first half Of
the trial. Again she reached maximum speed
of l1.S4. with minimum Of 1857. The finish
line was passed and the speed trial was at
1:lS:S3. the elapsed time being 1:54:42 and the
average speed for the second half Of the trial
1929
The completed figures for the entire sixty-six
knots gave 3:4S:46 elapsed time. and the
age speed 1871 knots an hour. Tidal correc-
tiOns may make slight alterations in these fig
Ures but the changes not likely TO materi-
ally affect the result
While still going at top speed. Immediately
after crossing the finish line. the ships helm
thrown hard over, and she described COM
plete circle in 3 minutes 10 seconds. Immedi-
ately she was turned again in 3 minutes sec
onds. OF Gloucester, shortly after, her anchors
tested in thirty fathoms of water
The Illinois IS sister ship 70 the Wisconsin.
which has previously held the record for Ameri-
can first class battleshps. with 1912 knots TO
her credit.
The Illinois viii probably lie in Presidents
Roads until some time tomorrow, when she
will start back for Newport News.
President Calvin Z. Orcutt, OF the shipbuild-
ing company. expressed himself after the trial
IS being thoroughly satisfied and pleased with
the performance of the ship He said the COM
pany hoped that she would do 17-25 knots. but
she had exceeded their expectations and kept
Well within her power