The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-10-25

u l AN fto1S III lllt 'ul'I llul
n lies the great battleship Wiscon
- sin, the new pride of the navy,
has displayed a speed capacity which
is equalled by nothing anoat of her
class or tonnage
Built in the same yard which turned
out the oregon, with the same careful
ness which made that ship the first in
her class, as was the Olympia, the pride
of the cruisers, the Wisconsin was Civ
en- all the necessary lines for a cham
pion. And it was not only upon trial
trip but in later running that her capac-
ity was displayed. During the test the
ship made 1925 knots average and the
maximum speed was 1854 knots. This
was ~ knot better than the sistership
of the Wisconsin. the Alabama, had
been able to do, and again the Union
Iron Works had sent out champion of
her class.
The Wisconsin carries the flag of Adj
miral Silas Casey, in command of the
Pacific station, who is on his way to
the South Seas, and the stop here is
made for the purpose of taking on coal
to replace that which was used in the
run from Puget Sound, something like
600 tons This will consume at least
three days and it may be that the great
battleship will stay until the arrival of
her little companion, the transport
Solace, which sailed from San Fran
cisco Saturday last, and which is eX-
pected TO reach here the end of this
weak nhnrp XynillI hn
this decision il it is reached, in that
one of the most notable passengers in
the Solace is Admiral Robley Evans,
Fighting Bob" and it may be the de-
sire of Admiral Casey To have him as
a guest in the flagship. Yet another
admiral will be in the Solace, Admiral
Henry Glass. whose promotion followed
the retirement of Admiral Schley, which
took place on the 9th of this month.
Yet new test was given to the Wis
consin during the nine days of the pas
sage from the Sound to this port. Leav-
ing the Sound on Monday last Flattery
was three days behind when the winds
which lad been northeast, and fresh
only. shifted to south, coming as much
from the southeast as from the south
We're piled up and the big vessel for
ward was under water some OF the time.
1t was the first time the battleship had
found any weather and her officers
We're busily engaged in following her
conduct. Everything was snug and
taut and the vessel under three quar-
ters speed, went ahead at the rate of
eleven knots making no fuss but prov
ing a revelation to those on board. The
speed made was within two knots OF
the rate at which she went through the
water when there was a smooth sea,
and though there was great swell ac-
companying the high wind, the ship was
as steady as possible and every man
on board was surprised by the perfec-
ton of her motion and handling. There
was lew and irregular barometer all
the time and Capt George c. Reiter
was constantly on watch for worse
weather even than was encountered,
but two days out OF port the wind fell
and from that time there was Honolulu
weather. But for the storm the ship
would have been in port yesterday
morning, as the speed was excellent all
the way, except when the head wind
prevented the chalking up of miles
enough To keep an average.
The action of the Wisconsin under
stress of weather left u most reassuring
impression on the minds of all her Of
ficers, and the vessels speed is thought
to be the very highest in list of vessels
of this class in the world. Officers of
the Wisconsin say their ship will make
her contract speed OF l6 knots under
natural draft, while with the forced
draft which is provided the speed at
tained on the trial will be eclipsed.
While the engines Of the ship call for
only 10000 horsepower this is believed
by the officers to be at least ten per
cent below what has been shown on
spurts. Thus far the present trip of
the Wisconsin is the furthest she has
made from home, for since going into
commission in February OF this year.
there has been on no occasion more
than trip to Magdalen Bay, on the
Mexican coast, and to Bremerhaven. in
Puget Sound.
The Wisconsin was not brought into
the harbor. as the conditions unde,
which she is here are such that it il
not deemed best to make the trial. The
fact that there would be less than hall
the width of the ship on either side OF
her II she should try the channel, an6
that there would be only about fou,
feet under her when she went out
operated to bring about this decision Of