The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-13
THE SWIFT ILLINOIS
NEW BATTLESHIP MAKES GREAT
TRIAL RUN.
SPEEDIEST OF HER CLASS.
MADE NEW RECORD OF 1T.31
KNOTS YESTERDAY

Not Only Raster Than Any WnrShip
AGoat, but Able to Turn Upon Her
Enemy in Remarkably short
SPACE of Time-oficers ON Board
Were Pleased, So Is the Shipbuild-
ing Company and Secretary Long
and Others Interested Are Like
wise.
Boston, June 12.-With the proud dis
tinction of being the fastest battleship IN
America and the speediest of her class
in the world, the new sea- fighter Illinois
lies at anchor in Presidents Roads to-
night after a most successful trial. Over
the government course from Cape Anne
to Cape Pcrpoise and return, a distance
OF 66 nautical miles, she raced to-day un-
der the watchful eyes of United States
naval representatives and established a
new record by maintaining an average
speed of 1871 knots for four consecutive
hours. Not only did she demonstrate that
she was faster than any warship 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 than twice
her length, in three minutes and ten sec
onds, while ploughing through the sea 1T
full! speed. Steadiness and reserve power
characterized 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 between the northern run and
the return. The machinery easily met
every requirement and not an accident of
any kind marred the success of the day.
Rear Admiral Sampson, who was aboard
unofficially, 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 champion, and as
she steamed back to her anchorage with
a broom at her masthead the officials OF
the Newport News Shipbuilding Com
pany whose three years of labor had
reached such happy climax, were en-
Enthusiastically congratulated.
The day could not have been more per-
feet for the trial of a battleship. Hardly
a breath of air rnfHed the water as the
vessel steamed out of Boston harbor.
Was Out of Business
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 gave those aboard the impression
that she was out for a business-like days
work.
The first mark boat the converted
yacht Hist was in sight just before 10
o'clock, and twelve minutes past that
81
with her engines registering III revolu-
tions to the minute. The ship passed
mark boat No. 2, the training ship Lam
caster, at a 17-knot gait, % minutes and So
seconds after the start. The next
mark the old Essex, was picked up q
minutes and 20 seconds later; the Newport
in q minutes II seconds; the Peoria in 23
minutes and 3 seconds, and the naval tug
Potomac. a Buoy No. 8, indicating the
end of the 33-knot run northward, In %
minutes and 36 seconds. For a part of
the northward run the Illinois had reach
ed a speed of 1874 knots an hour, and
at no time did she drop below 1881. Buoy
was passed at 1206.O7, showing eaapsed
time for the run of one hour, 81 minutes
4 seconds. and an average speed for the
30 knots of 1876 nautical miles.
Made Excellent Time.
On the return the elapsed time between
buoys was about the same as during
the first half of the trial. Again she
reached a maximum speed of 1874 with
a minimum of 1851 The finish line was
passed and the speed trial was over at
11S:33, the elapsed time being SAP, and
the average speed for the second half
trial of 1726.
The completed figures for the entire Sc
knots gave 3:48;i6 elapsed time. and the
average speed 1871 knots per hour. Tidal
corrections may make slight alterations
IN these figures, but the changes are not
likely to affect the result materially.
She Makes Quick Circle.
While stil going at top speed imme-
diately after crossing the finish line, the
ships helm was thrown hard over and
she described a complete circle In three
minutes, ten seconds. Immediately she
was turned again in three minutes ana
eight seconds. Off Gloucester shortly
afterwards. her anchors were tested In
thirty fathoms of water.
The Illinois Is a sister ship to the Wis
consin, which had previously held the
record for American first class battle
ships with 17.2 knots TO her credit.
The Illinois will probably lie in Presi-
dents Roads until tomorrow, when she
will start back for Newport News.
President c. b. Orcutt of the Shipbuild-
ing Company expressed himself after the
trial as being thoroughly satisfied and
pleased with the performance of the ship.
He said the company hoped that she
would do ia knots, but she had exceed
cd their expectations and kept well with
in her power.