Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-08-25
THE NEW MAINE
Continued from page -

Nhieio anu chNieu tnOSe whose lot II
was to be on the battleships decks.
As the harbor was left the speed in
creased and the Maine headed toward
the north to the course buoyed and
marked by the tugs. At Ills she blew
her whistle to tell the stake boats that
she was coming. Clouds of black smoke
We're rolling from her three tunnels:
whirlpool of water boiled under the
sharp counter as the two great screws
churned the deep green into glistening
foam, which took all the lights and
colors of the spectrum as the waters
leaped to the morning. I2oa
At 11.20 the course was changed to
bring the vessel in line for the course,
and with engines working 127 revolu-
tions of the screws, the course was
reached.
Capt Lawlor had yielded the helm to
Capt. Gus Clampitt, we'll known on the
Delaware as a skillful pilot. Capt
| Ransford d. Bucknam was in COM
mand. Capt. w. S. Moore, United
States naval engineer, was in the en-
gine room when Chief Engineer Null
was setting his pets to work.
At 11.21 A. NJ. the first stake was
reached, and the race to prove that the
Maine could steam for four hours on a
course of 12 miles at better speed than
IS knots an hour was on.
1t was beautiful morning for the
trial; the air had cleared and the wind
was fresh from the northwest; there
was scarcely any swell, but the great
bulk of the Maine never recognized any
force but her own engines. which We're
driving the two great screws till the
stern of the vessel palpitated like ii
human frame.
Thatcher's island was sighted and
passed, the warships Massachusetts,
<earsarge and Alabama were distin-
| guished lying in near the shore; off to
| the eastward the Brooklyn and another
| cruiser We're just visible against the
| horizon.
| When half way down the Eastern
Steamship Cos. steamer State of Maine
vas passed. headed toward Boston, and
some on board knew that the great
ship named for the same State was
rushing along with Names Governor
on board and 4 prompt recognition
| came from her whistle.
Still the great screws revolved and
stake boat after stake boat was passed
1
121 P. NJ. When the sixth was reach
| ed, and as soon as passed the vessel
turned shortly to starboard to begin
the turn.
| For l hour and 53 minutes the Maine
| had been rushing through the water.
An average of 1852 knots (unofficiaD
| had been made, the screws making 130
revolutions, with an indicated horse
| power of 1900.
| AS the vessel turned from starboard
| back to port, the wake was a beautiful
| sight: on one side a swell of smooth
| green water. on the other u turbulent
mass of white foam, and leaving the
| long circle visible for almost half the
distance, the Maine gathered for the re-
| turn, reaching the sixth stake in 10
minutes. after leaving It, or one min
ute better than was anticipated.
1t was 1.39 p. NJ. when the stake was
passed, and then with the wind and
tide more in favor, the ship showed Il
better speed, and passed the marks at
an average of Il minutes interval.
| Down the lire of tugs ana puoys She
| tore. till the first one was again passed
at 3.25, one hour and 46 minutes after
leaving the sixth mark.
In this run an average speed of 1865
knots had been made. giving the aver
age of the run 1891 knots.
Immediately from the foremast the
United States flag was broken out, and
under the colors she is to wear, the
Maine began to do her fancy sailing,
which included double turn at full
speed, first to starboard and then 70
port. Then followed turns without us
ing the rudder, using the screws-one
| ahead the other reversed. She was
backed ut full speed and finally her
great anchors were dropped, and then
raised, testing the power and speed of
the anchor engines.
| 1t had been notable performance.
for the trip was made on the run Of
the mine coal, not the carefully select
ed fuel. and so was doing the work
much as would be the conditions in &C
| tual service In fact, this was the first
speed trial of an American battleship
under service conditions; moreover, the
men in the stoke hole had never fired Il
water-tube boiler before, but every
thing worked to perfection. Chief En-
gineer Null came out of his den of fire
and heat with face blackened and COW
cred with OIL but he was well pleased
and said everything was SATISFACTORY
in his department. Capt. w. S. Moore
also appeared to be satisfied with the
work of the engines. for while 126 revo-
lutirns We're required, the engines had
actually produced 13O.
The Niclausse boilers mad shown III
well; they had required less water 70
produce the necessary steam; the fire.
room was 90 per cent. cooler than il
the Scotch boilers had been used, SC
| altogether the Maine had showed that
she was up to the expectation of her
builders and was well worthy to beai
the flag which was flying at the fore
The ships draught during the trial
was % feet, 6 inches. and her displace-
ment was 1880 tons.
The scene on the decks of the vessel
was at all times an animated one. The
men who We're gathered there were
| representative Americans of all profess
sions. The little rosettes of the various
natriotic societies We're to be seen OH
all SIDES; there were men OF note in
| 49, loaIinu yyDlLS pf life fnl