The Canton times., 1902-11-28
Despite Her Handicap She Won
the Great Ocean Race to
Culebra Light.
The GREATEST CONTEST EVER RUN.
From the Virginia Capes to the Is
land Rendezvous the Cincinnati,
Machias, Indiana, kearsarge, Ala
bama and Massachusetts Strug-
gIed.


(Porta Rico) dispatch says:
Carrying great white bone in her
teeth, and with phospherent spray
dashing high up on her short bows,
the cruiser Cincinnati forged abreast
of Culebra light house, Thursday
night, winner of the greatest ocean
race between warships ever run on
the Atlantic coast. Barely two miles
astern of the cruiser flashed the
searchlight of the great battleship
| Alabama.
One by one she had left behind the
little gunboat Machias, the Indiana,
of Santiago fame; the new battleship
Kearsarge, her own particular rival,
| and last of all, the plucky Massachu-
setts, sister ship of the Oregon.
That the comparatively old Massa-
chusetts was stroger competitor
than the Kearsarge is one of the sur
prises of the race.
That the Alabama came in SO close
second to the fast commerce de-
stroyer Cincinnati, even though the
cruiser had been handicapped 80
miles at the start, is a superb per-
formance for a frst-class battleshfp
heavily armed.
This is the first time in it's history
that the ships of the North Atlantic
squadron have engaged in such long
distance speed contest in the open
sea.
As a component part of the great
fleet now assembling for the winter
naval maneuvers, under command of
Admiral Dewey, the North Atlantic
squadron was ordered to the nava!
rendezvous off Culbrera lighthouse.
Here was a~superb opportunity to test
the actual relative speed of the ships
of the fleet in competition, and under
thoroughly practical conditions.
Five of the ships lined up for the
start at noon on Saturday last, the
Alabama, the Kearsarge, the Massa-
chusetts, the Indiana and the Ma
chias, baby of the fleet. The last
named is a gunboat $50 feet long. The
other four are battleships. The Mas
sachusetts and Indiana are vessels |
launched in 1898, and with tile Oregon
not entered in this contest, they mark
the earlier type of first-class battle
ships of the new navy.
The kearsage and the Alabama rep
resented later types of seafighters.
Thirty-five miles behind the line of |
battleships as they passed the Vir-
ginia capes came the protected cruiser
CINCINNATI. BY reason of her lighter
type this was regarded as a capital
chance to see the result of a race.
At the flash of the gun the Ieviathi-
ans were off to sea, under full head
Of steam, and in ten minutes all were
blowing through the ocean headed for
Julebra, with widening maelstroms of
white spume boiling from under their
pounding screws. The Cincinnati
gained visibly on the Indiana and the
little Machias. The Kearsarge was
regarded as her most dangerous ad-
'ersary of the battleship class. In
ense rivalry has always existed be-
.ween the officers and crews of these
hips. Smoke poured from their huge
stacks, and their decks quivered above
,he throbbing engines. Four hours
rom the start, just before twilight.
he Alabama left the Kearsage hull
lown astern with only her firing tops
II sight. The older Massachusetts
made a hard struggle. But newer
ines and greater power were bound
o tell. By midnight the old ship was
eft astern and gradually even her
leaning lights faded out of sight.
hen the lookout sighted the Cincin-
ati coming up like racehorse com
ng up for the finish She had made
er handicap and was now speeding
n the wake of her sole competitor. 1t
eemed hopless task for the battle
hip TO try to hold the cruiser. but
he made brave fight of it all dav
ionday and on Tuesday and Wednes-
ay. She cheered her rival as the lat
er slowly forged abeam and then
head of her, almost within sight of
ne goal.
When Culebra light was picked up
ne Alabama was under forced draft
nd going at a terrific clip, but she
ould not close the gap. Barley two
Iiles astern of the cruiser, at mid {
ight, she hove to. The Kearsage.
massachusetts, Indiana and Machias