Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-07
THE DES MONIES
Makes New Record of 1868
for Her Class.
Handsome Showing by New Cruiser,
Saturday, Off Cape Ann.
All on Board Delighted with the Fine
Performance.

Boston, Dec. 6.-The official trial trip
of the protected cruiser Des Moines,
the first cruiser built by the Fore River
Ship & Engine Company of Quincy.
took place over the Cape Ann course,
yesterday, and the cruiser covered the
66 knots in 3 hours, SO seconds, with an
average speed of 1853 knots per hour
which is better by several points than
the speed required by the government.
The Des Moines was built to make
1875 knots, and her success, yesterday,
easily demonstrated that the Fore
River Co. has succeeded in doing
better than the builders of the Cleve-
land and Denver, both of which failed
to come up to the speed of the Des
Moines, and those of the Tocoma,
which on Friday, made 1852 knots
These cruisers are sister ships to the
Des Moines, being built on the same
specifications.
The Des Moines was to have had her
trial trip, last Wednesday, but, owing
to the storm which was approaching,
and the fact that under such condi-
tons the cruiser could not be given a
fair test, it was called off, after she had
gone out as far as the lightship.
Yesterday morning, the naval board,
newspaper men and guests of the COM
pany left Commercial wharf on tugs
at $50 o'clock and boarded the cruiser,
which was lying off East Boston. A
heavy fog prevailed, and it was at first
feared that it would be too thick for
the run. But as the cruiser made her
way out the fog lifted slightly. and as
80 1T 1>1 ,c;Ix
it was decided to go on. The sea was
rather smooth for this time of the
year, but the air was cold and biting.
The Des Moines was commanded by
Captain George Coleman of the Boston
Towboat Co., one of the Oldest and best
pilots in this harbor and through his
careful guidance the ship cut through
the water with speed and steadness
that proved her quality. She showed
hardly any vibration, and in fact acted
beautifully during the four hours Off
cial run.
AS she approached the first stake
boat, maneuvering little, cutting fig
ure Fights and getting up full steam.
che made flying start, passing the
first buoy at 3:53:25. 1t was between
the first and second buoys that she
made her slowest time. going that dis
lance in Pam. SIS. From that time on
she steadily forged on to the sixth stake
boat, making the 33 knots in Oh. 35m. AS
she made the turn on the home stretch
it was beautiful sight to see herplunge
into the waters, and as she swiftly
shot on she broke the record of any
ship making that great turn. 1t took
her just I'm. BIS. to do it,
On the back stretch she kept up her
fast time, the first stake, or rather, the
sixth buoy, being passed at 12:01: 03,
and the last one at 1:59:OS. This half
took just III. 58s., the whole course being
covered in Oh. 5Sm. IS.
After the run there was the usual
anchor and chain test. Everything
connected with both the run and the
test seemed to please the members OF
the naval board. The managers of the
company were elated over the Jesuit.
as were the crew, and the latter prompt
~ holsted a large new broom on the
foremost.
Commander Alexander S. McCracken,
who will have command of the Des
Moines was one of the happiest men
on board. He expressed himself as de-
lighted that he should command her.
He is an Iowan, and feels proud that
the cruiser should be named after one
of the cities of his native state.
The Des Moines is 300 feet in length,
A feet wide, and her mean draught is
is feet, 9 inches. Her displacement Is
5000 tons. Her engines are twin screw
vertical triple expansion, and her in
dlcated horse power is 400. She has
two masts and two smokestacks.