New-York tribune., 1909-04-14
CHESTER HOLDS RECORD
SCOUT CRUISER FASTEST
IN HER CLASS,
Keats the Salem IN 24-Hour Test
Engine Trouble Forces the
Birmingham to Quit.

bFTllDSh0nl 10 eIu1t.
Carrying broom at her masthead. like Won
--oror's conquering ship Of old, the scout
cruiser Chester, fastest vessel Of her class,
steamed up 10 Tompkinsville yesterday after
noon after q twenty-four hour test at high
speed. having beaten her sister ship. the Salem.
Tbs Birmingham dropped out Of the race owing
% engine trouble.
The Chester steamed 60192 nautical miles in
the tvVenty-four hours driven by six Parsons
turbines, supplying power TO her four screws
u-hile the Salem, with her two Curtis turbines
snd twin screws. covered $50 nautical miles
Just how conclusive the test Will be is hard to
ssv now, but Commander Key. OF the Salem.
said yesterday that his ship, with her American
turbines. covered herself with glory, and would
have done better had there not been some defect
II her sta-ooard turbine The Chester used AS
tons ot coal; the Salem FIVE tons more.
The Birmingham started on the run from
Block Island with the others on Monday morn
ing but had steamed only twelve hours when,
n the words Of Captain waIIing. 1t was deemed
advisable TO slow down Reports that there had
been en accident TO the machinery on the Biz
--tnghs-n were denied
Captain Walling said she had not undertaken
70 make q race Of 1t with the others On the
Birmingham It was said that the Chester and
marine Marathon the Birmingham would play
St Yves 10 their Shrubb. No cylinder head
blew out II was said, and the trouble developed
was trifing.
PROFITABLE FOR CHEsTER's CREW.
Il was e profitable race for the crew Of the
Chester The jsckies made up purse Of s., 900.
which vas covered by the Salem crew. while the
engine force Of the Chester won $1,000 They
=
covered. When the race was over tho Salem
sent this wireless message TO the Chester:
We congratulate you on your victory, but
there was something the matter with our tur-
bnes, and the next time we'll DO better.
The Chester flashed back word that at the
next meeting the Salem would be beaten even
more decisively. Her officers said she could
have made q knot more had II been necessary,
but she kept down according to orders
The three cruisers viii stay here until April
q, when they will sail for Liberia with the
members Of the commission that is to investi-
gate conditions there, each carrying one COM
missioner.
The race started of Block ,Island,-but was not
point 20 point affair. It was along the fortieth
pa-auel. generally speaking, and when the three
ships started at high speed of Block Island on
Monday morning al 10s45 o'clock they steamed
south for Two hours. east for half an hour, west
for four hours. to T;30 .. m, then east until
o'clock yesterday morning, then west until
o'clock, east until SIS o'clock and then west
until 1045 o'clock. when they were about -eigh-
teen miles south OF Scotland Lightship.
HIGHEST SPEED $3.50 KNOTS.
The ChesteTs average speed was 250S nauti-
cal miles. The lowest speed was 2450 knots, the
highest 25.5 The Salem averaged 2454 nau-
teal miles. and her officers figured that shs lost
knot an hour through the faulty action of her
starbca7d turbine which failed by fifteen revo-
lUtions an hour to do as well as the other. The
Chester developed 26.OO0 horsepower: the Salem
1900. against 10000 on her builders trial. The
Birmngham's average speed was 402 nautical
miles
The Birmingham, according to Captain Wall
ing, her commander, did everything that had
been asked OF her. She fell little below the
speed made on her acceptance trial. when she
steamed for four hours at an average speed OF
. 20 knots Captain WalIing said he could
take the Birmingham out and repeat her per
Torrance after an overhauling Of day two.
and that she had established her ability TO
steam for ten thousand miles at a speed Of ten
knots. This he said. would enable her to go
from any one American coaling station 10 an
other IN time Of war.
Washington. April 13-Five days repairs will
Be required 10 the machinery Of the scout
cruiser Birmingham. which got out of repair
during her t7ventv-four hour run with her sis
ter ships, the Salem and the Chester. according
20 information received at the Navy Depart
nent
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