The Anaconda Standard

The New York Stands as the Queen of All War Vessels.

WONDERFUL RECORD MADE
Over 21 Knots an Hour Made By Our New Cruiser--Nothing Ever Equaled This Performance.

Boston, May 23.--With her forward torpedo tubes buried deep in the sea and the water pushed almost as high as her forecastle, the armored cruiser New York, steamed across the line to-day, breaking the world's record and winning for her builders the largest premium ever paid in any country. When 21 knots was predicted as the speed for the new cruiser many hoped, but few believed, that her engines would be able to drive such an immense mass of steel through the water at this rate. When she crossed the line to-day, however, with a speed of 21.09 knots through the water, and some corrections to be added for tide, the enthusiasm on board was intense.

This gives the United States not only the most powerful, but the swiftest armored cruising vessel in the world. There has been great enthusiasm in England over the performance of the cruisers Blake and Benbeim, some claiming that the latter attained a speed of 22 knots. However, these vessels are not armored, but are simply protected by 4-inch decks over the machinery and boilers. Even an equal speed for them, therefore, would be nothing remarkable against a vessel carrying, in addition to a 6-inch protective deck, a 5-inch side belt and two turrets, each 11 inches thick. In the second place, neither of these vessels ever had an official trial over a measured course. The Blake broke down from a leaky boiler, after reaching a speed of 19.7 miles in shoal water, and developing only 13,000 horsepower, while the Benheim was gauged only by a patent log which, it is claimed, indicated 22 1/2 knots. This same instrument on board the New York showed a speed of 23 knots, and the difference between that and the actual distance covered is proof of how unreliable the patent logs are as official tests.

At 8 o'clock this morning the New York hoisted anchors and headed for the open sea. The wind was light from the northwest and the sea smooth. The cruiser moved at an easy pace, but gradually warmed up and, by the time the Vesuvius was in sight, was going over 20 knots, with the engines making about 130 turns per minute.

Gloucester was off the port beam at 9 o'clock. Twenty-five minutes later a red flag was broken out at the port yard arm and the New York went over the line, making 180 revolutions per minute. The steam pressure was then 165 pounds to the square inch. The vessel was working a trifle over 20 knots.

In a few minutes the revolutions jumped to 135 and the steam to 170 pounds, both of which were held throughout the entire trip. Now the great furnace began to roar. On flew the great cruiser, increasing her speed at every jump. The Nina was passed at 9:46; the Bennington, at 10:06, and the Fern, the half way mark, at 10:21. Then came the tug Fortune, at 10:41; the Leyden, at 11:06; and, finally, the historic old Kearsarge, at 11:25. The rigging of the corvette was black with men, who cheered the warship as she passed. The next turn was made and the race back over the course began at 11:44. The Kearsarge was off the starboard beam, with the New York headed to the southward. The Leyden was passed at 12:04; the Fortune at 12:27; the Fern at 12:48; the Bennington at 1:01; the Nina at 1:20, and the Vesuvius at 1:41.

The entire course, 41.65 nautical miles, was steamed over twice. On the first run the speed was 20.83 knots and on the second, 21.35, the difference being due to the tide, which was against the vessel on the trip north. The average of speed gives 21.09 knots, with a possibility that it is greater when the true current correction is added.

On the whole, the day's record was a triumph for American skill and genius and will stand pre-eminently alone until some of our new war ships beat it.