the speed
of the ship throwing great labor upon the crew manning the wheels, the
hand gear was afterward disconnected and the connection with the
steering engine completed in 40 sec.

[Illustration: THE NEW BRITISH CRUISER BLAKE]

On Nov. 18, when the vessel went on speed trials, the draught of the
vessel was 24 ft. 8 in. forward and 26 ft. 8 in. aft, which gave her
the mean load immersion provided for in her design. There was a
singular absence of vibration, said to be due to the space over which
the machinery is spread, but perhaps also due, in part at least, to
the number of cranks, as the cylinders deliver six throws throughout
the circle of revolution. The results of each hour's steaming are as
under:

Hours. Revolutions. Steam. Power.
1st hour 86.86 120.6 13,568
2d " 89.26 128.0 15,298
3d " 88.55 125.0 14,251
4th " 89.58 127.6 14,759
5th " 89.40 125.0 14,394
6th " 89.55 125.0 14,512
7th " 89.15 126.0 14,893

The trial was originally intended to continue for eight hours, but at
the end of the seventh, as the light began to fade, and as, moreover,
the engines were working with a smoothness and efficiency that showed
no signs of flagging, it was considered expedient to terminate the
run.

Steam pressure in boilers 125.5 lb.
Air pressure in stoke holds 0.42 in.
Revolutions per minute, starboard 88.41
Revolutions per minute, port 89.39

| Starboard. | Port. |
+---------+--------+--------+--------|
| Forward| Aft | Forward| Aft |
Vacuum in condensers. | 27.85| 27.85| 28.1 | 29.1 |
Mean pressure in cylinders, high | 43.04| 38.95| 42.36| 42.45|
Mean pressure in cylinders, inter.| 31.49| 30.82| 30.17| 28.38|
Mean pressure in cylinders, low | 11.68| 12.4 | 12.85| 12.32|
Indicated horse power each engine | 3631.42| 3589.07| 3721.37| 3583.50|
Total | 7220.39 | 7304.88 |
Collectively | 14525.37 |

As will be seen, the collective power exceeds the contract power under
natural draught