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The Steam Turbine 209 all eyes, both of the general public who witnessed the episode and of the naval authorities. The upshot of the matter was that more information regarding the Turbinia was demanded. And it was supplied. All the papers throughout the world devoted columns to detailed descriptions of the new boat and the wonderful new steam-engine with which she was equipped. The Turbinia and her turbines leaped from obscurity to the forefront of animated interest, and became the one topic of discussion. After such a sensational appearance it is not surprising that the Admiralty turned their attention to the invention, the upshot of which was the award of a contract to the Marine Steam Turbine Company, Limited, for the construction and engines of a new torpedo boat destroyer of the same dimensions as the 30-knot boats then in service, but of one knot higher speed. The authorities called for a guaranteed speed of 31 knots, at which the coal consumption was not to exceed 2J pounds of coal per indicated horse-power per hour. While the Viper—as this destroyer was called—was in hand, a contract for similar turbines for the sister ship Cobra was also awarded to the company. Both vessels easily com- plied with the official requirements, the Viper exceed- ing the contract by 5 knots—she notched the highest speed, 36 knots or 40J miles an hour, which had ever been achieved on the water—and at 31 knots was easily within the specified coal consumption by about J- pound of coal. Unfortunately, both these vessels were lost, the Viper running upon the rocks skirting the Island of Alderney during a fog, while the Cobra mysteriously foundered with the whole of her crew o