Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-07-22
THE RUSSIAN STEAM rRl9ATr.


building as tho "Kamschatka, steam
frigate recently bull; for the Emperor OF
Russia, aud now nearly ready for ses I.
We have seen all the English steam vos-
sells, ard most Of the splendid packets built
here and at the East, but not one will sur.
pass the Kamschatka" in hull, in ma !.
chinery, in arrangements, in comfort, aud
in beauty.
On Thursday we visited every part OF
her, and were astonshed to see steam
ship so complete. Her hull has already
been described by US, and therefore II
would be useless TO say much more rela.
tive thereto. As, however,, she Is nearer
finished now, wo will add somewhat.
She is at Jersey City, and is in full
view us you approach that place in a fer
ry boat. She looms up largely, and not
withstandlng most Of her immenee ma.
chnery, weighing $50 tons, is in, and her
four big copper boilers full Of water, she
draws only twelve feet seven inches of
water forward, and nine inches more aft.
This speaks in the highest terms OF her
model and buoyancy.
Her hull is painted black. with splendid
turned and painted bows, and rodnd stern,
each surmounted with large double.
headed gilt eagle. She is rugged precise
ly like ship, and not like barque, ms
most steamships are. She will spread MS
much canvass as the England or Sheffield.
Her spar deck is flush fore and aft, and
gives clean run of 240 feet. On this
are to be placed four Paxhan bomb can.
mons. Two are to throw shells Of o6
pounGs weight, and two of Ga pounds.
They are SO arranged as to be moved at
pleasure, and will sweep around the hori-
zon. Above these is the hurricane deck,
which runs across from wheel house TO
wheel-house. Connected with this, is an
awning, which completely covers the spar
deck. Around the wheel houses are
erected places for the painters, curpen-
tiers. stewards, boat keepers, closets for
the sailors, where they can 20 in and wash
unframed and unseen. Aft are several
splendid state rooms, intended for the Ad.
miral and other high officers. To each
state room is attached small room, for
the servants of the officers Aforesaid
-Four boats are to be suspended upon the
davits, to hang even with the decks.
We will now descend on to her gun
deck. Forward are ten por; holes, out
of which are to run ten 30 Founders,
mounted on massive carriages, made of
negro wood or African oak, with brass
clamps. All the appurtenances connect
ed Herewith are to DO arranged in the
immediate vicinity, in true man.o war
style. This deck is spacious, light and
airy, and is shut from the after section OF
the same deck by sliding or folding doors.
These close just forward OF where the
cook holds forth with his immense cooking
apparatus, which is laid on marble, for the
sake Of neatness, durability and safety.
Direct astern Of this runs up the funnel
IS feet, with a rake on line with the
rake OF the masis, and the hoops around
il beveling with the tops. This gives a
uniform appearance TO the contour of the
vessel. This funnel is seven feet in d.
ameter. Aft of il is the machinery which
runs down TO the kelson.
Under her forward gun deck are the
boatswain store rooms, magazine, medi-
cine rooms, gunner's apartments, mess
rooms for the Sailors, and places for them
to sleep, keep their clothing, and stow
away their hnmmocks. We think the ar.
rnngements for the seamen the most am
pie and comfortable we ever cav.
Her cabins and drawing rooms are mag.
nifcent. Her main cabin, the farthest
astern, is very large, high, spacious, and
neatly fitted up with senees, stuffed with
hair and covered with hair cloth. This
cabin will carry six 80 Founders, and
they always remain therein ready for use.
As there is plenty of room they are no,
in the way. Forward arc two drawing
rooms, fitted up in the most splendid style,
and are intended solely for the imperial
family. A week or two ago we gave
description of the furniture which is to
decorate them. The wood work of these
rooms consists Of mahogany, birds eye
maple, rose and satin wood, and presents
a very fine coup d'Ga. Beneath these
are other cabins f,r the officers, and
around are cool pantries and closets.
Such is the hull of the Kamschatka,"
ana lis arrangements. NOtning can sur
pass them. She can carry SIX hundred
tons Of coal, and mounts in all twenty
guns. When every thing is on board,
she will draw only sixteen feet Of water,
which Of course is lessened every day.
We come now to her machinery.
Her engines are of six hundred horse
power, and her tonnage about two thou.
sand. The proportion OF steam power to
size, is, we believe, not far from one horse
to three and onc.third tons, which is con-
sidered the very best for speed.
The principle on which her engines are
worked, is called the triangular. The
piston moves horizontally, and the con.
Meeting rod is on an incline Of about sixty
degrees. The air pump is worked VERT.
cally by crank connected with the beam
shaft. Any kind Of fuel can be burned.
and we understand that Anthracite coal
will be exclusively used when she goes
out TO Russia.
All the machinery is Of the most superb
kind, finished in mastery manner, and
made entirely Of Livingston iron. Her
four large boilers are made of American
...no. ord thara ic M, :, hst ~ corainr,