Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1844-03-29
U. S. SHIP OF WAR, PRINCETON.

The following is the description Of this ves-
sci of war, as given by Capt. Stockton, her
protector, superintendent and commander, at
the time Of the sad calamity which has pro-
dnced so much sorrow throughout the country:
| UNITED STATES SHIP PRINCETON,
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. S, 1874.
| SIh:-The United States Ship Princeton ha-
| wing received her armament on board, and be-
| ing nearly ready for sea, have the honor to
| transmit to you the following account Of her
equipment, &c.
The Princeton is :" full rugged ship" Of
| great speed aud power, able to perform any.
service that can be expected from ship Of
war. Constructed upon the most approved
principles of naval architecture, she is believ-
e6 to hn at lcoes cYudf uuy sirip uf ncf c1uss,
with her sails. She has an auxiliary power
Of steam; and can make greater speed than
| any sea-going steamer or other vessel hereto
fore built Her energies lie snug in the bot
tom of the vessel, out of reach OF an enemy's
shot, and do not at all interfere with the use Of
the sails, but can, at any time, be made auxil-
larry thereto. She shows no chimney. and
| makes no smoke, and there is nothing in her
external appearance to indicate that she is pro-
PEELED by steam.
The advantages Of the Princeton over both
sailing ships and steamers propelled in tue
usual way, are great and obvious. She can
| 60 in and out Of port at pleasure, without re-
| gard to the wind or tide, or the thickness Of
the ice. She can ride safely with her anchors
| in the most open roadstead and may lie-to 10
the severest gale Of wind with safety. She
can no, safe herself, hut will be able TO tow a
| squadron from the dangers of lee-shore.--
Using ordinarily the power Of the wind, and
| saving her fuel for emergencies, she can re-
main at sea the same length as other sailing
ships. Making no noise, smoke or agitation
of the water, (and if she chooses, showing no
sail, } she can surprise an enemy. She can al
pleasure take her own position, and her own
distance from the enemy. Her energies and
water wheel being below the surface of the
water, safe from an enemy's shot, she is in no
danger of being disabled, even if her mas's
should be destroyed. She will not be at dali
" expense for fuel, as other steamships are.
The engine being seldom used, will probably
outlast two such ships. These advantages
make the Princeton. in my opionion, the chea-
pest fastest, and most certain ship of war IN
the world. The equipments Of the ship are Of
| the plainest and most substantial kind: the
furniture of the cabins being made of white
pine boards, painted white, with mahogany
chairs, table, and side-board, and an American
| manufactured oil cloth on The 1oor. TO econ
omize room, and that the ship may be better
ventilated, curtains or American manufactured
linen are substituted for the usual, and more
cumbrous and expensive wooden bulkheads,
by which arrangement The apartments of the
men and officers, may in an instant be thrown
into one, and degree of suspicousness and
comfort is attained unusual ia ship Of her
class. The Princeton is armed with two long
| - md ftpo
pound carronades; all of which may be used
a, once on either side of the ship. She can
consequently throw greater weight of metal
at broadside than most frigates. The big guns
of the Princeton can be fred with an effect ter.
rife, and almost Incredible. and with cer-
tainty heretofore unknown. The extraordina.
ry effects CT the shot were proved by firing at
a target, which was made 10 represent sec
lion Of the two sides and deck Of "a gun-ship
and ,mbercd. kneed, BANKED, and bo!tcd in
the same manner. THIS target was 500 yards
from the gun. With the smaller charges
powder, the sho, passed through these I'M
mense masses Of timber, (being 81 inches
,hick,) tearing it away, aud splinter'ng II ,of
several feet on each side, and covering the
whole surface Of the ground. for hundred
yards square, with fragments OF WOOD ana
iron. The accuracy with which these guns
feet ia the circumference may be judged by
This: that six shot, fired in succession at the
same elevation, struck the same horizontal
nlank in target more than half mile distant.
| Rv the application Of the various arts to the
pn,poses Of war on board the Princeton, it is
believed that the art Of gunnery for sea ser.
vice. has. for the first time, been reduced 10
| something like mathematical certainty. The
distance 10 which these guns can throw their
shot, at every necessary anglo of elevation,
has bee9 asceE.ai5ged Milb On
walton which it requires but an instant to make
and by inspection without calculation. by
seIf.aclng locks, the guns can be fired accu-
ra,ely at the necessary elevation, no matter
what the motion of the ship may be. /. is
confidently believed that this small ship will
he able to battle with any vessel, however
large, if she is no, invincible against any foe.
The improvements in the art OF war, adopted
on board the Princeton, may be productive Of
more important results than any thing that has
occurred since the invention of gunpowder.-
The numerical force of other navies, so long
boosted, may be set at nought The ocean
NAV again become neutral ground, and the
rights of the smallest as well as the greatest
nations may once more be respected.
All of which, for the honor and defence OF
eyery inch of our Territory, is most respectful
" submitted to the honorable Secretary of the
NAVY. for the information Of the President aud
Compress of the United States.
By your obd't and faithful serv't,
i r. F. STOCKTON,
Captain U. S. Navy
HoAx1NG A CLERGYMAN.--A shocking
| hoox was ,laved off lately on clergyman