The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1850-06-28
From the ". O. Bulletin.
The Frigate Susquehanna.
PHILADELPHIA, September 1874!

| Nsteu, yesterday, tne Navy yard, and made
a very complete examination of the splendid war
steamer, the SuSquehanua now on the stocks.
She is in the same ship.house under which the
"big ship" the Pennsylvania, was built, but it
was found too short for the steamei and the front
Of the house had to be removed, to let out her
bow, which projects some twenty or twenty-five
feet outside. She is 27O feet long, 4s feet wide,
and CT 2 2,700 tons burthen. She is most beau
tiful piece of naval architecture, and not only in
model, but also in material and workmanship, is
not exceeded by any thing which have ever
previously seen. Every piece Of timber in her
i appears to have been especially and most care.
| fully selected. ] was particularly struck with
her heart yellow pine beamsssand deck plank.
Not only are thew all free from the smallest par
tcle Of sap, but also Of knots, so that the whole
is most beautiful .'clear stuff" Some OF the
beams are Of enormous dimensions, and the deck
plank is five inch thick The knees are also of
great size and of the most superior kink, and all
of natural growth. They are "fayed" and 'ft-
ted" almost with the neatness Of cabinet work,
and the fastenings are OF the most substantial
kind, the bolts of the knees being not only very
numerous but also very large. To use the usu-
al expression on such occasions she is "as strong
as wood and iron can make her" They have
commenced putting her machinery on board,
which is truly OF the most massive kind. One
Of her boilers (she will carry but two) is finished
lit is Of copper and weighs 10000 pounds. It
is an elegant and substantial piece of workman
ship as it may well be, as understand the gov
ernment furnishes all the material and pay ST.
600 for making the two
OF all the various modern changes and i'm
provements those in connection with naval war
fare are certainly not among the least. The old
fashioned IA gun ships, such as composed the
; British and French navIes during the last Euro
pean war, were vessels varying from 1900 TO
1900 tons, mounting "a TO 90 guns and carrying
$50 to 700 men, and the three deckers rating
l20 but carrying l28 to $50 guns, and 800 TO
900 men, were from 2400 to 2600 tons. Our
sloops of war of the present day, such as the
GerDlant0lCn, Albany, etc, are 1000 tons; Our
, heavy frigates, such as the R1ritdn, Potomac
ETC.. at 1000 tons, and here is this steam frigate
) the SuSquehGnna, which though Of 2700 tons; as
large as a former three decker and half as large
again as former "a; is destined to carry but
four or at most Sir guns, with probably or 40C
:, men, and yet she would be far more than match
sor one Of the old fashioned line of battle ships
and could knock into toothpicks, half dozen Of
them successfully, zone down and another come
! on" armed, equipped and manned as they were
! formerly. This she would be able 20 accomplish
! FirSt-By reason of her machinery, whic!
j would enable her 10 choose and maintain he
6 own distance and position and to turn and move
: with ten fold the promptness Of sailing vessel
. particularly in calms and light winds and in {
: breeze away being able TO keep to windward 0
!, her sailing antagonist, where he could not ge. a
her, besides always having the option TO discon
. time the fipht at her own will
: !Secondly76Irom the nature and description o
:, = her four guns which are PAlxHAN's, throwing
: ten inch exploding SHE'LL which striking and ex
) ploding 10 the side of ship, would make hol
:. big enough for coach and six, and besides wou
throw these destructive missiles from distance
FAR beyond the reach of balls from long thirty
!. two-pounders. which formerly composed the low
: er gun deck battery of line of battle ship
: The SNSquehGnnG will carry these guns exciu
sively on Eer upper or spar deck, and they ar
n mounted in the middle OF the deck, between AM
4 in line with the masts, each moving on pivo
. in the centre OF the carriage, the ends of the lat
Il ter resting OIL a large brass circle firmly secures
4 to the deck, on which the ends OF the gun carri
q age sweep round on metal rollers inserted into il
4 as the gun is trained to the desired point operat
. ing as circular railroad. The timbers Of thi
: ship, which in ordinary vessels would project
( to feet above the deck and form her bulwarkS
only come up Is or 20 inches, with hammoc
% cloths to form the usual protection 10 the dec
i. from. wind and spray. These are, of course re
,s moved in time o. action, and the monster guns
. IL to II feet long, are therefore not Tough
IS through portfolios, but over these low bulwarli
4 and thus have fair and full sweep in every di
!. rection. 1t can be readily imagined with wha
!. infinite greater efficiency they can be worked il
,r this manner.
n Even modern line of battleships, with their IN
: creased size and armament, and their 80 or 9
n guns, or more, would stand but a small chanc
n in contest with such guns, except that they toc
: are furnished for protection and defence, wit
70 some six or eight similar ones, mounted on tn
r. usual carriages, and fought from the, lower deck
u Il through the stern md bown ports. steame
II however, will still possess great advantages. tTor
,e always being able to decline or give battle, ar
taking and keeping favorable positions to vino
i ward, and embracing all little advantages, troT
A. the celerity and promptness in moving an
Or changing her station.
L. This steamer would make most formidabl
opponent to any ship of the line that floats tn
st water. consider that the introduction of stear
= into Naval warfare completely destroys the abil
of ty of protecting merchant conveys in future fror
Ia an enemy, particularly large ones OF q 3 or 40
Dt sal, such as formerly traversed the Ocean, nc
Y, could conveying force Of even similar vessel:
h insure an adequate protection.
ne | examined at the yard one of these shells
IN They are placed mouth up in round block {
Ia wood, of the same diameter, 40 nches.) perfect
'y ly square on the lower side, and followed out q
I'D the top in semiglobuar form, SO as to recev
the shell, which is TINS half or nearly half en-
bedded in the wood, and firmly secured to it'll
~ upper halfor exposed portion of the shell is COY
Us cred with nfammable matter. which ignites
The explosion Of the powder when discharged an
= sets fire to the fusee, which is graduated to bur
= but few seconds before it explodes the shell
= When loaded into the cannon, the lower or fla
le part OF the wooden stand for the shell, comes
- immediate contact with the powder. There
81 also shell which expiodes by the concussio
- when it strikes vessel or other object, and n
y; quires no fusee. They are rather dangerou
ol things, even to handle, and some severe acc
10 dents have already occurred with them.
IN This fine ship will not be launched until nes
spring and probably not then, unless required st
Us service, as vessel will be much more durable
ts By being kept for sometime under shelter on th
y stocks, in perfectly dry condition, for her tin
sn bers and plank to season thoroughly. The Penn
y suluaniG was allowed TO remain for many yea