Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-01-15
'Ix DOLLARS PER ANNum


up; the mattresses are composed of the best
cured hair; and the bed.clothes are also of the
whltest and finest texture, and marked with the
wash-basin and appurtenances belong to each
room; and on the side opposite the berths is q
sort OF day SOFA, which answers the very pe-
cessaIy use Of a receptacle for soed clothes and
boots A small rClZed fra ned mirror with A
pivot which permits it to be turned in every d.
rectlon, completes the furniture of these apart
| meDts We must not forget to mention that o
fine room is also fitted up here for the accommo-
dation of the walters connected with the vessel,
who are obliged on other ships to stow themselves
away under tie tables and elsewhere. Fourteen
double berths are provided for them, and all the
conveniences Of water-ppes, wash basins, mir
rors, &c.
The forward saloon is very handsomely fur
nshed, and presents a chaste appearance from
the gothic style of the doors, which open into the
state rooms, and from its general decorations.
The chairs and sofas are covered with Grim son
! plush, and are of the neatest pattern The car
pets are Of rich and beautiful material, the de.
| sign representing the American flag ihterspe 2 ed
with forest foliage, &c. The panels are painted
white, shaded with light tinge of purple, and
decorated with gliding. The device round the
cornices, on raised or gded work, represents
Neptune in his chariot, drawn by sea monsters.
In fact, the only point of distinction between the
aft and forward cabins is, that the rooms of tho
latter are fitted up with an extra berth ; and, if
1t were Judged advisable to have a uniformity of
price for passage. the plan could be readily car
RED into execution, it being only requisite to
take away the third berth from each Of the for
ward cabin state rooms. For the saloon there is
stewards pantry amidships. provided with
neat DELPHI, glass, cutlery, g., and communica-
| ting by dumb waiter with the kitchen.
| The state rooms Of the after cabin, which is
merely separated from the other by passage
doors. are in no respect different, except in the
numbers of berths, from those we have just de-
scribed. They range along each side of the
deck, the central space being occupied with the
machinery, to which several doors admit an en-
| trance. These doors have circular pane of
! glass to allow passengers to witness the working
of the machinery. A barber shop is fitted up in
the state room through which the shaft runs, tia
| corresponding room on the opposite side being
used as store room The saloon is larger ant
furnished perhaps in more expensive style than
the forward cabin, but the character of the fur
niture and fittings is precisely the same. This
saloon IS heated by hot air apparatus, and ven
| tllated by the same means as is the freight deck
except that here the ventilator is shut in by
stained glass frame. Hot and cold air can DO
supplied to any part of the vessel from the engine
The pc culiar construction of the ship, and COM
paratively small room occupied by the machine
ry, afford an inner promenade round the whole
| course of the cabins, extending some five hun
dred feet. On the upper deck the space between
the cabins and the side of the vessel is some
twelve feet wide, extending also round the ship.
| The ladies' boudor IN the after cabin is hand
some semi circular apartment, furnished with
great elegance aud richly earFeted. 1t is enter
| ed from the main saloon by two doors on oppo-
site sides; round the bend of the room sofa is
arranged with marble slab table in front of it.
| There are besides i'll the room several ottomans
and luxurious arm chairs, covered with rich GRIM
son plush, and the walls are ornamented with
| naa " lpapry cd
in this room, with mirror doors, the lower part
| OF 1t being reserved for a medicine chest. Tho
apartment is one Of the most chaste and elegans
we have ever seen assigned to the purpose Of 81
ship.
From the main cabin there are four stairways
| to the upper deck. Here is the dining hall for
the aft cabin passengers. This is well lighted
ROOM painted in imitation of oak, having mirrors
| and windows In each alternate section OF panels.
| There are several book cases in the room, which
| is also supplied with comfortable sofas. Lead
| Ing from it forward we come upon small circu.
| lar apartment, containing glass case for the
ships plate, &C., and here, also is the main pam
try, room for the storekeeper to issue wine, and
water tank with filte-, capable of holding one
| hundred and five gallons The remainder of this
deck, forward, is occupied in kitchen, stewards
| rooms, officers mess, &C.; and in the aft is a.
smoking room for the first cabin passengers with
a fine comfortable wheel. house, in which is a
| place for slowing ammunition, &c.
| One Of the greatest peculiarities in the fitting
up of this ship is the absence of all angularities
and one cannot but admire the skill with which
every available spot is adapted to the best use,
while all arrangements are of the most regular
kind Nor in the attention to the comfort of the
passengers has the comfort and well being of tho
sailors and fremen been overlooked; the forecas-
tie is neatly fitted up with berths, water pipes,
basins, mirrors, library, &C., and on the larboard
side the like accommodations have been provi-
| ded for the firemen.
Having arrived thus far in our gratifying in.
| spection of the Ericsson, were led to that
portion assigned to the machinery. This part is
characterized by the same neatness, and exhibits
the same proofs of superior skill and manage
lnent as are observable throughout every other
part of 1t. Apart from the main principle, the
distinguishing feature of the engines of the Ercs-
son consist in dispensing with the. centre shaft,
| whilst at the same time two pairs of working cv-
finders are employed, imparting continuous ro-
tary movement, as in the double marine steam
engine. The arrangement by which Captain
Ericsson attains this desirable uniform action,
presents one of the most elegant mechanical
Combinations ever produced. Each pair of work.
ing cylinders, with their appropriate supply cy-
| finders, placed parallel to the ships centre
line; one pair forward Of and the other abaft the
paddle shaft. The supply cylinders being in
verified and placed at some distance above the
WorhinS cyllhueIs, WIN tnelF open endS present.
ed to the open ends of the working cylinders,
space is formed between the two, which contains
triangular lever for transmitting the vertical en-
ergy of the working pistons to the crank of the
paddle shaft by diagonal movement. The mean
angle of their diagonal being about forty five de-
grees abaft the vertical plane of the paddle shaft
in the aft engine and forty five degrees forward
of that place in tbe forward engine, it is obvious
that the forces of the two engines will be exerted
nearly at right angles to each other Hence the
double cranks, and the Objectionable centre shaft
of the marine steam engine, are obvated; sin
gle crank placed in the middle of the caloric ship
serving to transmit, in perfect manner, the con-
tinuous rotary mo,ion rannired in turnino naddla