The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-04
Launch or the United States Frigato Sabine
from the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

An immense of people were collected yester
day morning in the Navy Yard Brooklyn to witness tho
launch Of the United States ga.e Sabine The people
began TO assemble about nine O'Clock A. and at half
past ten O'Clock (hgh water there probably from
ten to fifteen thousand persons pre ent The moraiuy
vas cold but clear and invgorating and every available
spot where sight Of the launch could be obtained
thronsed with spectators large number Of ladies'
present, collected principally the quarter deck Of the
receiving ship North Carolina, where band sxecut
irg some lively airs to the performers discomfort
doubt on such cold morning During the leagthcned
time they were waiting tor the sight, the people ds
played remarkable patience. shivering forms might
be seen buttonpg their coats and turning up their
collars with settled determination their faces
II out Others, who had ciamoered up the Gsgstas 10
obtain better view held on, though the wind
piercing, by the skin Of their teeth for q
tai hour, and would no. give in. About ten O'Clock
TIE steam tug made her appearance, and this Incl.
dent, In the opinion Of some, was signal thai tho
launch was about to take place. But the steamtug
quietly lay 10 of the wharf and the popular excitement
fell at least thirty degrees. Presently Tremendous
bsmmsring was beard. "Knockipg away the props,n
sugge ted wisescre with chattering teeth she'li 20
now, limited another, loosog perfectly blue But 20
she dicn't though II was unanimously voted that she
ought. And another half hour elapsed when the re-
port OF gun from the starbosri sd. of the Norta Caro-
people. One man. more collected than his neghbors,
and vsg in his way secuted Immediately oshes off,"
rush made to the edge 81 tho quays-boys dashed
in between the legs OF tall men apd scrambled on all
fours 10 get sight OF the ship. But she didn't 90 OF
for full ten minutes then and when that critical
event did take place there general exclamation OF
releflike that OF patient after his tooth has been
extracted. :" There she goes at last" "Hcorayl'
Cheers from the Sabine vigorously responded to by the
excited multitude every side.)
Well, the ship of at last. II was no false alarm
row. In the poetical phraseoogy used such occa.
sions she at length in her native element after
baving been thirty years trying to ge. there 1t
really a successful and highly satisfactory launch
Rushing down the slide, though delighted to escspe
from the old stocks, she plunged deep into the water
and rose with buoyapcy that brought another cheer
from the spectators and grand salute from the North
Carolina. The Sabine had the American flag floating
from her bow and the vessels In the vicinity gay
decorated in her honor The impetus she received In her
descent from the Stocks impeed her distance OF many
hundred yards into he stream and the ssamtug being
in readiness she was subsequently towed 70 the naval
dock, where she lies
Some historical notice OF the Sabine will not be unin
terestipg at the present time She was commenced on
the 18th OF February 1922 put In Frame and about tso
thirds completed, when all work was suspended until
the anticipated difficulty with France arising out
OF claims that government for injuries Gone TO
commsrce. This during the second term Of Jack
sons administration. The work was then recon.
menced, but only lasted during three weeks, and
nothing further done until the 18th OF May,
1854, when orders were received from tho Navy de-
paTtnent TO complete and launch tho vessel. Owing
To the length Of time she bad remained the stocks
she Of found defective in many particulars
She had in fact 10 be almost entirely remodelled Her
keel wss removed ssa rev substituted fwvuty
feet added TO her length by cutting of twenty Ave.
and adding forty feet Her bow also altered and
modernized, and other improvements made under this
direction and superintendence OF B. Delano Esq., tho
naval constructor Her frame Is altogether Of live oak
The dimensions OF the Sabine now as follows
Length in ALL 208 feet length ~ KEEL $50 feet breadth
Of beam, Al feet depth Of hold 90 feet and tonnage
2ci6 government measure. Her rrmsment will consist
Of ten s-inch shell guns OF CO cwt, and twenty 32
poundtrs OF 81 cwt, her main deck, snl Of two
snch shot pivot guns Of IL COO lbs EACH and sixteen
so FOUNDERS OF SO cwt. her spar deck-making alto
aether batteries containing fortyeght guns The
OF the Sabine, when in commission including officers,
seamen landsnen boys and marines, viii number t75
al told. From tho improvement in the model and from
the weight Of the metal which the department has de-
cced she shall carry, the Sabine viii coubtless prove
Of the most efficient vessels Of her size and class