The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-09-28
Trial Trip or United States Steamers
Wyandot and MohAWk-Failare Of
~Aafv Gmms


Wyandot and Mohawk-Failure Of
their Gums.
The United States steam propcllers wysndot and No
hawk Formerly the westernport and Caledonia, Of the
Cromwell hne) having been thoroughly overhauled and
repaired at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, yesterday made
trial trips down the bay These steamers built
originally in Philadelphia eight nine years ago. for tho
celebrated Parker Vein Company and when that concern
collapsed were purchased by Mr. Cromwell, of this city,
and on his line Of Southern steamers until chartered
by government last year for the Paraguay expedition
Their performance on that service was anything but
credabie and many predicted that they would never re
safely 70 port They did return however, and were
subsequently, purchased by government with others
OF the chartered steamers For several months
they have been overhaulDg and repairing at the yard
Their propeller shafts have heen and trimmed
off, new bearings have been placed under the shafts
which have also been encased with brass sleeves the
bearings all bored out and each has been provided with
a new collar thrust, new main bearing, set o
brasses throughout their engines and boilers, cylinders
&C., encased with wood and blankets, 70 say nothing
strengthening decks painting and furnishing up general
ly These REPAIRS though all done at the yard, have
cost the government three thousand dollars each
expected TO the speed Of the vessels
about a knot and half an hour. The repairs
having been completed, the vessels have been placed
In commission and under orders for winters cruise
In search OF savers along the southern coast Of Cuba The
following are list Of their ofncers:-
msndins; Abner Read Fr. Isusnsnt S G. Buvs Second
Iieusensnt J. r. Egaeson, Third Lcuenan NJ sibtng,
ma sse pas
T. Mas
isr's Nate
sssns ss1s + pss
sss ssss
John Albert Asng Chief l Epsnesr L Dica George
acKesn Captains Clerk; Geo Thompson Parssrs Clerk
= Hinton, Greenough, Masters Mates -
The wyandOt is lo2h feet length Of keel, q feet feet
loaded, 9k feet forward and II feet aft
The Mohawk is 163 feet long, ~ feet beam, measures
400 tons and her dra little greater than that Of her
Both steamers have direct acting engines, and can
make supposed, an average Of seven or eight knots
coal per day. Should occasion require their speed may
be increased TO ten or twelve knots The armament Of
each vessel consists Of four 3pounders OF 100 pounds
weight each the lower Deck and two brass Dahgren
guns-a II FOUNDER and 24pounder-on the upper
deck.
Both vessels are under instructions to proceed a
TO the southern coast Of Cuba, reporting by icer
their arrival to Commodore McCluney at Aspinwal flag
officer of the Gulf squadron 70 cruise along the south
coast of Cuba in search Of savers, and should
occasion arise to protect American vessels from search
detention on the high seas in time Of peace, by the
armed ships of any other Power.
Our reporter was coureousy entertained on board
Wyandot during the trial trip. The Mohawk left the Navy
Yard ut eight O'Clock proceeded down the Bay only
far Quarantine and returning anchored OF the Battery,
before The Wyandot started at $40, and made
more extended trip far the Southwest Spit and af
ter passing the Narrows proceeded to exercise
her crew at the guns and the fire apparatus
Only nine shots ~ all were fired, Six with
the thirty two Founders three OF them were temporarily
disabled by the breaking from the force Of the reco Of
clumsy m @ attached to the i,N 81, FOR raising
breach pin OF the gun This consists OF
sort Of cap Of cast iron ionsed to the and upon
two small hoits three eegh'hs a an inch in diameter.
n1 b sS sDs ss dows so0 @ ,sss for s
with the tremendous concussion produced by the
recoi sent the broken bits Of bolts and screws
whzzng about the ears of the gunncrs in the most ami
mated style Had the steamer gone TO without dis
covering this piece OF clumsy botchwork, she would
never have been abe had arisen maintain the
honor Of her flag Various plans suggested
dying the matter but the best would be TO remove the
guns entirely and provide both the Mohawk
guns mounted in the same manner) with couple Of
long 32s or better still, with nine inch gun apiece, which
would render them ten times as effective with the
quated old fogysn Of the present armament may
state that the gun carriages OF the Wyandot are the den
naval history "Oid Ironsdes." We suppose,
however, that change will be made in the armament,
though the guns really almost worthless they
be counted, and will enable the Navy Department to
report that q given number Of guns maintained
that Mr. Thomas II. Farron, master machinist
Of the Navy Yard board and stated that his de-
partment had nothing to do with the guns.
Throughout the trip the engine worked in the most
satisfactory manner and with very little jar or vibration
There trial Of speed the bearings not yet
worn smooth; but the return the vessel exactly
eight miles in fifty five minutes against the tide the wheels
making fifty revolutions per minute, with the throttle
valve only half open. All the officers profess TO be de-
lighted with their ship which they declare to be better
than new, and with the prospect Of pleasant winter
cruise the side OF Cuba The consists of
eighty -four men, all tod including forty seanen thirteen
marines and thirteen fremen and coal beavers. Both
steamers anchored Oft the Battery and expect sail
between this and Saturday next.