Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-12-24
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MAoHl1cenf Flie &c the GaVeruEl0ntasA
Formidable War Vessel.
8. A. Stevens ESQ, Of HObOksa, the
Commodore Of the New York Yacht Squad
ron, has built an iron vessel, Of a very pecn-
Lar character, armed and equipped, which he
win present to the United States government
through Mr. Chase, the Secretary Of the
Treasury. Mr.. Stevens not only builds her,
butGrms her, and, in fact turns her over to
Mr.. Chase ready for active service, without
is costing the Government one dollar. This
gentlemen went to Washington to represent
the Yacht Club, and tender to the Govern
meat the selection Of any one of their fine
vessels. At this interview with Mr.. Chase,
Mr.. Stevens asked If the Department would
accept from himself a steam gun boat, and
since that time has been diligently ct work
upoa her construction, and as sOon as folly
completed Nc. Stevens viii turn her over,
free Of cos, to the United States. She is
thus described:
The vessel is now at Bordentown, New
Jersey, receiving her finished touches. The
hull e built of iron, in the usual manner,
being firm, and bolted to iron bseus aad
knees. Her length Is one hundred and one
feet twenty feet beam, depth Of hold seven
feet six inches. When light she viii draw
about four feet of water, but when in action
her draught viii be between seVea and eight
feet. Her buiwarks are Of white cedar, be-
cause, being brittle, they will not splinter,
like pine and oak. They are two feet thick
On the outside of the hull, and one foot thick
inside, extending above the deck three feet
ten inches and three feet nine inches below,
The lower part Of the hulWarks srs rounded
OF and give great b~uoyancy and stability to
the motion Of the vessel. The outside Of
the bulWaFks IS plated with wrought iron
securely bolted through the woodwork. She
has two engines, each working Independents
" of the other. Each of them gives power
to q screw propeller, so that by reversing one
engine and moving the other ahead the YES
sci Is turned around within her OWL length
andso rapidly Is this evolution performed
that It only requires one minute end g hal
70 turn the vessel one hundred and eighty de-
gress. The utility Of this arrangement for
war vessel is apparent to the most casua
reader.
The hold of the vessel is divided into foui
apartments. The forward one is for water
the second, officers and mems quarters; tn
third, engine and boiler room, and the fourth
or sitter one, is also q water tank. The for
ward and aftermost bulkheads a-s wsts
tight. In the bottom Of the vessel, il eacl
Of the water apartments, ia q hole sixteel
inches in diameter, on which is ftteda valve
which Is worked from the deck. a fore
pump Is in each apartment also TO pump on
the Wster.
When the vessel Is ready to approach
battery with the view Of attacking il, tn
valves are opened in each of the Rster apart
ments, and q large stream rushes in; to assis
the vessel in settling faster the prmps are Sc
10 work, and two streams are thrown nnpoi
the deck, which run down q hatch into th
apartments. When the vessel is ssttled {
the proper depth there is seventeen inches {
water over the deck. If is new that th
heavy wooden bulwarks come to the 7escu
and steady the submerged vessel.
The vessel is armed with one riAed on
hundred FOUNDER gun of the Par-ctt Fateni
This gun is placed in the centre Of the vesse
upon a diss, around which rises ? high coml
ing to prevent the water from reaching i
When this novel craft is in position, BY Sc
Ting her in the water, nothing is visible I
the enemy but the outline of the hull, narke
BY the bulwsrks submerged and the GU
smidship. To a person in the slightest d.
gree acquainted with gunnery it vii be reaC
lily seen how difficult it will be to hit tn
craft. With such a vessel as this it woul
be an easy matter TO come upon al enem
during the darkness of night and sink h
vessel, and also to surprise an enoampmer
or seriously injure a fort or battery. Thoi
of cur naval officers who have seen tie vel
sci are very much in favor of the plan.