, 1862-03-11

AEXHASRxA2Ay-dN&ASNSG 80
deck, SIS it must be shell proof, Is nade very
heavy. It is composed of oak beams, 10
inches square, placed rs inches apart, the deck 4
plank being eight inches thick, covered alt
over with double plating, one inch thick
wide at the junction with the upper yesssI, ,and
its depth is feet 6 inches. This lower rezse1
is built quite light, as it is perfectly protected
by the upper one. The manner in which this
necessary protection Of tho lightly CONSTRUCTED
lower hull, propeller, rudder and anchor is
singular structure. The constructor, VIC find, |
instead Of relying on the water as psotec-
ton, brings the lower body within such angles
TINT shot cannot strike without frat passing |
through water for 4 distance Of more than Is |
feet, and then striking at q Terg acute angle,
10 deg. ut the least; while the propeller, rad-
der and anchor cannot be reached bY shot at t
all.
The turret, within which two guns oE:the |
largest calber arc worked, consists of = celin- |
der go feet internal diameter, 9 feet high, COM
posed Of consecutive rings, each one inch |
thick, all firmly bolted and riyeted together. |
There are no horizontal joints the plntes lap |
over each other in such manner Us to present |
a single joint only at any one place: Inand- !
ing the interior skeleton to which the plates !
are attached, the turret presents an immsnse |
Wrought-iron cylinder, inches thick, weigh |
ing upwards Of 1G0 tuns. The top is coyffrd |
with shell-proof flat roof, placed six INCHES !
down the cylinder; it consists Of lor,;ed !!
beams covered with perforated plate iEon-
Several sliding matches, composed Of ? inch |
thick plate iron, give access to the turret ffom
above. The port holes are circular, And
placed feet above the decks. The guns
move on slides made Of forged iron Eex-
tending across the tur1et: the carriages, $50
the slides very accurately, these latter hsstg
pianed For tlat purpose. The circumfsredrc
Of tic tE1ret rests OH q tErlcd composition
ring inserted in the deck, but the Weight Is
s9stainea a9 'nsa principally y Vertical shaft
supported by bracket firmly boltcd and
braced to tile main bnlkhcad OF the vessel
about half way down. A spur wheel 6k feet
diameter, IL inch face is attached to tie tusrct
shafts: By means Of the spurwheel and inter
der engine, the turret can sbe turned mud the
guns can bc pointed in any direction 4 rod
connected with the reversing gear Of the en-
CINE, passes through the vertical shaft, and en-
ables the person in charge Of the guns to con-
tIol the aim For 4 contest with iron-c1ad
ships carrying heavy ordnance recently devised
in Europe, Captain Ericsson proposes to dis
pcnse with two Of the outer plate rings Of the
turret, and to attach in their place Slaves Of
rolled iron four inches thick, thus presenting
an aggregate thickness of ten inches Of plating
besides the internal skeleton.
The steam machinery and propcllers demand
no special notice. The cylinders ara 10 inches
in diumetcr and 222-inch stroke the boilers arc
On the horizontal tubular plan. The blowers
for the boilers and for yentilating the vessel
are actuated by separate engines, as usual.
Smoke pipes above deck are entirely dis-
pcnsed with during active service, the pro-
ducts Of combustion passing off through
shel1-proof g1atings in the deck.
THE DISPATCHES OF YESTERDAY.
The following items are reliable:
Capt. Radford was engaged on court-1nar-
tla1. and not on board the Cumberland Liedt.
J. B. Smith. son Of Commodore Smith, was
aboard the Congress, and was killed. Lieut..
Worden, who handled the Monitor SO skill
fully, is here in the hands Of surgeon. He
was in the pilot-house Of the Monitor when
lie Merrimac directed q broadside at it, and
received his injuries from minute fragments
through the lookout holes. Worden was
stunned BY the conclusion and was carried
away. On recovering he asked: Have I
saved the Minnesota 81 The reply was s*Yes,
and whipped the Merrinac,'' to which be an
swercd, "Thcn I don't care what becomes Of
me-
The injuries Of Lieut.. Wordcn arc not sup
posed dangerous.
During thc action all the rebel gunboats
and batteries within reach directed their fire
It the Minnesota, doing her some damage and
killing four OF five Of her crew. The M1nne-
sotaeVentually got offand was towed under the
guns Of Fort Monroe. Naya1 authorities and
experts here are confident that the Merriu1ac
is disabled, and that the Monitor is adequate
| to her in any condition.
The telegraph to Fortress Monroe has been
fully occupied On Government business all
day, which has prevented the Associated Press
dispatch from coming. There has been 10
| change in the position Of affairs at that point
| Every efert will be made to give the names Of