Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-03-13

NOR will present . sharp wedge at each
end Of the vessel Of enormous strength
The deck. as it must be shell proof. is made
very heavy. 1t is composed Of oak beams,
10 inches square. placed 26 inches apart.
the deck plank being eight inches thick.
covered all over with double plating. one
inch thick. The lower vessel is 124 feet
wide at the junction with the upper yes
sci. and its depth is 6 feet 6 inches. This
lower vessel is built quite light, as it is
perfectly protected by the upper one
The MANNER in which this necessary pro-
lection of the lightly-constructed lower
hull. propeller. rulder and anchor is at
tanned is the most important feature of this
singular structure. The constructor. we
find, instead Of relying on the water as a
protection. brings the lower b sly within
such angles that shot cannot strike with
out first passing through water for dis
lance of more than 20 feet, and striking at
very acute angle. 10 deg. at the least;
while the propeller. rudder and anchor can
not be reached by shot at all.
The turret. within which two guns of
the largest calibre are worked. consists OF
a cylinder 20 feet internal diameter, Q feet
high. composed of consecutive rings.
each one inch thick. all firmly boltel and
rivited together. There are no horizontal
joints: the plates lap over each other in
such a manner as to present single joint
onl, at one place. Including the interior
skeleton to which the plates are attached.
the turret presents an immense wrought
iron cylinder. 0 inches thick. weighing up
wards Of 100 tuns. The top is covered
with a she'll proof fiat roof placed six
inches down the cylinder; it consists OF
forged beams covered with perforated plate
iron. Several sliding matches, composed
OF = inch thirh late iron. give access to
the turret from above. The port holes are
circular. AMI placed 8 teet above the decks.
The guns move on slides male of forged
iron extending across the turret: the car
rages. also composed of wrought iron. are
male to tit the sides very accurately. these
latter being planted for that purpose. The
circumference of the turret rests on turn.
ed composition ring inserted in the deck
but the weight * sustained principally by
vertical shaft. 10 inches diameter. which
tests in emp supported by a bracket firm
~ bultesl anil braccd to the main bulkhea
of the vessel about half way down. A
spur wheel 81 feet diameter. III inch fac.
is attached to the turret shuts. By means
of the spur wheel and intermediate gearing
actna,ed by a double cylinler engine. the
tarret can be turned anil the guns can be
painted in any direction. 4 rod connect
Ell with the reversing gear Of the engine.
passes throug.i lh, vertical shaft. aud ena
bles the person in charge Of the guns TO
control the aim. For contest with iron
ella ships carrying heavy ordnance recent
~ devised in Europe. Captain Ericsson
proposes to dispense with two of the outer
plate rings of the tnrret. anil to attach in
their place slaves Of rolled iron four inch
IS thick. thus presenting an aggregate
thickness Of ten inches OF plating besides
the internal skeleton.
The steam machinery an, propeller de-
m and no special notice The cylinders are
80 inches in diameter and 22-inch stroke;
the boilers are on tn. horizontal tubular
plan The blowers for the boilers AMI for
ventilating the vessel arc actuated BY
separate engines. as usual Smike pipes
above deck are entirely dispensed with
during active service. the products of com
bus,ion passing off through shell-proof
gratings in the deck