The New York herald., 1862-11-24
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4s~ THD xBOxux. .
The xeokuk, or Mpltnsy's oasssy, 10 not osiy we
turreted seessi, sas b alse ssmdeble ram. Shs is
smaller than the cssO N6n,ssss, being hundred and
nfsy mine fees six hcAo ovp q, Including tho ram,
which is ave feet hae. Shs has beam or thirty SIX
feet, with depth Or hod = thirteen feet six inches
and draws nine feet Of water Her sides slope inward
angle Of thirty Degrees TO shed the eneDy's
shot,
She is built OF Yon and her extends nearly -four
feet below The ne the horizontal deck 10 ve feet
above the water line.
Her propulsion power ID furnished by two propelers
and two engines Of i've hundred hsrse power.
The hull Of tho vessel 10 constructed Of hanch rolled
iron. She has three keesous running the whole length OF
the vessel and two fore and aft bukheads, leaving
each side space and forming m inner skin which would
probably keep out the water in the event Of the outer
skin being pierced By shot, In addition 70 these she has
two bulkAeads-one forward and one af-which can be
ned with waters 10 settle the vessel down while in
action These be ea in fifteen minutes and pumped
in forty minutes In using the RAM should the vcsse
be wrenched to cause leakage, the compartment al
iuded to would peserve the vessel from sinking The
vessel submerged foot by the appliance Of these
water tanks.
The turets immsvable, tie gun revolving to the
three ports pierced in each turret. They weigh each
forty tons, and built Of groundwork Of half inch
rolled plates, like the hull covered with bars Of iron four
inches thick standing edgeways placed and aouarter
inches apart the inerstices beng filed with yellow pine
Over all this three plates each vecighths Of inch
thick-the whole structure boted together with and
oneeghth inch belts, with counterssnk heads foot
apart The turrets therefore, and quarter inches
thick. Each turret is have three ports with heavy
shutters working IN two halves; port each side
and forward and aft Each urret will have eleven
inch gum carrying hundred and eighty pound shot,
These guns revolving slides which placed
floor twenty inches below the level Of the deck, thus
giving greater height to the turres, which are twenty
feet in diameter at the base fourteen feet At the top
being shapedand eight feet eight inches high. The
turrets additionally supported within by bars Of Eve
by inch iron edssways, fifteen inches apart and
the ports made sufficiently large to give the guns
degrees vertical and eight degrees lateral range.
The rudder and propeller are guarded by sverhang
ing structure and wrought guard the after part This
tse vessel win carry one hundred men all told and has
capacity in her two hundred eeven.nch
shot, hundred and fifty sevennoh SHELL with shrap.
mel and canister, small ammuntsn and powder in pro
portion. she admirably calculated for river work
her light draft and easy guuancs, by means Of two
peers, Atting her especially for intricate navigation
Her builder confident that, though in respects
novel construction she will be found shot, and
ssrviceable any and the care and completeness with
which he has applied every precautisn, and multiplied
means for offence and defence. give hopes Of most
efacisnt boat Mr.. whitney Of the earliest TO
urge the proprety Of building sho,proof dees, and his
studies In the question: well his knowledge Of the
qualities Of iron, give his opinions weighs.
The ventilation Of the vessel has been carefully attended
TO- and the accommodation for the officers and crew vii,
be Of excel ent character.
In many points the details Of this vessel
interesting For instance the entire lower portion Of the
sides OF the urres be thrown open TO admit light and
air. and Of course, to effect the expulsion OF foul air. and
there being passage each side Of the vessel
nicating from turrct TO the other constant crcu
ton Of kept up without artificial means although
such means provided and which will, in the opinion
Of many render the vessel in point Of ventilation second
| 70 none.