The Nevada Democrat., 1862-03-18
T,e Erlcs.ou Iron-CIod steamer.


finally worsted its antagonist, was built un-
der a contract made last October. There
was stipulation in the contract Of a most
extraordinary character, and probably
without precedent, considering the mag
nitnde of the work, viz: the trial of the ef'
6ciepcy of the vessel must be made under
the guns of the enemy's batteries, at the
shortest ranges; the government to furnish
the guns and ammunition. as well as oincers
and men. The annexed description OF the
vessel, or "battery" as it is called. is from
the Scientific American, OF November Z3d:
The structure consists Of three principal parts,
viz: a shallow-decked vessel with perPendicu-
lar sides, dead fat bottom and pointed ends
Under this shallow vessel second and deeper
vessel is attached with raking stem and stern,
nerfectly fiat bottom and sides inclined at an
angle of 81 deg. to the vertical line. Ihls low
or Vessel does not extend the entire length or
breadth of the upper one. 1t isin free commu-
nication with the latter, the bottom OF which IS
cut out corresponding exactly with the TOP lhe
of .he lower vessel. The third principal part
consists ofa cylindrical turret placed on the
deck of the upper vessel. This turret contains
We have only to add that screw propeller is
applied aft of the raking stem of the lower yes
sci, and aft of the propeller an equipolse rud-
der. both of which are thus hidden under the
upper vessel, by which they are most ettectual-
ly protected; the anchor being in like manner
protected by the forward projecting part of the
upper vessel, within which it is suspended IN
cylindrical chamber open from below. A steam
engine, boilers and blowers, all snugly slowed
away in the lower vessel, complete the general
arrangement of the battery which Ericsson is
now building for the government for the pur-
pose of silencing the guns of our antagonists
on the banks Of the southern rivers. The fol-
lowing particulars will furnish our readers with
the necessary data for estimating the chances
of success in this important enterprlse;-IEe
upper vessel, built of iron, is la feet long, Al
feet inches wide, and 5 feet extreme depth.
The draught of water will be 3 feet 5inches, and
consequently the projection above water line
will be only l0 inches. wooden bulwark,
composed principally Of white oak, 3O inches
thick, protects the side of the upper vessel, and
extends down to the bottom, being thus feet
deep. This bulwark is secured to the vessels
sides in a peculiar manner requiring no through
bolts. An armor, composed of rolled plate
iron, in all inches thick, covers the bulwark
from top to bottom, extending all round the
vessel. The stem and stern being both point
ed at an angle of 80 deg, the armor will pre-.
sent short wedge at each end Of the vessel OF
enormous strength. The deck, as it must be
shell proof, is made very heavy. 1t is compos-
ed 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 l24 feet long
and 81 feet wide at the junction with the upper
vessel, and its depth is feet inches. This
lower vessel is built butte light, as it is perfect
ly protected by the upper one. The manner in
which this necessary protection Of the lightly
constructed lower hull, propeller, rudder and
anchor is attained is the most important fea-
ture of this singular structure. The construc-
tor, we find, instead of relying on the water as
protection, brings the lower body within such
angles that shot cannot strike without first
passing through water for a distance of more
than % feet, and then striking at very acute
angle, 10 deg. at the most; while the propeller,
rudder and anchor cannot be reached by shot
at all.
The turret, within which two guns of the lar
gest calber are worked, consists Of a cylinder
20 feet internal diameter, 8 feet high, compos-
ed of S consecutive rings, each one inch thick,
all firmly bOlted and riveted together. There
are no horizontal joints, the plates lap over
each other in such manner as to present
single joint only at any one place. Including
the interior skeleton to which the plates are at
tached, the turret presents an immense wrought
iron cylinder, 8 inches thick, weighing upwards
Of 100 tuns. The topis covered with a she'll
proof fiat roof, placed six inches down the cyl
inder; it consists of forged beams covered with
perforated plate iron. Several sliding matches,
composed Of 2 inch thick plate iron, gives ac-
cess to the turret from above. The port holes
are circular and placed feet above the decks.
The guns will move on slides made of forged
iron extending across the turret; the carriages,
also composed of wrought iron, are made to fit
the slides very accurately these latter being
planed for that purpose. The circumference of
the turret rests on a turned composition ring
inserted in the deck, but the weight is. sustain
ed principally by vertical shaft, 10 inches in
diameter, which rests in cup supported by
bracket firmly bolted and braced to the main
bulkhead of the vessel about half way down. A
spur wheel 6lS feet in diameter, 1l-inch face is
attached to the turret shaft. By means of the
spur wheel and intermediate gearing, actuated
by double cylinder engine, the turret will be
turned and the guns pointed to any direction.
rod connected with the reversing gear of the
! engine, passes through the vertical shaft, and
enables the person in charge of the guns, to
control the aim. For contest with iron-clad
ships carrying the heavy ordnance recently de-
Vised in Europe, captain Esicsson proposes to
dispense with two of the outer plate rings of
turret, and to attach in their place slaves of
rolled iron inches thick, thus presenting an
aggregate thickness of 10 inches of plating be-
sides the internal skeleton.
The Petaluma Journal is
responsible for the following: A fish that was
taken from tbo croal. On 1oef Caturdov aftar-