New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-07-30
Naval Movements.
LAUNCH or THE RON-TLtD oNoSDhGA-sAD
ACCIDENT AT THE LAUNCH

LAUNCH OF fNON-fIAD ONbsbt6A-SAD
ACCIDENT AT THE LAUNCH.
The Quntard iron-clad battery Onondaea wa.
launched At the Continental Works Greeopoini. zee.
teiday morning OF y o'clock The Assistant score-
tary Of the Navy Mr.. Fox who has taken a!ivey IN
,crest in this vessel present, the Hon. j. sodgo
wick. Chairman OF the Naval Committee, Admiral
Gregory and bic son snd several naval engineer.
Tie Onondaga was commenced several months
since on the plan deyi'ed ty Mr.. George Qaintard
the proprietor Of the Morgan Iron Works. When
the ship WINS nearly finished the Government con-
sidered the builders theory improbable, and Ill
terations were ordered, the carrying out OF which
hss delayed the completion of the clip materially.
The general appearance Of the hull differs little
from that OF the Ericsson bs,tsrs ave that II is q
feet longer, aud wider in proportion. Tarrets will
be used each Of which like those Of the Monitors,
will carry two guns. lion j. the material used IN
all the compartments, iuside and out, where wood
could be dispensed with Tho lines Of the ship are
very easy forward and aft presenting much lees re-
distance Than somo other iron-clgds now snoai The
general dimensions of the hull are as follows:
Length over s 2?7 feet, Extreme breadth Of beam. 50
e.t Dfsu.h, Of when armed and equipped. II feet
Dsp.h Of hold. - feet, Armament tsun'
The armor on the sides Of the vetsel is very for
nidable, consisting Of the original a Inch plates de-
signed by Mr.. Quiutard and the additional pro,ec.
ton of layer of g.iuch Locust and J-iuch oak tim
Der, covered again with 2nch solid plates Of iron,
thus making the mail in reality Isl inches thick, a
Of which are iron. The locuA and oak put on
in the shape Of backing and give great strength 10
the sides.
Tho machinery Of the Onondaga will probably be
superior to that Of any vessel yet constructed Tor tho
Government. II will conrs, II two engines, whose
cylinders will be- 80 neher in diameter, with piston
Of IL inches stroke. She has two propeller,
one under each counter, which moved by four
engines Of 200 horso power. The two screws are
intended to give the vessel ample facility to turn
around. Tie turres are the sane as those upon all
the moni,ors-ll inches thick in the walls, 9 feet
high, aud u feet in diameter inside. Tue quarters
for tie officers generally are aft, although some OF
them, the engineers for example, have aecommo'
cations forward. grea. part OF the storage Is also
aft including the magazine and spirit room. Neither
bow nor stern VI the Onondaga Overhang the hull,
although the statement may be qualified by saying
that.the stern projects slightly, only enough, how
ever, 10 cover the screws and protect them from
damage by shot. The other arrangements OIL the
vefsel, internally, arc uninportant to the pub
lie. We may ray that there are thirteen trans
verse water-tight compartments, and that the coal
bunkeIs surround the boilers addition TO the pro-
lection afforded by the iron plating.
The Ouondaga will be taken ~ the Morgan Iron
Works at once 70 receive her machinery, and she II
then to be made ready for rea with dispatch.
Unfortunately when the wor,men set 10 work
srlitting the blocks which held the vessel to the
aunchways, by Misunderstanding the order, the
forward blocks split out before the after blocks
were touched, and thus the whole weight OF the
huge fabric was suddenly thrown on the latter. The
blocks gave way and the ship started forward, tear
ing in her speed down the stancheons which held
her 10 the ground and crushing under her Keel Tour
work men who were engaged there, and could not
get away in time. One of them, named John Cor
neil, reading in North Ninth street, Williamsburg
had his left wrist and hand dreadiully aceratod,
rib fractured, and suffered internal injuries which
are considered severe that the physician IN nj
tendance has no hopes Of his recovery. William
Hogan residingat Dutch Kill, Newtown Township
had The loft side OF his head crushed in. labofer
named Fairchd, and another whose name
could not be- rtained received slight injuries on
the back and head. Cornell wac taken 10 the hos'
pi'al.