New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-04-18
WHAT Thu STOIEWALL MAY DO,

The following paper was read by Mr.. Nor.
IMAM Wizard before tho American Institute on Friday
lcyenng last It's facts and suggestions are worthy OF.
sserous consideration;
Late coyrospondence Of TIE Nsic. York Herald from,
Ferro informed rs that tho Rebel Sonewa arrved
jim that port IN the 4th of Feblrary This ship, we are
Uniformed Is covered with plating five and half nchcsi
shick has spur or ram 30 feet long, Ia armed with,
lone 30Opounder and two 100 FOUNDER Armstrong gurs
Thee guns are mounted on two fixed trrrcts. Her,
Is five feet above the water. and Judging from
lhe wood.cut Of the ship, conclude she has b1lwark3
rsne FIVE or six feet above the gun deck hinged SO AS TO-
sbe thrown down outward in sections. when the guns.
are 20 be used device that has often been proposed
or ,urreted ships but not heretofore actually applied
srhe objec. Of this arrang cement Is obTioas
: She Is accompanied by q tender, said 70 pc last
seamer capable of keeping out OF the way OF our fast
&c. cruisers, with which her supply Of coal could DO
renewed FOR long voyage. She has double propelers
with four powerful gnes and ms altogether TO be-
ia very formidable craft.
Com Craven expressed the opinion Stat this steamer
lntended going directly TO EevYork or Boston. steam
ling boldly in and laying these cities under contribu
stion."
/ What preparation was, or has been. made by the
Navy Department to prevent the success OF this arabe
nten,ioni Just this: the Niagara, tie e. aonrrs on
the laneatel Steers oTorhaulei, bedeved and rHeed
by our naynl Authorities until tho so'ns tina, conceived
rher would not recognize her could he her now and
FINALLY armed with 70 pvo. l5O.pcrnder Parrott guns
Til. beautiful ship was believe. armed with these
useless and dangerous guns after tie operations OF
tGen. Gilmore on Morris Js.and had demonstrated
! hat tley wero utterly ryce,ble. Immediately
iaer the disastrous failure Of 70 many OF these guns In
Admiral Purters 1cot oH Fot Fisher, Board OF Naval
lOrinanco officers was convened In Washington, ar-
spoued by ,he Chief ofthc Navy Ordnance Bureau IN
d, letter Of insrucion dated 9Th January, 1868 from
(which quote:
! "You will therefore Investigate ns fully possible,
ih car,,, ofsrrs II tie farrOn guns in 'rriee gen"
aly and state whether in your Judgment, they arc
sin ory u fdence and should DO continued cs the
friaed guns Of tic Navy. whether they should be,
sah,nsoned and some other guns substituted"
\ This Board met deiberaed for some weeks. and re-,
ported recommending series of experiments with 1901
.lpoanderi pending which reduction 70 be madc'
of the charge already small for the loopounders. Also
ho rcte1 ton Of all the classes Of those guns eIccpt
ihe $50 FOUNDERS until the experiments herein recon
MGR ded should have been made" Again. this Board
rescring to this class Of guns in tnrreted vessels say
n their report that the 80 pourdor. in these vessels
sshould te Immediately withdraw tho effect of an
geIposon in tina, class Of vessels could no. fail to be
,.mosi dsas,Tors."
3 Tie conclusion 10 BE drawn from this state Of facts is
!, LA, tho Niagara wooden ship armed wholly with
condemuel guns IL sent 10 to watch and. II posi-
~, attack the most formidable iron.cad and
nrougLt against by the bursting Of This class Of
ruas OF Fort Ilsher IS persons killed OF wounded
a. ut four times the number injured by the efforts Of
l. 20 enemy. by the last sdyiccs from Europe learn
l.ii. this formidable pirate has escaped from our
'cruscrs and Is probable II she had the amicabc IN
itenton toward NewYork and Boston attributed TO her
iby Commodore Craven that they now on the point
realization. What preparation have wo to resist her
eurance into harbor suppose she makes tie attempt
,ssto do so in the night TIL. week neXti
The 20.inch lombard VIC have mounted at tho Mar
rows canno, be loaded trained and fired upon hcr in
ess than 20 minutes after tie alarm during which time
1.-THE Stonewall may sail sir mii,' with the tide in her
flavor. If the great gun is loaded ready and trained
irpon her when mile below the chances Of Lit will
'be lees than ono in million.
4 She would pass al other heavy guns and be out
of range while they are being loaded and trained for
they too, awkwnrdly mounted that II takes
hands Is minutes load train and fire them. and the
bchances OF M not great. Skul gunuers might
better but our authorities know that with rapid firing
ipcrmi,tcd to exhibit their proficiency Of drill upon
I}ihem. with actual powder and saot. Whenever they
100 there will be perhaps. not gun gunner left. IL
ithe ram gets inside our harbor what can we do but
isubralt TO her outrages and cractons II We had a
lcet OF Monitors hero she could keep out OF their way
or them down in succession at her will Her ram
aprcects far forward below tho wator that the slight
est touch she could give Of Monitors below the
ioyerhang would sink her quickly with all board.
and gun mounted any OF them has penetrated
J zee and hGy iHehss Of plating.
4 commend these suggestions to the serious consider
Iaton of the citizens Of NcwYork. For although we
may Escape the scourge threatening us. who can
tel what dangers are IN store for in the future,
Tho skill that has built the Stonowa II has.
produced many others for European governments and
, The event OF with any Of them. shall we he us
Aunpropared as now II very pertinent question.
{. s--~s-S-~ r--4-s--~~.--s~-r.~s
TIE NEW PREsIDENT.-Andrew johnson. !
ilatey vcepresldent Of the United Staics-who now