The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-08-15
ARprvAr. OF THE 1RoN-cLADs.

ARRIVAL OF THE IRON-CLADS.
The iron cads Dictator and Agamenticus,
sailed from Portsmouth harbor for this port at
8 O'Clock yesterday morning-the former hav-
ing on board Admiral Farragutt, Commodore
Bailey, Hon. G. +. Fox, Assistant Secretary Of
the Navy, and party Of ten ladies. Some in
terest was excited here as it was understood
there would be a trial of speed between the
two vessels. t0
When the vessels were first discovered Inv
Mr.. Moody, at the Observatory, they were be-
tween Portland and the Cape lights--the AGA
menticus being about three miles ahead of the
Dictator. The former came directly into our
harbor, arriving here at S.05 P. NJ, while the
Dictator ran down behind Cushing's Island
nearly to the lower end oft, then returned and
steamed into the harbor, arriving here at 455.
FROM Capt. Willard who piloted the Dicta-
Tor nom Portsmouth, we learn that the Dicta
tor started her screw a O'Clock A. NJ, and
at 800 turned ship and passed Portsmouth
light AT $50 stopped for pilot to leave
Steamed slow for Agamenticus to come up
She came up at great speed, passing the Die
side by side; the water was without a ripple;
the Dictator sailing smoothly, the Agamenti-
Gus evidently steering badly. Both vessels did
their best-sometimes the Dictator would gain
and then the Agamenticus. At II O'Clock
passed Boon Island light, the A. being quar-
ter Of a mile ahead. The Dictator soon after
wards stopped her engine for II minutes, to
cool the crank pin, which had become too hot.
AT IL NJ. the A. was three miles ahead; the
Dictator was then going at the rate of 9 IL
knots, and gaining slowly ON the Agamenticus
At l.2O the ID. was gaining fast, her screw
making SO revolutions per minute. At 1.S5
passed Wood Island light, the A. being about
one and three-fourths miles ahead, the DIS
screw making 80 revolutions. At 2.S0 pass
ed Cape Elizabeth light, the Agamenticus be-
ing one and fourth miles ahead. At 245
hauled hard out rom Trtmdys Rector short
sail, the A being up to Portland light, one
mile and halfaheed.
The Dictator has been 81 months in the
water, and her bottom is very foul.
1t is the opinion of Capt, Willard that if the
Dictator had not been obliged to stop to cool |
the crank pin she would have made the dis
tance from the time the pilot left at Ports
mouth, to Trunday's buoy inside of s hours, and |
would have beaten the Agamenticus. On the |
other hand the Agamenticus claims a fair beat
For our part we can only say that both have
done well and they had better try it over
again. a" ~ II 7s7Ht Y
The Dictator was built in New York, and
measures upwards of 5000 tons; and draws 10
feet of water forward and % feet aft, with the
minimum amount of 500 tons ofcoal on board.
This leaves her deck some four feet above wa
ter forward and three feet aft. With her full |
compliment of coal on board 1000 tons) she |
will, Of course, be foot or two deeper. She |
is 800 feet long, has so feet beam and % depth |
of hold. Her turret is "a feet in diameter OH
the inside, and IA inches in thickness. She
carries but two 15-inch guns, which throw sol
id shot of 490 lbs EACH The walls of the pilot
house at the top Of the turret are IL inches in
thickness. The quarters of the officers and
men below are well lighted through heavy
glasses set into the deck, and thoroughly ven
tilated from two or three steam blowers which
are kept constantly in motion, raising breeze
which sometimes compels the officers to look |
after their caps. She can be got under weigh
without a man showing himself on deck, her
engines rousing up one hundred and twenty
fathoms of chain in almost as little time as it
takes to mention it. In case of leak in he.
hull, thirty-iiye hundred tons fwater can be
thrown out in one houri She has fifty-six
furnaces. One hundred and fifty firemen are
necessary to attend to them all, but the lower
tier, the ones mostly used, consumes about so
tons of coal per day. With all her furnaces in
operation she burns about $50 TONS Her full I
compliment of crew is about 210 men.
The officers Of the Dictator are as follows:
Commodore-Joh Rogers.
Lieut.. Commander--F. NJ Bunce.
Paymaster-Wm O.. Marcy. fst
Surgeon George Peck. gn
Chief Eneineer-E. E. Robe. f
Acting Volunteer Lieutenants-JacobK Kim
ball, c. G. KingsbuIy, George A. Smith.
Acting Ensign and Navigator-N. Ludlow.
Acting Ensigns-Willis Howes, R. R. Bar
clay. W
First Assistant Engineers--C. Lindsey, p |
A. Rearick, r. III. Thurston.
Second Assistant Engineers-Phillip Mil
Ter, q B, Allen, Hugh Cline, ]. G. Brosna-
ham.
Third Assistant Engineers--W Fennimore,
G. Harringhorst, B. w. Worsley.
Acting Master and Piot--Levi Jump
Paymasters clerk. Henry Priest.
Captains clerk. B. Luckey.
Undoubtedly an opportunity viii be given,
during her stay, for all who desire to visit her,
and examine this huge vessel.