The New York herald., 1865-02-15
Full Description Of the Formidable Rele
Iron-Clads, the Sphynx and Cheops.
THEIR SUPERIOR SEAG0ING QuAlITE2
Their Armof Believed to be Unable g.
Resist the Fifteen-Inch Gums
Of Our Monitors.
Their Ordnance Not Of tlaS
Heaviest Character,
As., &C., 10.

We published several days ago the startling announce
ment that the rebel iron clad Sphynx and Che0p
their way the Atlantic, destined accorcns
to the best information for New York city, in yea
teray gave corroboration Of the story by
our Paris correspondent We have received snd Icu
publish further details in regard TO the character q q
formidable vessels give in this connection
rate outline Of Of them. The accompanying dcS
crption by gentleman who visited the while thsy
were being constructed will be found very interesting
Mr. Arman Of Bordeaux, France Is the oonssructo cs
the two iron-clad rams. When informant u so
enc was the stocks and the other, the Sphynx,
launched. She is . full ngged brig, with vary Asge
wooden spaEs not at all adapted 70 heE purpose - .
vessel war; Of the greatest value in enahlinG ss
70 cross the Atlantic.
The ram Of the sphynx Is Of great length sbsus tAr
nve feet, and s proongation Of her ksels ieh Lob
low heavily plated, and It's end consists Of poadssct
forging Of excellent workmanship. is intended W
pierce the side Of armored adversary bsnessh ~
plating Its holowness will give it buoyancy, and T.
rises with gradual curve until II is host in the forward
turst; which forms the bow OF the ship above wass
. mcveable lovsprit being rugged out from The tar
rets top.
This tuxret has three ports directly ahead, nfs
other two It's sides; in these ports arc pivot paase
and aferpart large door, cut down 70 The denk
The turets Of oak, about two feet thick, and wA
have four and three-e -eghths inch solid plaAng TAs
plating ON the hull s about four inches thick Unrss
the wooden deck thin plating mot moro than three
eighths Of an inch thick.
The after turret about thirty feet from the stsrn s
s much like the forward one but has two ports - sA
dde and door both forward and af Betwean the tus
rcs and abat them large pivot ports in the bUwass
stos4d with iron Shutters but the after uet oaunss n
directly astern as there is q small poop cabin about
feet deep.
The Sphynx has two screws, and, a. u were two s>e
for abaft the nainmast two kees and two sspana
stern posts, with wide space between. There ErrS
der each stern post but informant could not esa
the arrangement for steering The double soFsw vfs
give great facility in turning, and the double stern VIZ
increase the stability This double stern s not pesosIe
BILE above water, and would not be suspected ssias
also In the sister ship, which still the saOssa
when our informant examined the Sphynx.
The engines are said TO be Of three hundred and A
horse power.
The armor Of these vessels could not vssis ~ s>
is0 s1sa Of Ne Gjsaswtne ouws with whieA sas ssf
iron~cads armed, is II believed from hs s,s q
the pivot plates in their ports that they were insnAs
70 carry the heaviest ordnance.
The spars Of the Sphynx Of wood, and not Of sS
while those Of the wooden vessels at ST. Naaas bes
under the auspices, arc Of irOn offering mn -
smaller target for enemys shot For trans Altar =
voyage these heavy spsrs are Of the nrst nsoessig