The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-05

but add immensely to the STIFFNESS OF the whole
ship which is virtually made by these means
one huge hollow wrought iron girder of inn
mense strength.
The Northumberland has a different system of
armor plating from her sisters, the Aginc0u1t
and the MinotdUr. The experience gained with
the Achilles seems to show clearly that the limit
up to which sea-golng frlgates can carry armor
has not only been reached but rather overpassed.
Thus, the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS armor, for the length
of about 100 feet forward is only a belt of armor
ten feet broad, and for The same length at the
atermost part Of the vessel It Is only feet
broad going TO depth OF 6 feet below the water
forward and feet att For length of 200 feet
amidships, however, the whole body OF the YES
gel is cased with plates up to the main deck.
Here the armor rises TO height of 16 feet above
the water, and goes to depth of 50 feet below
It. This main portion of the ship is further pro-
tected by transverse bulkheads, plated with
AZ inch iron, inclosmg the battery in
side the ship as in q box. These armor
coverings extend from the floor of the
Vain deck to the spar deck. Above and beyond
these projections the Northumberland has a
semi-circular shield, also of 4I inch iron, which
completely incloses her bows at the forecastle.
Within this shield two guns of the heaviest
calibre are to be worked as bow chasers. All
the portslls OF the main battery will be, when
the vessel is fully stored, no less than 10 feet
clear from the water. This is foot higher than
the portsills of the Warrior, and no less than 6
feet inches higher than those of La GlO1e
All the portfolios are made on the improved
clads, and are very narrow. She is, however,
only intended to carry % guns on the main
deck, of which four are to be 300-pounders, and
Is niueton l60pounders. On the spar deck will
be four Armstrong l00-pounder shell guns.
Like the rest OF her class, the NOTthtnlb beTidnd
is provided with deck tower, as strong as teak
and iron armor can make it. This tower is unu-
sually high in the Northumberland and is divided
into two stories, the lower to be occupied in
action by riflemen only, while the upper story
is to be used by those IN command OF the ship,
and from which also the vessel can be steered in
action. A great addition has been made to the
ship since she was first laid down, in the shape
of poop and topgallant foTecastle. The poop
gives ample space and accommodation for the
cabins necessary for an admiral and staff, thus
be fitting the esse for F bo gsh which 1Nn
clads did not admit Of At the time
that the Warrior made her trial trips it was
pointed out that it was little less than absurd to
give these enormous vessels double the length
of any lineot battle ships in the service-only a
trigate's crew, and only the traditional three
masts The experience gained by working the
Warrior has shown that these remarks were
Just and the Mtnotdotrs are now each to have
crews Of 750 men, and five instead of three
masts. All these masts are of iron, and of nearly
the same height, which certainly detracts some
what from the beauty of the vessels "slt" upon
the water. Four of the masts are square
rigged, the attermast and miZZen having tore-and
att sails only.
Every part of the ship which has been exc
cuted by the Millwall Company Is really the
very perfection of iron workmanship. As an
iron structure it is impossible to imagine
anything more perfect than her finish. Strange
to say, she is to be launched to-day with almost
all her iron plates fixed to her, and, in fact
with the exception of rigging and engines, al
most ready for sea. Internally and on decl
she has in her fittings all the beautiful finisl
of private yacht The perfection with which
her armor plates are fitted on makes her seem
as smooth as if they were vanished.
The following is list of the iron-clads W,
now possess either actually in commission Oh
nearly ready for sea, and exclusive of those
which, like the Hercules, ETC., have not Ions
| been begun:-- .,..
No. of Pro- Thick