The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-04-24
[FgoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENCE
BALTIMORE. Nd. April 20.

BALTIMORE, Nd, April 20.
There are few of your Charleston readers
who are not familiar with that spectre-ike
squadron of steamers, which, silently al
shadows, and swift as the wind, were wont tc
steal into and out of the harbor, frequently
under the very muzzles of hostile guns
daring all the perils Of battle and storm to
supply the wants Of ablockaded people. Many
there are who will recall to memory the comely
shape OF one of these ''phantoms of the deep,
the Coquette. ''She still lves," and to-day ]
have had the pleasure of feeling her engines
throb with the pulses of new life, preparato-
ry to her departure for Charleston, between
which city and Baltimore she will henceforth
ply, like an ocean shuttle, weaving the fabric
of common prosperity and trade.
When bought by her present owners, six
weeks ago, the Coquette would scarcely have
been recognized she was in appearance little
more than mere battered hulk With true
Baltimore energy, however, she has since been
overhauled and reftted in every part, and to-
day there is not more graceful, tidy and taut-
looking ship that rests u pon the bosom OF the
waters. Her name has likewise been changed,
and hereafter the maryland, with the Sea
Gull and Falcon, will constitute the trio of
swift winged messengers whose design is to
bring the Monumental City almost within hail
ing distance Of our own.
Under .the circumstances, description of
the vessel may not be devoid ofinterest. She
was built in Renfrew, Scotland, in 1864, bought
by the Confederate Government, and before
the end of the war. was sold to private parties.
Her length is two hundred and twenty feet;
breadth OF beam twenty. feet; clear depth Of
hold thirteen feet; and mean draught, when
loaded, nine feet.
The hull of the Maryland is Of iron, we'll
strengthened by lateral and diagonal bracing,
and built in six compartments, either or all of
which can be filed with water or emptied by
pumps. Danger from fire or leakage is thus
averted. The rig is that Of a "barkentine,"
that is, square rigged on the foremast, and
schooner rigged on the main and mizzen
masts. The ordinary capacity of the ship is
1900 bales Of cotton, but she has carried 1900
bales, Of which 46O we're on deck. Her speed
is likewise very great She'has made fourteen
knots, and with small outlay Of fuel, can
easily make eleven. Her speed under
canvas alone is nine knots. The ship
is furnished with double propeller and
powerful English engines, that have no
superior in the United States The cylinders
are forty.four inches in diameter, and have q
four-foot stroke. There are two anchors, one
of which is Trotman's patent, q host in itself.
Few American ships are supplied with it, but
all English steamers are required to carry at
least one. There is double Independent
steering apparatus. In the pilothouse' is
patent indicator, showing what directions have
been given by the engineer-whether to "go
ahead" to "slow," or to "stop." In the engine
room is corresponding dial, and warning Of a
change is given oy the ringing of bell.
The quarters of the officers and crew are ad-
mirably arranged, there being abundant deck
accommodation, but the gem Of the ship-that
which, in addition to hersea-going qualities,
will make her popular, especially among the
ladies-is the cabin. The floor consists of
alternate strips of walnut and ash, which,
highly polished and oiled, produce a
very handsome effect. The ceiling and sides
of the apartment are painted white, ornament
ed with,a delicate blue beading and an edging
of gold. Lounges and seats Of mahogany on
every side invite one to attitudinize lazily;
and the staterooms are as luxurious as the
boudow of an ambitious bride. In brief, the
Maryland is like great yacht fitted up for o
nabob and his picnic friends.
The following are the officers Of the M1ry-
land: Captain, E. c. Reed, (late of the Falcon),
and one of the iolliest, bravest and best Of fell
lows, who allowed his ship to be sunk, while
running the blockade, rather than surrender;
Chief Officer, R. E. N. Boggs; Second Officer,
R. Reid, (both well known in Charleston;)
Chief Engineer, S. Chapman; Second Engineer,
Mark Barclay; Third Engineer, George A.
Dean; and Steward, Wm. Spiers.
THE TRIAL TRIP.
After being thoroughly renovated and put in
order, it was of course necessary to test the
machinery. trial trip was accordingly made
to-day, and the presence on the occasion of
many of the representative merchants, brok-
ers, shippers and members of the press Of Bal
timore evinced the great interest felt by these
noble people in all that pertains to the welfare
of Charleston, as we'll as to their own prosperi-
ty as the great commercial city Of the South.
Leaving the dock at twelve o'clock, the
Maryland ran down about twenty miles, Capt.
Reed handling his ship superbly, and testing
her capacity, under the circumstances, with
the most satisfactory result. During portion
of the distance he permitted her to display
somewhat Of her ancient heels, and although
not at full speed, eight miles glided away from
our keel in little less than thirty minutes.
Sit in a railway car on any South Carolina
railroad, and watch the mile posts going by
so fast that they look like monuments in
graveyard, and you will have some idea Of the
lively time made by the Maryland.
During the trip a very handsome collation.,
H. LIZ 80