The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-27
THE MOSQUITO FLEET.
The Mysterious spanish GsunbOats-Tral Trip
OF No. .!ccisiye Position of the Administra-
IiOn-ttWill They SniIc'

The Nlysterions Spap,sh Gnnb9ats..Trial @ 7 rig Trip
GHionnoo;wiiii 81 Tney saiis' ''''" Vi INC 'A'' "
The Spanish mosquito boats again. They
have been buzzing about the ears OF Secretary
Fish, singing the tender skin of willy diplomats,
touching the gentle susceptibilitles OF Mr.. Sum
ner, and have been worse than the locusts of
Egypt--a pest generally. Let all hands go down
to the foot of Thirteenth street. North river, and
they will there behold this troublesome swarm
yclept the Mosquito Fleet. Within three months
time everything that can be seen at the Delama
ter Works has been accomplished towards
pushing those singular specimens OF
marine architecture to successful compile
tion. Over five hundred men are now
employed on the vessels and the whole scene in
their vicinity is one of activity and animation.
1t is something it is true, to be proud of in the
annals OF American shipbuilding that n foreign
government should seek our shores as lifting
quarter wherein to construct, arm and equip
fotilla of the magnitude of thirty craft. Yet the
question occurs, did not Spain make this con-
tract with an American constructor with that
subtle diplomacy that has long distinguished her
foreign relations? Did she not, believing that
these gunboats we're to be used in American
waters, and that their building and even their
departure from this port would not be impeded
by the administration, take fresh confidence in
ordering thirty insignificant and in a naval
view, very ordinary vessels? 1t must seem so to
every reaectiug mind, In the first place take
survey of the gunboats, their dimensions, ca
paci les for off and defense, and the probable
service for which they are destined.
THE GUNBoATs.
Now living at the foot of Thirteenth street, on
the north side of the pier, are fifteen of these
marine insects, with their bows turned towards
all points of the compass. Painted lavender
color, with full length fore and aft of 1O5 feet,
and OF tonnage less than 200 burden, which is
the capacity of small-siZed canal boat, they
present the appearance OF very pretty squad
ron, when even compared with the hermaphro-
dite double-enders that made so conspicuous a
failure in the late war. The very TACT that they
have been constructed in so short time lnde-
pendent of their peculiar model and their strlR-
inc Iittleness, furnishes enough assurance that
they can never be other than mean guerlllas in
a General naval combat, and Of course they are
liable to be met in this manner. The boats are
not named, but are numbered from one to
fifteen eonsecutively.
An examination of any one OF them reveals
the characteristics of ALL for they are sister ves'
sells. With a moderate breadth OF beam in pro-
portion TO the length, and very shallow depth
of hold. the lines of the hull are not OF course
marked by any degree OF beauty, nor 40 tney
show that any particular style OF model has
been adopted. The bows have little inclination
the stern post being almost perpendicular
About the stern the lines resemble the hmc
nuarters of a beef, and break abruptly at th'
npTonelIer frame. On deck the area is very
rroinped. as may be imagined from the dlmen
SONS below is the fire room, just forward o
amidships. furnished with horizontal tubuia
omnhoat boiler. built at the Delamatel
Works. Just abaft is the oscillating engine
a small concern of nominal horse power. SUI
further aft can be found the cabin AS thi