New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-06
THE SPANISH GUNBOATS.
Ne,o. York, Nov. 8, 1869.

MYSTIC BRIDGE AND ITS sHIP-YARDS - THE
SPANISH GUNBOAT CONTRACT-ITS EFFECT
ON BUSINESs-A DESCRIPTION OF THE YES
Sells.
MYSTIC BRIDGE, Conn, Nov. 4.-TO the peO-
pie OF the interior the place where write this letter is
comparatively unknown but along the entire extent OF
our seashore from Maine TO Alaska, wherever men go
down to the In ships Mysticbut clippers are known
and admired alike by captains and common sailors III
the history Of the California trade, Mystic ships have
never been equaed. The Andrew Jackson remarkable
for having made the quickest passage for sangvessel
between NewYork and San Francisco years ago. the Da
yid Crockett. Twilight, and many other vessels well
known TO shippers, were modelled by Mystic men and
were built here. When the Shareholders Rebellion broke
out naval contractors looked to this place for many
Of the vessels they wanted. The Galena, the
first experiment and failure in naval ironclad
architecture, constructed at one OF our yards The
Varuna whose splendid record while passing the forts on
the Mississippi below New0rleans, under command
OF the gallant Capt. B0ggs, will ever DO remembered
was product Of Mystic industry At the close OF the
war; our maritime industry came to sudden stand-st
The yards closed and for many months the timber
in them left over from the last contracts seasoned adj
miraby The carpenters rOamed about our streets dis
heartened and detected. Gaunt poverty stood at the
doors OF many Of these OF toll and not few were
obliged TO leave family and home, and seek
work elsewhere In other departments OF labor
II was therefore with an intense feeling OF relief that we
received the several months ago that large con-
tract given to the ship builders OF Mystic in be-
half of the Spanish Government On the 7th Of May last
IL was officially published upon the streets that c. H.
Delamater & Co. OF New-York had contracted with
Spain for the construction of thirty gunbOats designed
for service Cuban waters; and, further that C. H.
Mallory Co. Of New-YOrk, also Of the firm OF Mallory
Sons Of Mystic had subcontracted with Delamater Co.
for the building Of fifteen Of them For many days nearly
every train brought artisans, skilled in the construction
OF vessels with their chests OF TOOLS the teamsters hur
red away early light and brought from the woods the
best and largest sticks Of timber they could nd for
and South purchase timber suitable for the building
of the boats They brought large quantities from the
forests of Maine and North Carolina. One firm worked
mp cargo OF Georgia TIMBER IN Lher contract vi INC
fifteen boats contracted for by C. H. Mallory q Co. eight
by Hill Grinnen, and two by George Greenman Co
The specifications were duly prepared IN New Ork,
OF nigh grade Although 90 days the utmost limta
ton Of time for their completion yet these documents
contain all modern improvements The boats were
each be ITO feet in length % feet IN width, and feet
I'm depth. They to measure us tuns each, old
measurement During the last week In May the workmen
commenced their labOrs The keels were lad and then
with almost wonderful rapidty they worked tlmbers OF
whe-Osk locust, and hackme-tack into the frames and
tree nails To put good finish TO their they celled
the boats yellow pine. sharpeyed oyerseers pushed
quence the finished exactly according to con
Before aey Sse royn & opde
from his superors to prevent the boats from leaving inc
Here 10 boats upon the STOCKS none IN con-
ditiOn to launch with no machinery for them IN
the town, and no possibility OF preparing them ior
ofee mixing his especial duty TO that these shells
did not violate the laws OF the land bY putting 70 sea-
to intercept fleet should high tide float them of
the stocks Mr.. Mallory gave the Deputy Marshal his
permission from the Government few bottles Of eK
cellent ROderer were broken with the Spanish agents
here, who we're watching the work, and the curtain
Dropped. .,.-
alattpp had hoy were drau
spans river Soon after the last one was In the water
it was decided DO portion OF the Joiner work here.
The contract for ten boats given 70 X Mattson Co.
Of Mystic, who, with gang Of 40 men, commenced ther
tied up here until the 10th OF October when they
were towed to New-YOrk under escort OF the United
States Revenue cutter Campbell The joiner work on
them viii be completed in that city under the immediate
supervision OF the Spanish agents located there
Each boat is TO have two masts, schooner rugged In
addition 10 sails motive power will be furnished by
two screw prOpellers each side Of the rudder
Iron Works. New,York' The gundeek forward OF tho
foremast One OOPound Parrot gun VIII be placed IN
each boat. The galley for the cooks use place on the
boiler deck. Two small buildings, one on each sde
Of the boat designed for W@terfl0sets are placed
neced by bridge, on which the pilot will stand IN time
of action The cabin Is aft OF the main,mast, ana
board side The stairs made OF ash with black wal
nut trimmings, small armOry Is placed at the left OF
the cOmpanionway in time OF action, tho arms and
ammunition from the magazine, VIII be passed out
which is forward OF the armOry, constructed the
most thorough It's Dimensions four feet In
made 40 follows bulk head, an inch in thickness was
built and covered over with galvanized iron two thick
nesses OF pine sheahing each threefOurths OF inch
were fastened to the ron one being laid lengthwise and
the other crosswse ana Iastepen with copper Inc
right OF the oompanon-way has trunk roof. The
windows between the DECK and inc ROOF Says
on the outside by gratngs; blinds VIII De placed at the
Of black walnut Berths for three officers washstands
drawers and lockers in abundance, MI up the cabin
space On the sarboard side just forward OF the cabin
and mess room. 1t 10 proposed TO finish each IN
piete condition but little idea obtained OF these
will look when compleed but from what the con-
have charge Of these boats Will cit down to as pleasant
tables they would find at home Forward Of the
room large eDgineroom with small space SGT apart
and assistants On either side are lockers
maeR regard to aony Ssso little
come amiss to the sailor for he Is to have
him Passing forward, come next to the boilerroom,
the home of the jolly tars Is next 70 the boilerroom 1t
is pleasant place for forecaste. Here the Spanish
iIanid SPANISH It ia spacious and Will swing number
Of hammOcks. Forward OF the forecase are the wine
They are furnished with racks for the safe conveyance OF
bottles, decanters, and glasses. small armOry, two
rOoms, and chainlockers occupy the extreme for
II has been paying Job to the Mystic contractors
time. The only persons who have made money out Of
the affair the carpenters, and they are the men who
low prices m order to secure the Job from NewYork
builders They would have made some money, however,
the rise ia labor and material Under the urgent
necessity of completing the frame work In ninety days
who had been receiving 81 70 per day demanded
% 80, and the master workmen were obliged 10 pay
srkers prices The market was found TO DO bare Of ma
terial, and those who had timber held i at as
$50 per thousand ono week before the contracts were
made public The sails for the boats have been S made
The spare engines, boilers prOpeers CABIN furniture
&C., will be furnished Ia HewY0rk 1t is expected That
they Will each mako at least ten knots per hour.
One Spanish agent has been here watching the work
from the time the hrst boat commenced and for