, 1870-12-29

As
T., Stevens died. and left lis brother
Edwin a.. and the. United States
government jcint heirs to his great Invention.
Tie former at once set 10 WORK 10 induce the
government to complete the battery, but was
no more successful thar had boen llis brother.
Naval officers condemned it: and although
board after board saw the battery, not one
could he found to report favorably upon It.
And 20 the monster WAS roofel over. the
estteIy yard locked, And the place deserted
until 1861, whom the war broke ont. :.
"Hele's cur chance, " said the Stevens Mm-
ilY, AID away they scattered to Washington.
Poor old Nr. Melles was nearly distracted.
lie had never Iuxrl Of the great invention,
AND wondered why the whole State Of New
Jeresy should tu,n 10 ont 70 poster him about
said lie, as piles and piles Of drawings, plans,
and etchinga were thrust urde1 lis oyos.
- The greatest invention Of tho nineteenth
century" aid tie chorus Ct Stevenses, Ship
Eens, Dedt. sttcltons, Ac., that hssaiied him.
IL the government will only complete tllis
montbe. Indeed, cir, il the United Statea had
bought this reshel and kept it on hand in tho
frss splace; We don't believe tho South would
have seeded"
Nj. we1les looked bowildercj, but nevcz.he-
less he took the only means OF ending their
iml o,tunitics-he ordered mother board to
examine ard report, Tho boatl met and
canle 10 tho EatnO conclusion that its prcdc-
ccsecr ha1s reached. Ah. Stevens then rot
mother tack aud went straight to Congress,
snd by d'ns CT much perseverance, got John
T. Halo to push through 4 res olutioa reuounc-
iES all right and title OF tho United States to
the battery. Thrs, the government 1uada Mr..
expended.
---s~ we1e now made to dis.ra.o oY IL 10
foreign govern 'sa's. . oas With no success,
and 80 the work was :. p'1usu !9r hFe years
or longer, until a1r. Stevens : death: -,
ltrs for tho completion Of the ve eS:el. and
stipulated that upon her completion hlle
slouid bo made a free gift TO the State .'t
New JcrreY. Tue executors OF the estate at
once sct 10 work to accomplish the task i'm
ersI Geo. b. Mcclellan to sureriutcnd the
work, at a talary Of 10000 per year, nnd
then. by the advice OF tcnr ef ibe best naval
architects in the country, altered her plsns 80
| that in form and armament rho will resemble
| Colonel Stevens plan was to haro her
and lowertd at viii. Tho battery
in action was TO rink By means Of watcr-tight
compartments or tanka to nearly q layel with
b. below the water when loaded, and when
ready to fire Me1c 10 BE- thrust up through
! hcles in the deck, fired, and inatcntly lowered
out Of sight Tho exectora received to change
tlle plan, and mount tho guns in thoroughly
1hoepsoet taitet+ ~naen sheala 70 staaonars
II every other retlect thc. arc building her
e1sct'y As Colonel Stevens and hia son, Robert,
dcslsned her, About .tU men arelenployed,
| and the indications are that she may 10
isunchca sene u2e IN the coming spring.
iier sngines ard holieis IRE oeint, pat on
sinking the vessel and TaislrG her being ad-
1n:tcd. The vessel ls 40 feet long,
AID OF O. feet breadth Of beam,
snts at either end IS as sharp As a
etuee. she ha8 Nght IRON hull, but the
Iatt which il exposed TO an enemy's fire is
masstse oAken frame, covered with eiG4s
nchcs Of solid ION p!stes. The turret, which
Il 70 20 paced smdsh'Is. u Essenty.four feet
! ,onE, anu ID lolm ah ceta6onei pafAualosram.
y 20 10 o! sci.a OAK thtee feet IN thlckness.
sI. ~ cosereu win etsMesn P'ases oI Ton
.e ~ ,Ecn aoa n ta
; wv CARY 'onr tMeh'!.lnen or seTen hlteen-
, Ecu sulF. 1he oat'siy H!i nave tSo psopsl-
is!s. easn oi ioul elaoee' NMcn arc 10 DO
a,Nen y t"o alses-aei1He engines OF seven
.!-s%o inca c5ihoeie. INC ooAefs arc ten IN
shHt! tut1aeee; sees, :.
is rsia. Be sSle to carry fasi iot afsssn S days
hard stesmlng.
t,, As enc hes % on tne - stocks. IN me mode! Of tho
arEea1eEce; she has no bulge" or swell
Amidsh,rst put goes down from sa1l TO keel
nsn! M az sna1p as wcoee. FAa INC d
sien OF tne ihEen.of 10 nave per turn nearly
on t sss 1hn 'ha ~, un ha Il
ur. u y ditlcnlf 10 1maGloe how Il Is to be
! aceomrissheo. Her immense length and Pc
sn,.af modtt WI. Il Il feIfea, prevent tue
fulnsment OF tb1a design, Indeed. 1t ia even
oonbttnl whether; owing to these causes, she
VII ee maneEeatie ~ ~
INC machinery ana ton ia taaks hsEe, with
ne me eaeepnon o. lev eve OF tne heas,eE cass. M
,rsS 9 .ne aa1es, neen msnn!astufee a ~ AZ tne
wcis;snop anu ioonutE m ouit os Nj. staEent
: 10, , .ne puipose. me e1eea!o!s are prose
eenst aA!os t4at euaneef can ses aeeess e
we sGu, gEae1 tae &ssaraoees given .!
T uenetM McC!eliAn OF me piooaple nna! sue.
cess OF tne vesee!; tne helfs of tne estate o.