The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-09
THE pR1vATEER CHICKAMAUaA.

Departure OF the Ex.Confederate Prtva.
teer To-Day for Havana-Her New
Employment rs . Spanish Gunboat-
What She Carries-The Gun Carriages
ON Deck-The Names OF the United
States Merchant Vessels the Chicka-
manga Has Destroyed-Her Wonderful
Speed.
Yesterday afternoon, in consequence of report
that the Spanish gunb0at Chickamauga, now lying
at the shipbuilding yard of Messrs Delamater &
Co.. was about to proceed to sea- after having
been equipped for gunboat for service in Cuban
waters, reporter was sent up to the yard In ques
ton, at Tldrteenth street and North River to
verify the truth Of the rumor, and subsequently
learned that she had been cleared at the Custom
House and was 80 sail this morning at nine O'Clock
II possible. She is commanded Dy Captain Curtis,
former commander Of the Atlantic Mail steamer
MORO Castle; her first officer is Mr.. Charles w.
Adams, formerly OF the Havana steamers Columbia
and Crescent City, and her second officer is Mr..
John Broad, also from the Columbia. In addition
to this she takes out
SEVERAL SPANISH OFFICERS
from the iron clad Saragossa and ten sailors and
coal passers, also frsm the same vessel, who came
on here about ten days ago from Havana. The
Spanish naval agent in this city, whose Office is at
AZ Broadway, has informed the naval officers on
board that their duties will not commence until
the vessel arrives at Havana bat that the sailors
and csal passers will have to work under the or
ders OF the American captain, officers, engineers
and four quartermasters, who are responsible for
her safe delivery to the authorities at Havana.
HER NAVAL ARMAMENT.
Upon the Chickamauga's deck are two ponderous
iron gun carriages, one placed forward for q
100-pound Parrot gun, and the other one, which is
adapted for a pivot, is placed amidshps. Her Of
larly the ward room; but up to q late hour last
night her decks were crowded with painters,
glaziers riggers, carpenters, &c. who were appar-
emily working against time to get through their
allotted tasks. 1t is reported that she has
LARGE QUANTITY OF SHOT ON BOARD,
which is called 'stOres" in addition to the i'm
mense stock OF beef pork, rice, beans and other
deck she is to take twenty-five tons Of coal =. ad
ditiOn to the large stock already shipped = is
computed that she will carry total OF eighty tea
hundred officers and crew when she commences
her task of patrolling the island OF Cuba in quest
OF liberating expeditions. 1t is believed on the
found to contain. when the vessel arrives at Ha-
vana, large amount OF ammunition and the can
mons for the gun carriages.
DIMENSIONS OF THE CHICKAMAUGA, &C.
This vessel was built at London, in 1854, for a
blockade runner and was constructed to run tnir-
teen knots with ten pounds steam pressure,
which she has frequently DONE Her name at
launching was the Edith, but it was subsequently
changed to che Chickamauga after she became
Confederate privateer The following is a list OF
damage inflicted by her upon our shipping, and for
which the undergoing requisition has been made,
in company with the Alabama claims, upon the
British governments
Emma L. Hall, bark, of this city, captured and
Mark L. Potter bark, Of Bangor Me-. destroyed 5O650
otter Rock schooner of Castine Me-, scuted 1I277
Shooting Star, ship, Of this city, 97 tons, coal
laden, captured and burned. 1888
Total slss,O7o
The Chickamauga is 1856 feet long, 20 feet beam
and Is feet depth of hold, and is OF 800 tons burden
She has four double engines, two to each shaft and
four cylinders, "a by IS inch stroke; two boilers
with four furnaces each. She has wire rigging and
is schOoner-rigged, with new masts and sails:
She Is twin screw, and is considered
on all hands one of the swiftest steam
ers which ever entered this port, having done
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SIXTEEN KNOTS AN HOUR
with steam and sail. Yesterday she received her
bunting on board, including, among other nags,
the Stars and Stripes, but as soon as she leaves
Mr.. Delamater's yard she will fly the Spanish ensign
at her mizZen. The Spanish engineers In charge Of
the nOtila fleet OF thirty gunboats which were
built by Mr. Deamater three years ago and sent
out to Cuba, have knack Of burning holes In the
boilers Of their vessels and 1t is cordially hoped by
the friends Of free Cuba in this city that the same
fate attend the Chckamauga, or whatever her
name may be when she is rechrstened in Havana.
1t Is expected that she will be In Havana In eighty
four hours alter leaving this port.