Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-17
FIRST EDITION.
Sailing of the Johns Hopkins

l
PoINTMENTs, 90.
The steamship Johns Hopkins left the yard
OF the Harlan Il Hollingsworth Co., where sht
was built this morning, for Baltimore, to tax,
her place ON the line between that city and Bos
ton. She is one of the finest iron ships that evel
left this port and in her passenger accommoda.
tions and general appointments is not excolled
| by any ship that sails the high seas. We under.
stand that Thursday, Of next week, has been set
apart for her departure on her first voyage, and
that she will at that time enter upon her regular
service
The Johns Hopkins is an iron screw ste amehip
| of about 1900 tons and cost about $500 000 She
| is 240 feet long 38 feet wide and 27 feet deep.
Her storage capacity is amply sufficient for 5000
bales OF cotton or 10 900 barrels of flour. She s
rated as an A l steamer and is in every respect
worthy to be classed among the best ships which
have been built IN this or any other country.
But that which gives the Johns Hopkins pre-
eminence over any other ship built in this city,
perhaps in the United States, is the superiority
of her passenger accommodations. For. although
designed primarily for freight steamer, che
nevertheless possesses speed sufficient to render
the passage between Baltimore aud Boston
desirable one, and amid the comforts which are
provided the enntli of a sea voyage will dissipste
into mere pasttime or delightful recreation
The main saloon is perfect floating palace with
it's paneled sides of walnut, maple, hungarian
ash and satinwood, and it's rich furniture OF solid
walnut, upholstered in green plush 1t is car
petad with brussels, the ornamentation Of which
is pleasant to look upon and In keeping with all
the surroundings of the apartment
The staterooms, both by reason of their size
and arrangement, are objects OF interest Their
plan is something different from that OF the ships
which have hitherto been built here. They
are separated into pairs by narrow entrances
and communicate the one with the other,
although they may be kept private il so desired.
These rooms are also elegantly furnished The
floors are carpeted with brussels, the berths are
made of walnut paneled with satin-wo9d, are
draped with lace and green rep, and the wash
atands are stationary. with marble basins. The
beds are made upon hair mattresses with spring
bottoms. These Htaterooms, 1S in number are
located on the third desk and just above them
are six others, larger, with double berths, and
are known as the bridal chambers" They are
no more nicely fitted up than the staterooms
below, and differ only in size.
The captains apartments are also Injurious,
and in their furnishing communicate the esteem
with which he il held by tho Company. No ship
has ever left this city in which better provision
was made for her commanding officer The
sides are panelled with walnut, satin-wood and
hungarian ash the double berth is made OF
the same material and hidden away amid a
profuslon of lace aud rep curtains the floor l.
carpeted with brussels, aud the furniture
Is comfortable and luxurious. These apart
ments are Immediately in the rear of the pilot
door in the partition.
The officers quarters are not so elaborate in
their design. but they are all that man could
wish on shipboard. The fremen and crew are
assigned to quarters in the fore part of the
ship.
The kitchen is provided with Duparquet
French range, and the pantry with all the dish
es &c, necessary to spread handsome banquet.
The machinery consists of direc-acting sur
face condensing engine, with cylinder 60 inches
N diamqfar
connecting with the wheel is So feet long and
1215 inches in diameter. The wheel is 13 feet
3 inches in diameter, and has 81 feet pitch. The
steam is generated in two tubular boilers, of 5-l6
inch iron and with four furnaces each. The on
gine is $50 horse power, and is the 455th built
by the III II III. Co.
The Johns Hopkins is we'll supplied with safe
ty apparatus. To guard sgainst fire she has two
Cameron force pumps capable of throwing two
streams of water on each deck, and besides this
there are steam fire extinguishers in the several
compartments. And in case of leak these
pumps also adequate, with the other appar-
atus provided to lift 900 gallons of water from
the bilge in any one or all OF the compartments.
There are also four large life boats aud one life
raft, the whole capable of accommodating from
1870 to 140 persons in ease OF accident, while the
total passenger capacity OF the ships ls only suf-
hcient for 80 persons
The Hopkins is differed by mon capable
efficient. aflable, and popular with the patrons
OF the line, Capt w. A. Hallett, the comman-
der has been in the employ Of the Company
since its organization, in 1854, and has proven
himself one of the most successful commanders
upon the sea. During the 18 years OF his ser
vice he has not met with a single accident,
although he has encountered some severe
storms. NJ 4. Albert Moore, the engineer is
thoroughly practical man, and fully conyersant
with the details of machinery. He has euperin-
tended the placing of all the machinery in his
ship. and may therefore be supposed to be fully
competent to control it.
The Johns Hopkins is the seventh steamers of
the Merchants and Miners Transportation Co.,
all OF which have been built or purchased since
the waI. These are the VIM Ldio. elre, the Ben
DeFOrd, the VIM. Crane the Geo. 4p0ld, the
Mcclellan the Blackstone. and the Johns Hop
hins The line Is q very profitable one, and not
withstandng the ample provision which is made
for their transportation of freight the ships are
sometimes sorey pressed to convey it.
"A few Wilmingtonians accompanied the
Johns HoDkins in her outward trip. Among
them were Howard NJ. Jenkins, OF the
COMMERCIAL and his wife; DR.. IL. b
Bnnghurst and wife DR.. A, H. Grimshaw
and others. The Baltimore agent of the Com
pany was also On board. The ship will probably
20 to sea about o'clock, this evening" and to-
morrow she will ascend the Chesapeake, reach
ing the mouth of the patapsco after night. but
will not enter the harbor of Baltimore before
Friday morning. II the present mid sunshine
continues the trip will be refreshingly delight
full one.