The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-09
SPAIN VS.. FREE CUBA,
Fitting Out Spanish War Vessel
in New York.
The Confederate Pfiyateef Chiekamausa Being
Equipped with Naval Armament.
The Forlorn Condition Of the Fleet Of Spanish
Gunboats or Cuba-New Boilers Re-
quired-History Of the Chickamauga-
Interview With Mr.. Delamater.

dunboa0 Vn Cuba-NeW bouere Re-
quirsd-History of the Chickamauga-
Interview With Mr.. Delamater.
In view Of the increasing complications between
the government OF the United States and that OF
Spain, Spanish vessel OF war is now being fitted
up in this port at the well known shipbuding yard
OF Mr.. Delaater. situated at the foot Of Fifteenth
street, North River. The name OF the vesseln ques
ton (the Chickamauga is familiar to Northern ears.
for during the late war she was engaged as rebel
privateer, and inflicted upwards of q million dol
lars worth OF damage on our commerce by captur-
Ing some half q dozen vessels. The steamer In
question is to be armed with o hundred pound
pivot gun and two sixty pound broadslders.
SKETCH OF THE PRIvATEEa's HISTORY.
The Chickamauga Ii long. Eakish, low set ves-
sci, with sharp bows and stern. Of about six hum
dred tons burden, and Is perfect type Of rapid
vessel She was built in 1884, At Blackwell. near
London, by Dudgeon Brothers. She was originally
laid out for Danish gunboat at the commence
ment OF the war between Denmark and the COM
bined land and sea forces OF Prussia and Austria,
but owing to the speedy termination OF the war her
services were not required.
SHE ENTERS THE CONFEDERATE SERVICE.
Owing to her great speed she was purchased for
$4,000 by the Confederates, who were also at-
racted by the unusual thickness OF her iron plates,
they being from seven-eighths to half an inch in
thickness. She has clear upper deck and berth
deck, with q commodious cabin and wardroom ait
for officers. The following are her principal d.
mansions Length, $50 feet; breadth Of beam, rs
feet; depth OF hold, 10 feet. She has five water
tight compartments. Her four engines, OF 500
horse power, are remarkably powerful; the diane
ter OF each cylinder is "a inches, and 22nch stroke
OF piston.
SHE IS A TWIN SCREW,
with two engines to each screw. Her consumption
OF coal Is twenty-four tons per twenty-four hours
and her speed is fifteen knots an hour. She may be
considered as one Of the swiest vessels OF her class
IN this or any other country, and among her cele-
brated runs may be cited that which she made from
Nassau to Wilmington in nifty hours
SHE REMAINS TWO YEARS UNDER WATER.
At the capture of Wilmington by the federal
troops she was sunk by the rebels to prevent her
being taken. At the close of the war she was sold
as she lay, with large amount OF other property.
Her owners lost no time in raising her from her fresh
water bed, getting her repaired and taken to Bal
pended in raising the prlvateer amounted to up
wards OF one hundred and twenty thousand
dollars.
HER SALE TO THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO.
After remanng.1dlc Tor some time ut baltimore
General Sturms, on behalf Of the Republic Of
Mexico agreed to purchase her for the navy that
country, and her name was changed to that OF
the then President OF Mexico, Benito Juarez,
and the Mexican arms were engraved on hersstern,
and remain there to this day. Owing, however,
to some misunderstanding the sale was never con-
summated, and the Chickamauga remained idle as
before
TIE SPANISH NAVAL AGENT IN NEW YORK.
by the last steamer which arrived IN this city from
Havana the Spanish naval officer In thus city, per:
manently stationed here Don CasariegO, and
whose office ia situated at AZ Broadway, received
detective Instructions to purchase the vessel in
question, and conclude the sale which had been
pending for over q month, and q couple oil DAYS
ago the exprivateer was brought round to the yard
OF Mr.. Delamater to be thoroughly overhauled.
SHE Is VISITED BY HERALD REPORTER.
| Yesterday morning HERALD reporter went
down to the shipbulding yard Just mentioned to
number Of mechanics working hard at "over-
hauling" or. in other words, fitting her up as .
and the sharp ring Of the hammer was heard on
every side. portion OF her bulwarks had been
Sr tine setting o. III the o pivot No
ready for sea, as the Spanish government requires
her services ct once and as many other steamboats,
as they can aord 70 buy in this country, for 1t s
reported on the highest authority
THAT TIE SPANISH GUNBOAT FLOTILLA,
were allowed to leave this port about three Years
ago for Cuban waters, by order OF Secretary Ham,
iton Fish, are now In q most dilapidated condition,
prepared and shipped by Mr.. Delamater. This
general ruination Of boilers Is considered to be
board these vessels, who burn holes IN them by
gross ignorance and csrelessness, and not OF the
constructor, Mr. Delamater
Alter having watched the wOrkmen on the
steamer for some time reporter paid visit to
Mr. Delamater in his ONCE, and the following short
REPoRrRR-You are fitting out the Chickamauga
for Spanish man-0fwar, Ihear, Mr.. DeamaterS
Mr.. DELAMATnR-My dear sir, II there Is person
on earth that do net like Il 10 reporter. (LauQh
kEPoRrER-well, IL It yes or no, Mr.. Delamater ?
Casariejo has put the vessel In nv hands 10 be-
thoroughly repaired and overhauled.
RKP0RTER-I will only bother you with one more
question. Have you heard hew many OF your gun
| Cubas
Mr.. DELAMArKR-i provided thirty boats. and
they have now thirty one, or one additional to the
number furnished, and there have been no losses
| therefore.
Thanking Mr. Deamater for his courtesy the re.
CONTRADICTION
subsequently the reporter spoke with several
well informed persons, who say that they believe
that some hve or six, at least, Of the gunboats have
| been lost.
WILL THE PERUVIAN MINISTER NrERrEREY
1t is believed that the Peruvian Minister will pro-
| test against the Chickamauga leaving this port as
eminent is not at peace with Spain, there being
merely three years. truce existing between the
tive countries. and which shortly expires. When
the gunb0at n0tlla OF thirty vessels just alluded
| to, each costing about fifty thousand dollars left
this pert to quel the Cuban insurrection the Peru
| Wan government made remOnstrance to this gov.
SUCCESSFUL CUBAN EXPEDITIONS.
II is apparent that the notilia in question u.s. com.
| paratively speaking, unserviceable In preventing
the landing OF the numerous expeditions which
| have OF late been carrying arms, munitions OF war
&C., to the patriot Cubans in different parts Of the
| island
| FURTHER PURCHASES OF SWIFT STEAMERS ny THE
| sPANIARDs.
! The former blockade runner, the Coquette has
| been sold at Baltimore for ''catte boatn to q
wealthy Havana firm, but she. like the Chicka.
manga, 1t Is understood, is about to recruit the
forces OF the mesquite squadron on the shores OF
| Cuba. II Is reported also that Spanish steamer
OF war Is to lay on New Orleans to await the large
Cuban expedition which, It is said will leave there
shortly. The Spanish naval ofncer in this city mas
| caused a survey to be made OF the two English
| steel steamers Northern and Southern, now lying
| In the Erie Basin.
The Cuban Anti-Slavery Society.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 8, 1873