The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1879-05-23
U. S. MAN OF WAR.
To ascend the Mississippi
About Jnne First.
Especial Telepraphic Correspondence of
the Courier Journal.

Especial Telepraphic Correspondence of
the Courier Journal.
WAsluNGron, May 16.-This after
noon YOUR correspondent had a con-
versatien with the Secretary of the
Navy to the following effect:
Correspoudent-Is it true that you
are to send naval ship to St. Louis?
Sacretary-But l was trying TO
teen the fact secret l wanted to
run vessel up the Mississippi river
before Anyone knew what was the mat
ter. lust to astonish the natives.
Here the Secretary enjoyed one OF
his hearty laughs.
Yes" he continued, "about the
first Of next week the WaclIusett will
leave Charleston (Mass) navy yard
for St. Louis, where l hope to have
her drop anchor about the middle OF
June. l have been thinking for some
time of way to give our Western
bows chance to get in the navy
They are too poor to come East, and |
am going to send as hip after.,hem, the
Wachusett is of that size and make Of
vessel that are called third class. She
is about 100 feet long, with displace-
ment of 1850 feet, and has tonnage Of
695. She is an old vessel rebuilt, and
this VIII be her first cruise since re
building. She is q screw propeller,
three-masted, square rugged ship, and
is the same one with which Collins cut
out the Florida during the war. She
was designed for six guns, but her
broadsides will be taken of to give her
room. but she will carry two eleven
pound guns, which | think will be.suf-
fcient for all war purposes on this
trip
Here the Secretary again REQUIRED
to the novelty of the expedition. He
said he could not we'll get 4 man.
of-war around to his home at Terre
Haute, 50 he was going to do the mex
best thing aud send one to St Louis
Those Democrats out there in Mis-
souri,, he continued, "wii swear that
| am using the navy for eletion pur.
poses. We will have them fire a gun
or two to let them know we mean
business. But, in dead earnest now,
our Western boys ought to have a
show, and | think this is the best thing
| have done since / have been in the
Cabinet. | write to John Simpson, of
the Faudalia road, asking him to get
for rue some facts as to the navigation
from some boa,man. The Waehusett
draws sixteen feet. \ gentleman who
was twenty five years on the river
says eau get tie ship up to St. Louis
at this season Of the year very easily
She will 20 there and when the river
lowers will be taken down to Carlo,
where she can run all the year round.
This vessel is not ada pied for a regular
training ship. She will serve as a
recruiting ship. and when c get her
full Of boys, she will run down the
river and unload Oh 10 a regular trains
ing ship. Tho oficers are now being
selected for her"
The Secretary believes in making
the navy popular in the West, whence
it gets nearly halt of its officers, fact
not generally known. 1t is not like
" tina: some of the Western officers
nill be placed in command Of the
" ..chusett II takes about ono huns
red and ten men to man her; but on
this trip she will hardly have over
ninety ueu, besides the servants, 50 as
20 MAKE more room for the boys 10 be
picked up along the river. Under the
law, the hoys must be between the
ages Of - teen and eighteen, to enter
the navy They are put through a
regular curse Of training, calculated
to adapt tn en- for not only the ordina-
ry duty ofA sailor, but the higher
duties of seanianship. The plymouth,
q larger vesse. year ago made the
trip to Vicksbarg aud Natehez. This
is the farthest u the river that three
masted ship has yer been able to go