The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-06-26
THE GREAT IRON-CLAD.

The famous Stevens Battery, which has
almost become part and parcel of Ho-
boken owing TO the many years it has
been building there, is at last to be dis
posed of under the order of Chancellor
Runyon, of New Jersey. The proceeds
of the sale, which is to take place in Sep
TENDER next, are to be paid into the
Court of Chancery until some final dis
position can be made of the money. EX-
cepting the Great Eastern, hardly any
vessel has attained such notoriety as this
''battery," not only in this country but
in Europe. She is well known to the
leading military and naval officers of
England, France, Germany and Russia,
by whom she has often been visited for
the purpose of sale being effected. The
present order of sale is, however, per-
emptery, and the huge monster must be
disposed of.
The history of this vessel goes as far
back as 1910. and, as well known, it was
the invention of Robert l.. Stevens, the
IIobokcn millionaire. This gentleman
spent great deal of time and money in
experimenting on the effect Of the i'm
pact of shot and shell on iron-plating.
AS early as 1882 he completed the plan
of an iron-clad vessel. and in 1871 he and
his two brothers addressed a letter to the
then Secretary of the Navy, proposing to
build an iron-clad for the government,
with ali its machinery below the water
line and possessing great speed. Subse-
| quently contract Of some kind was en-
| tered into and the keel of the iron-clad
was laid. The vessel was to be 2J0 feet
long, 40 feet breadth of beam and % feet
deep. In 1854, however, the original
plans We're dropped, it being feared that
the ship would prove too valuable, after
taking into consideration the marked pro-
gress in the construction of ordinance.
The entire work was stopped in 1874 and
the Keel of q gigantic vessel was laid,
that of the present battery. The dimen-
sions were fixed at 4l5 feet long, Is feet
beam and fully 5000 tons displacement.
The proposed thickness of armor was to
be g. inches, q inches more than that of
any of the first British or French IRON
clads. Mr.. Stevens designed the whole
of the machinery, which indicated S264
horse power. propelling the huge vessel
twenty miles an hour. At the outset the
government advanced funds and then dis
conf inucd paying any more towards its
completion. and. becoming Disguised at
the treatment he received Mr. Stevens
took upon himself the responsibility Of
completing the vessel, and broke Oft his
contract with the government. The
vessel was designed for the heaviest
runs. which were to be mounted on turn
tables and worked as the monitor guns
are handled.
When the hull and machinery was
practically finished, Mr.. II. l.. Stevens
died Only the armor-plate was wanting,
and the number of guns to be carried had
not been decided on.
Ills bIOllclS WIG NCiC luttlSSt1u III
the scheme, were anxious to obtain from
the government an authority to complete
the vessel, and after great deal Of ne
gotation Mr.. Z. \. Stevens undertook
to finish it. She was to be tried on COM
pletion. and accepted and paid for by the
government if the conditions stipulated
were carried out. He, however,, died,
the vessel still remaining unfinished, and
it has ever since proved a heavy tax and
load upon tho executors hands. BY his
will hp save his executors $l,OO0,O 900 to
complete the monster, and directed them
to present the same to his native State,
New Jersey Gen. Geo. b. Mcclellan
and Gen. Newton were INSTRUCTED to
carry out these instructions, and under
their advice radical changes were made in
order tc, pace the vessel i'll condition to
meet her most formidable antagonists.
The sum appropriated for her completion
proved to be too little, and then for the
first time the question of ownership came
up. After much litigation the sale was
decided to be made.
1t is thought that with an outlay of
$500. 600 her armor can he completed,
and can be used AZ e monitor iron-clad.
1t is believed she can he put into condi-
ton Within iiirce OF four months after
WOrl, has been commenced.
Some speculation arises as to which
foreign nation is likely to be the pur-
chaser, as it is almost a foregone oonciu-
sion that the United States government
will not buy her. If she sells for hall
the amount of money expended upon her
since the commencement the executors
Of the estate will be more than satisfied.