The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-10
THE GZAR'S YACHT.
Launch of New and singular Craft.
AN EMPEROR'S OCEAN PALACE-B0LD EXPERT
MENT IN NAVAL ARCHlTECTURE-CIR CIRCULAR
BOAT BUILDING.

launched TO-DAY III the presence Oh many
thousands oi spectators, who lined the river
bsnks and filed immeLse stands which had
been erected on each side OF the vessel.
Among those who occupied seats on the
centre stand were the Grand Duke Alexis,
representing the Russian navy; Admiral
Popoff, The designer OF the yacht; Prince
Lobanofi, the Russian ambassador; Captain
Gunlaeff, under whose superiutendence the
Yacht has been built, and the Duchess OF
Hamilton, who took the place of the Duchess
OF Edinburgh at the christening.
HER CONSTRUCTION.
The Liyada is one OF the most remark
able pieces Of naval architecture afloat. Al
though intended as royal pleasure-yacbt,
she il as far removed from the popular idea
Of such vessel as she Is from every other
type of ship. Her construction Is, in fact,
so peculiar that many persons will no doubt
be found TO question her right to be called
a ship, and it is equally certain that large
number OF enthusiastic pleasure.sailors Will
deny her the right TO be classed as yacht,
associating as they do craft OF that de.crip-
ton with beautifully-drawn water'lnes
rather than with elaborate internal decora-
tions. In appearance she resembles cir-
culsr iron.cad more than anything else.
Anv one who wishes 10 get an accu-
rate idea OF what she looks like can
readily obtain it by taking two sau-
GERS and placing them one above the
other, with their c0ncaye sides facing IN
ward. Let him next take slice OF bread.
and cutting it into the form OF the clipper
prov OF an ordinary merchant sailing SHIP,
place il across the centre. The combination
will give as good il not better idea OF the
main plan Of the boat than a column OF the
techniczlitieS OF marine architecture
Although not to be equipped with any more
powerful guns than four-pounders, ior sa'
iuting purposes, her s9b-structure or raft IS
shaped like an enormous hollow, steel tur-
bot, the lines Of which sweep round IN
front into pointed bow or beak. II Is 29J
feet long, 1853 feet wide, and Is feet deep.
At the sides they expand, so as TO give q
wide and spacious area 10 the back ana
then again come to point at the stern.
There is no free board, properly 40 called,
the necessary stability being obtained by
breadth and weight.
STATE-ROOMS OF THE CZAR.
There is double row OF wooden houses
on the forward part OF the main deck, en-
tirely removed from the noise and smell OF
the engines. In this portion OF the ship
are located the state-rooms OF the Gar.
| They are fitted up in style OF unprece-
dented magnitcence. Besides the grand
reception-room and the bedrooms OF the
Emperor and his suite, there are the lmpe-
rial dining and drawing-rooms, each TO
feet long, 80 feet broad, and II feet hlgn.
| Provision is also made for study ana
for reception-roOms for the Grand Duke
| Constantine, as well * private rooms Tor
the captain OF the ship. large anu
snacjous deck.hOuse for the Emperor
will be furnished in the style OF LOUIS
WI. and scarcely less handsomely deco
rated will be the houses and CABINS alt lor
the use OF the Grand Duke Constantine.
The whole deck is surrounded by a covered
gallery, so that it can be used as a prone
made in the stormieSt weather. 1he ROOF
above affords an admirable walking-place in
fine weather. The hatchways OF the en-
zines and boilers will open above the
| loftiest of these houses, the immense
cowls for yentilatlng them rising still
higher. The flying bridge will COM
mand a view above the roof of the highest
of the houses. The height from the keel to
the second story OF the deck-houseS Is about
6ftv feet. The arrangements for ventliating
the vessel are perfect, three immense fun
nels being used for the purpose. Ihe
Yacht carries three side-wheel steam
launches, ten liie-bOats suspended at the
edge OF the raft, and, in addition, large
number Of other boats. Long rows OF steps,
slopinC down the sides OF the raft, lead to
the boats. When parties wish TO dlsembark
the boat is swung clear OF the raft from
the bridge above, and lowered into the
water.
CREW AND EQUIPMENT.
The vessel will be manned by crew OF
| go men, and II Is expected that sne VIII
speed fourteen knots an hour. Her total
length is $50 feet, and breadth 1853, draught
feet inches. At the stern there is de.
preston, making the draught sixteen feet.
| in order 10 give the screw room to work.
| For the purpose OF crossing shadows, as at
the mouth Of the Dnieper, the draugbt can
| be decreased four feet by pumping
water into the compartments and
50 lowering the bow. On e., line
Of the propeller shafts there are three
keels which will assist in steering the
boat as well as in preventing her making
leewav. The raft has water-tight bottom,
81 feet deep in the centre, ana
q feet deep at the ends. Three
bnlkheads divide 1t ongitudinally into COM
partments, making 1t almost Impossible 10
be sunk by collision. The lower body or
raft is built entirely OF steel. The engine
rooms and boilers take up, OF course, IA
large amount of space, as do the tunnels Tor
the three prOpeling shafts, which dip slight
" as they lead aft TO the rrOpelers. Each
Dropeller will have three sets OF engines,
and each engine will have three cylinders,
a high pressure one in the centre and low
pressufe ones on either side. The diameter
of the propellers is IL feet, with four
blades OF 20 feet width. or the outside
screws one is right-handed ana the other
left-handed. The total horsepower Is
10000. The gross tonnage is 6,ISO tons.
The vessel will have in all twenty separate
small engines, 10 be used for steering,
hosting ashes, pumping, &c. Seven VIII De
used IN supplying the JOblockofT light. On
the forepart, just under the deck, there
IS a small deck platform caused by
the projection OF the bow OF the ship
above the raft, on which Gre arranged berths
for the numerous stokers and enginemen.
On the main deck forward are the large
steam winches for raising the anchor; ait OF
that, stores for crockery, &e.; ana next 10
that, berths for servants and petty officers.
The cooking galleys are arranged round tue
funnel cases. On the ait-deck platioriu'
caused by the falling away OF the beams
from the ship portion, surgery ana hospi-
tai have been arranged. On the main deck
aft is the officers mess-room.
After the usual trials, she wiz, II every
thing il found satisfactory. proceed to the
H,ark Sea. on the coast OF which, OIL the