Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-02-19
The Shin Crusader.


$50 down to Pier 49," said the editor
to the new reporter, land write up the
new English steamer just arrived. Give
the most thorough account of her from
stem to STERN"
"FrOm what p said the young man,
recently arrived from far interior state
and to whom vessel of any sort was a
mystery and a wonder.
'From stem to STERN said the editor,
fixing suspicious and threatening eye
upon him, ''and tell how many feet of
water she draws, her breadth of beam,
her tonnage, and all that sort of thing"
This was the young mans first mis-
sion. He was eager to distinguish him
self. He had already done so on his vii
lage paper in series of essays on "The
COsmOgOny of the Universe" But that
little town was thousand miles away.
He wanted wider field for his aspira-
tions and had come to New York.
Yet he went out of the Office anxious
and doubling. Il will go to the captain"
said he, Il am sent to write up your ship.
Oblige me by stating how many masts
she has,"
Eighteen" promptly answered the
captain.
where are they!
"We have sent them on shore to be
painted"
"How much water does your vessel
drawn"
''Three inches"
"HOw do you draw il?
"By steam power from the WELL"
"Were you ever in storm on sea?"
Never said the captain.
Are you ever sick?"
"AwfuIly; can't leave my berth from
the time we leave New York till we ar
rive in Liverpool"
"Are the rest of the officers and crew
sea-sick?"
always; we're only on deck and about
in port"
"Why, who steers the vessel at sea?"
"The cook; he's the only we'll man on
bOard.'
'Do you sail nights when out sight of
land?''
"Never; we anchor"
''What in mid-Ocean?"
"Of course, you land lubber. There's
a dock to tie up to at regular distances all
the way across"
"What is the hole there for" pointing
to an open hatchway ON deck.
That's where an iceberg ran into us
last trip"
"Good gracious! How do you see to sail
dark nights?"
"We send our boats ahead with Ian
terms, to light up the road"
Are they there nOw?"
Eyes; anchored in line all the way
across the Atlantic ocean,"
After getting much other information
which the captain said he was only too
happy to impart to such an interesting
young gentleman, the reporter returned
and wrote as follows:
The new steamer Crusader is splen-
did specimen of naval architecture. Her
keel revOlves on hinges, so as to be readi-
ly unshipped in storm when it is not
wanted. The rudder, also, by a patent
cOntrivance, can be drawn out of it's
socket and deposited on deck during the
night, and in hurricanes. The Crusader
has folding decks, which can be doubled
up when she has but little cargo, and her
tonnage in this way can be decreased
from 10000 to 1000 tons. The mainsail
can, if necessary be used as a skysail or
windsail, and the saving of canvas eff
fected in this manner reduces the wear
and tear of her running rigging one
half. The main brace passes from the
end of the bOwsprit over the fOrsmain
and royal masts thence down and over
the spanker boom to the taff-rail and
into the cabin windows. where it is Sc
cured by a double sheepshank to the
head of the captains berth. She has
compound engines, which boil water at
an extremely low temperature. Her
wheel revOlyes at the rate of 10000 a
minute and can if necessary be brought
forward as paddle wheels. The Crusader
is also constructed on the crab principle,
and, by bracing up everything on the
wind and wearing ship frequently she
can go as fast sideways as any other way.
The engines are furnished with con-
densers, which will cOndense milk as
well as water. Her cabins are construct
ed on the French fiat principle, there be-
ing six stories with kitchen, &C., for each
family of passengers. The Crusader also
carries her own docks, and thus saves all
expense of wharfage when in port. She
also carries her own quarantine, and SO
can never be detained if there is any
malaria or measles on board. The pilot
pilots her on the way across the Atlantic,
and comes back with the ship each time.
Her cOmpasses i'm the barnacle give each
day the direction of the wind. The cap
tain's cow is MIXED by the boatswain in
the fore top.