Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-28
THE OHATTAHOOCHEE.
Interesting Description OF Ihe sue
cessfuI Baptism OF the New Steam
ship.

The brief announcement Of the launching
of the new steamship Chattahoochee on
Wednesday last appeared in the MORNING
NEWS of Thursday, but no particulars OF the
event were given. The following descrip-
ton of the launching and Of the vessel,
which is given in the Chester (Pa.) Times,
will. therefore, be read with much interest:
"The Chattahoochee of the Ocean Steam
ship Company's line OF New YORK was sue
cessfully launched this morning. This is
the third steamship of the class built at
Roach's shipyard. Early In the morning
gang of men were at work preparing the
boat for the plunge at high water, and as
they moved around the leviathan looked like
so many Lilliputs around the ocean CULVER.
John Fountain, the General superintendent,
moved everywhere, examining into every
little detail so that no Pilgrim misfortune
should mark this launch. Before eight
O'Clock the work of adjusting the stays was
completed, and a few minutes later the
props we're knocked away and everything
was in readiness for saving the SHOE
"The number Of spectators was not as
large as usual, but still a goodly company
gathered on the decks OF the Tallahassee,
which was living moored to q wharf near by,
while others gathered on the iron deck Of
the monitor Puritan to watch the final send
off. Among this company stood Captain
Peter LeFevre, of New York, the General
Superintendent of the line. Also promi-
nent among the visitors escorted by Mr..
Roach, were Captain Osborne, Of the New
York Nautical Gazette, and wife; William
Rowland, Of New York, master joiner; Ed
ward Faron, of New York, engineer and
constructor; Henry Yonge, the-New York
agent of the line, and General James, the
Philadelphia agent Of the line.
"Out in the Delaware two tugboats were
busily engaged In towing the vessels which
were anchored Ctf the yard to places OF
safety, ana this done, they steamed back to
positions near the wharves to take their
charge in tow when the final send OIL took
place. In the shipyard a regular fusilade
was being kept up by the men with nam
mers, and from the manner In winch the
hull Of the steamship quiVered with each
blow, it was apparent to those on board that
the final moment was near. About ten
minutes after eight o'clock the saving
of the last plank commenced. The super
intendent waved his hand to the men around
the after part Of the boat, and at $40 O'Clock
the great iron hull moved off slowly, and
with gently accelerated motion, sped down
the ways and plunged majestically into the
waters of the Delaware, while spectators
| cheered, hats, fans and parasols were waved,
| and the scream of whistles aided In the din.
AS the PROV touched the water Miss Alice
LeFeyre, daughter of Captain LeFevre,
| broke the bottle of wine over the bow and
| christened the steamer the Chattahoochee.
The vessel moved out into the river several
| hundred wards, and then swept around
gracefully, with the bow pointing down the
bay. The tugboats, which had been stand
ing sentinel, sailed after her, and making
fast by stout cables, towed her to the wharf
DESCRIPTION OF THE VESSEL.
"The steamship Chattahoochee is being
built for the Ocean Steamship Company, of
Savannah, and will ply between New York
and Savannah, Ca, and possibly, at times,
make trips across the ocean. The length
over all is 315 feet, breadth of beam 40 feet
| 9 inches, and depth of hold % feet. She
| will have four iron decks, including the
hurricane deck, and up to this deck her
depth will be 80 feet She is an A vessel,
will be brigantine rugged, with guarantee
of twenty years, and will carry eighty f1rst-
class passengers. The appointments will
be Of the very best. There will
be separate cabins for white and
colored passengers, with separate
corps of walters for each cabin, so
that no clashng between passengers will
take place. The engine will be of the COM
pound pattern, OF 500 horse power, and
will drive propeller 1879 feet in diameter.
The average speed will be Ia knots per hour,
though Is knots can be made II the vessel
is pushed. There will be a steam capstan
and windlass forward, and a steam capstan
aft. The measurement is over 5000 tons,
and the displacement $500 tons. She was
inspected by the shipmasters Association
and the Bureau Feritas. A great deal
of money will be used in the upholstering,
finishing, ETC., and 1t was said by Mr.. Faron,
engineer and constructor, that this ship viii
be one OF the finest ever built at Roach's
shipyard."