Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-06-20
A Novel Steamship.

Robert Fryer, of New York. has invented
novel steamship, on principle heretofore
unhcard OF, which is IL kind of Marine vclo-
cipcdc on three wheels, her hull not being in
tended to touch the water Amodcl of this
ship was completed some months ago at Il
ship yard on the Harlem River. near Ne
Combs Dam, and has since been sent 10
Hastings-on-the-Hudson, where large ship
OF the same design, TO be called the Oceanic,
Is now building. The singular point Of the
invention is. that the support of the ship
the lloat-as it were, and the propellcrs are
one and the same. The vessel floats on
three spheres, made Of sheet steel, one for
| ward and two astcrn. Each of these is fitted
with ilangcs which surround nearly the
whole ofits circumference, and act as paddles.
The spheres arc so arranged that they can
be worked backward and forward. or one
worked backward and the others forward
simultaneously, so that the vessel may be
turned completely around in her own water
With such Il rapid power of turning no rutl-
der Will be necessary. The interiors of the
spheres are divided into compartments for
The purpose of increasing their strength, and
decreasing their liability of sinking in case
that only about onc-siXth Of their capacity
is immersed in the water when supporting
the entire weight of the vessel, serving in
that way to keep the ship ut Il sufficient dis
tancc above the level of the sea to prevent
the hull being brought into violent contact
with the water in the toughest weather.
The spheres arc provided with Il iianged
keel to adapt the vessel for Use on rails in
the case of crossing an isthmuS, or for be-
ing run upon land for repairs. The upper
works OF the ship arc to depend upon the
spheres that are to do the propcling and
will be as light rs consistent with strength.
Three Watcrtight dumcs, or wheel houses,
arc arranged upon the framework or bottom
which dOmcs are connected by an
arch subdivided into compartments
which serve as statc-rooms, cabins.
etc. The statc-roOms are to be in the
after part of the vessel between the
wheels. or the second and third deck The
whole Is made watcrtight so that in the event
OF the wheels or spheres being broken or
disabled, or the vessel capsiZcd, it will still
possess sufficient buoyancy to prevent it from
sinking. The vessel is designated only for
passenger traffic, and it is claimed that its
peculiar construction gives increased accom-
modation, greater safety, and IL higher rate of
speed than that now used.
The "Oceanic." now building ut Hastings
on-the-11utson, is to be 224 feet long and l30
feet wide. The spherical wheels are to he
u feet in diameter, drawing $ feet when
loaded. Recently, the inhabitants Of the
twenty-tourth ward of New York were con-
siderably astonished upon seeing an extra
ordinary looking vehicle with three Wheels
weighing over two tons, steam its way across
land from the Harlem River to Spuyten
Duyvil Creek, near the Hudson River. and
travelling to the waters edge, not stop, but
continue on over the surface of the water as
readily and almost as rapidly as it had
travelled down hill Oh hand. This was the
model of the Oceanic" on its way to Hast
ings. The model was easily guided by hand
and propelled by its own power As much
difference is claimed by its inventor to exist
between it and an ordinary boat us between
wagon mounted on wheels and one that
should rest on the ground, and be dragged
along the surface by means of wheels at
tached to its sides. Says the Nautical Ga
@cfte: 'Thc invention certainly presents
some intensely interesting problems. If
successful. it must rcrolutionize passenger
traffic by water, rs the vessel for a given
amount of this traffic can be built for what
the ordinary vessel would cost. and will per-
form double service. Nothing can be more
unsinkablc than these buoyant globes; moth
ing can be stronger or lighter than the
whole vessel made, as it will be, out of steel.
and presenting at every point to wind and
wave the arch. Water is the great road
way of the world, and wheels the great
vehicle. \ perfect combination of the two
pcrfccts transportation.