Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-07-07

Henry EcI<ford.
A profusely illustrated, and both
popular and technical, article in the
July Century on sThe Evolution of the
American Yacht" by 5. G. w. BeDja-
min, contains the following sketch of
Henry Eckford, the master ship
builder:
But new era in the modelling of
vessels on this side of the Atlantic be-
gan soon after the opening of this cen
tury; to this we were indebted very
largely for the successes of the war of
1917. End for the great activity of our
commercial marine until the breaking
out of the late civil war. and for the
frequent trophies carried off by our
leadlng yachts. Almost simultaneous
", group of master-builders appear
cd, whose united talents and efforts
brought about this revolution in the
principles of ship-construction. We
think, however, it is no overstatement
to say that to no one are we more in
deoued for this result than to Henry
Eckford, who was born in 1775, the
year OF the Declaration of Independ-
ence. At sixteen, in the ship-yards of
his uncle, Mr.. John Black, at Quebec,
ne commenced study Of the pursuits
In which he was to gain such distinc-
ton. At the early age of twenty-one,
Mr.. Eckford settled III New York, and
by his original and scientific methods
at once obtained recognition and
abundant employment. His careful
system of study is well described by
his biographer. upon the return of
one of his vessels from voyage. he
obtained by series of questions from
her commander an accurate estimate
OF her properties under all the casual
ties OF navigation. This, connected
with her form, enabled him to execute
his Judgment upon the next vessel to
be built. In this way he proceeded,
successfully improving the shape of
each. until those constructed by him. or
after his models, firmly established the
character of New York built ships over
those of any other port in the Union.
Fashioned after his models our vessels
gradually dispensed with their large
and low stern frames, the details of
their rigging underwent extensive
changes, and in the important particu.
lars of stability, speed, and capacity,
they soon far surpassed their rivals"
One OF EckfOrd's greatest feats was
the construction OF the sloop-of-
Madison. of twenty-four guns, in the
most primitive Of navy-yards on Lake
Erie, in just forty days after the tim
Der OF which she was made was cut in
the forest. Cooper. in his Naval His
tory of the United States, says: "Henry
Eckford was undoubtedly a man of
genius. His professional qualities
proved to be of the highest order"
The two-decker Ohio, generally consid.
cred to be the finest sailing ship
we have ever had, was built by Eek
ford, and may still be seen lying at the
Charlestown hayward. He subse-
quently built frigate for the Turkish
navy, and accepted an offer to super
intend the navy. yards of that govern.
ment. But after building one line-of-
battle ship at Constantinople he died
there suddenly. The influence of his
genius was such, however, that all
the Turkish men Of-war built for years
after that were after his models and
rig, presenting, in that respect, strik.
ing contrast to the fleets of other na-
lions, with their full bows and infected
tOpSides.