Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-09-28
A CATALOGUE OF USELESS HULKs.

NO AccOunt OI thc v cooetSs
ana the register confines itself to classify
ing the vessels as frst-rates, secoRd-rates,
etc, whenever made Of wood or iron,
armored or not. and the number of guns
they carry. When they were built, what
hind of srnor they have, II any, and how
large the guns are, and whether they are
rifed or snooth-bore, breech or muzzle
loading, are mysteries concerning which
the register Is silent This silence, IL in.
tended TO impose on anybody, avails
nothing, for Information on these points
comes out from time to time in driblets.
But it is rather curious that everyone in
this country who is interested in such
things knew months ago more about the
British feet at Alexandria than can be
found out about
Any os Our Own Vessels
without resolution of Congress calling on
the department for q bill of particulars.
The last naval register gives little more
information tnsn anv OF its predecessors.
II divides the steam vessels into three
clssses-the serviesable, those needing ex-
tensive repairs, and the unserviceabie-and
under the last head are several vessels that
u year OF two ago made rs formidable ap-
pearance on the register as any vessel in
the list. In few years the department
may 20 so far as TO indicate the speed OF the
vessels. This il generally shown in regis
ters of foreign fleets, and is quite as import
ant as the matter Of armament In regard
to the latter it is evidently of very little
use to tell how many guns vessel carries
unless II is indicated whether they are muz-
zle-loading smooth. bores throwing q shot
of forty pounds, or breech-loading rifles
throwing a shot of fifteen hundred pounds.
A few days arO there were appointed
two boards of officers to hold
Naval Coroners' Inquests
on several old huksand unplsnked frames
at Mare Island Navy Yard, and one un-
finished vessel at brooklyn Navy Yard.
Most of these vessels have long been worth
less, and the wonder is that it Is only now
that boards are appointed TO report on their
condition. In some of the Atlantic yards
are frames Of seventy four-gun line-of'bat-
tie ships that were begun for Use in the
war of 1872. Even as fre.wood they are
not worth what they once were, but Con.
gress let's them alone and no one else has
authority to touch them.
The vessel 1T Brooklyn Navy Yard that
Is to be reported onis the New YORK. She
is unfinished, and appears in the register
as one of the vessels requiring extensive
repairs. Her completion was recommend.
ed last year by the Bureau Of Construction
vestigatlon at Mare IsIanu
Are q Molly Lot.
They are the independence, Narragansett,
Nyack, Saco, Freda, Monterey, Mohican,
Old Monadnock, Cyane, Benicia, Tuscaro-
"a and Monongahela. The Benicia. Nara
gansett, Hysck and Ssco, all small steamers,
appear on the last register as unservicea6le.
The independence is an old six-gun sailing
vessel used as receiving ship; the Cyane
l.. tr-n A.
nous for bombarding GreytOwn in 1854.
The Breda is a small, unarmed sailing veg
sci. No "Old Monadnock" appears on the
list: there is q double turrct monitor OF
that name repairing at Vallejo, Cal, when
was the process Of construction in 1877 and
1878, and the word repairing" is used to
Cover Construction.
The report OF 1877 and 1913 shows that
the boilers had been built and the engines
contracted for but the contracts were sus'
DE- nded by order OF the Secretary OF the
Sayy. This is one of the cases where Mr..
Thorn pson reversed the action OF Mr.. Robe
son. Work was done on the Mouadnock in
lS78-79 and lS79-8D. The Independence Is
reported az having been repaired in each OF
the last four wears. Work was done on the
Benicia in is77-7s, and last year she was re-
ported az needing Dew boilers snd repairs
TO her engines. She appears on the register
not as needing extensive repairs, but rs pe'
ing !
The Mohican was.on the stocks four years
ago, and her completion was advised by the
bureau of construction and repairs last
year. The Monterey is only tug.
She has been repaired every year for the
last four. The Narragansett seems to have
been let alone since 1878, and is now on the
In N n nD 4
was reported that her machinery needed
extensive overhaHling; boilers for her had
been ordered by Secretary Robeson, and the
orders revoked BY Secretary Thompson.
The Nyack, Ssco and Crane were reported
Unfit for use four years ago. The Monon-
pahela and Tuscorora, two OF the vessels
on the list, appear in the last register as
seryiceable. In 1878 the Tuscororas
machinery was overhauled, and new boil;
ers would have been provided for her had
not Secretary Thompson
RevervcdL the Action OF Robesos.
The next year her engines and boilers
were thoroughly oyerhauled and repaired.
The Monongshela also received extensive
repairs 10 ber engines and boilers. In
1880 the Tuscarora was repaired some
more, and IL was ascertained that the Mon
ongahela needed new boilers and O thor
OuRn Ovtr0 Vi
Tuscarora's means OF propulsion were re-
ported TO be in need of just the same treat
ment and her hull got some repairs last
wear. Though these two vessels are put on
the serviceable list, the fact that their fit-
ness for service is to be investigated looks
as n Secretary Chandler dou Dted the adYis-
ibility OF annually repairing them and over
hauling their engines, and putting In new
boilers once in two years.
The iobbery deployed in the navy yards
Of this country Is something sppaiiins;
Millions are squandered in repairing
vessels which, even IL rendered sesvorthy.
something not at all likely to orcur while
the present system Of naval construction IS
/ in vogue, would be of no utility for pur-
.osss OF offense or defense against fourth
tate man-of-yar OF any European nation.
Tske the example Of the double tnrreted
monitor Puritan. In 1870 fye vessels. the
Auphitrite, Aonadnock, Miantonomoh,
Terror and Puritan, we're designed and
money appropriated for their completion.
The money Was all spent on the hrst four.
In 1874 Secretary R.,besou asked foT money
10 repair the Puritan. when. in fact, not
| strole of wu-k had ever been done on her.
nothing more than design having ever
| been attempted. The money was obtained,
| on the Secfetary's promise that the ship
would be ready for sea in frnm four 70 SIX
l months. In 1875 Robes IN came mp smiling
| vith A REQUEST for S3S4, ,0OO for alterations
and repairs Of the Puritsn," and With IL an
Entirely ysW Vessel
was commenced in John R,ach's yards st
| Chester, While the original bull vas lying
at League Island. twenty miles awsy.
= But ihe monitors are OF no earthly use.
! The combined force Of our whole allegel
/ navy could not resist an attack OF sny one
of q tcore OF English. French. Spanish,
Uslisu or German men Of war Even ChH
! and Japan possess vessels that would HsH
holiday sport of whipping any, AwhSps.
! man-of-var afiOat. Even IL thefnuaily
upon which so many millions are are no
tausnde<ed, werr completed, ,lich 20 ssrn
grns IN The corntrs b = thF ms
fbsm; ths'~ theI