Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-05-08
LAuNoH or THE soUHMnHAL.
Astor's Steel Yacht Cbrisfened Early
safurday-The Qaeen OF Her
ClRss-rhe PataffsI Leytatnsn.

he large steel yacht, Nourmahsl, built 70
William Astor Of New York City was Launched
at the yards of the Harlan d Hollingswortl
Company, at 46 Saturday morning. Tn,
ceremonies OF christening the master piece O
marine architecture were conducted withou
eclat and the arietocratic craft glided into tn,
Christiana quietly and majesticaily. tn,
early hour fixed for the nautical event dc
tracted from the numbers in attendance. ant
the queen Of pleasure boats accepted her bap
tism in the presence of about 200 spectators
The vessel WAS blocked up awaiting the
final work Of cutting her loose by sunrise
An 6.45 O'Clock an order was given to drive
up the wedges and remove the shores. This
| was promptly done and then the plank, the
| last support of the craft on the ways, was
cut asunder. 1t started with crack and the
Nourmahal, with increasing speed, had
settled upon the waters surface in 20 seconds
after being cut loose.
| Mrs. n II. Benson, Jr., performed the
| christening in the customary way by break
| ing bottle OF champagne over the yacht d
| prov as it cut into the water. The momentum
| given the craft by her trip down the incline
sent her across the Christiana into the oppo-
| site bank where she resisted the strength of
the tug Martha and parted hawser attached
| to steam windlass that WAS trying TO bring
her to the companys wharf. After
considerable effort bad been made TO
| land her, the persons aboard were taken OIL
| in scows and landed The passengers were
landed upon the scows by long ladders, which
the ladies descended with d great deal of
timidity but without mishap. The yacht will
at once be brought to the company's wharf,
| where she will be pushed to completion and
tittod for service with all possible speed.
The Nourmahal is the largest yacht ever
launched in the United States, and is the
largest pleasure craft ailoat to-day.
Almost wholly of steel, possessing great
strength Of nearly medium ocean passenger
steamer size, and constructed with view Of
being capable OF any sea service, either under
steam or canvas, the Nourmahal will be a
veritable queen Of yachts, From keel to
equipments the rules OF tho English Lloyd's
register and the requif ements OF the United
States steamship inspection laws have been
observed. The many naval architects who
have examined the Nourmahals model are
pronounced in their belief that she will
behave well at sea, and when finished she
will in all respects prove alike creditable to
designer, builders and owner.
Her measurements are Length OF deck,
232 feet inches length on water line, 22l
feet breadth, extreme, 80 feet depth,
floors to deck, IS feet u inches; depth, keel
to beams, 20 feet. The area of the skin from
top OF keel to the upper edge of sheer strake
is 1852 feet,
The keel is centre-through plate keel and
keesoa combined, 80 inches deep by l0-16
inches thick. The stem is moulded inches by
"a inches in thickness The frames are
spaced % inches and are in one piece from
keel to under side Of rail, and the floor plates
are IA inches deep at centre. The threeup
stakes of the plating are worked flush and
have inside bands Of 9-inch steel. The plates
are SO inches wide and l0-lG inch in thickness
except at the sheerstrake, where they are 40
inches wide. All the plates are double riveted
in fact, everything is double riveted
where it is not treble riveted. The water
Is inches by AZ inches. The decks, both
upper and lower will be of SIG inch iron.
Over the upper deck will be laid course of
perfectly clear white pine panel plank, 80
inches by 3l2 inches, and over the lower
decks courst of Georgia pine, q 4 inches by
8 inches wide.
AL deck fittings will be complete to the
minutest detail and the wood work will be
cherry, mahogany, ash and other hard wood.
The boats to be furnished the yacht will COM
prise steam launch, 35 feet long, of steel
a gig, 50 feet long, for six oars, OF cedar and
lap streaked; metallic lifeboat, 2S feet long,
and cedar dingy.
The Nourmahal's engine is Of the vertical,
directs acting ACCOMMODATING compound
type. 1t will be capable of developing at
least l, 400 horse power, which will give the
yacht speed Of II knets per hour under
natural draught or II knots under forced
draught. The high pressure cylinder is 81
inches in diameter, and the low pressure
cylinder 60 inches in diameter, with stroke OF
piston of SO inches There will be four steel
boilers fitted the yacht each of which ia s
feet inches in diameter and u feet long. All
fittings to the boilers will be complete, with
full connections not only with the main
engine but also with the smaller machinery,
az the steam steering gear, windlass, engine
for driving the electric battery and pumps.
In the hold OF the Nourmahal there will be
water tanks to hold $500 gallons of fresh
water, a storeroom for 20 tons Of provisions,
an ice cellar, with capacity OF 20 tons two
''cool rooms, feet inches long and full
width of hold another spare room for pro.
visions and tanks for 1000 gallons OF fresh
water. An ice machine, capable of making
600 pounds per day, will also be introduced.
In yacht of the Nourmahals size il is easy
to imagine there will be princely accommoda-
tions, and such will be the case. The owners
| and guests quarters will be forward and
those of officers and crew aft. The grand
saloon, owners and guests staterooms,
ladies saloon and maids room are all forward
Of the machinery, while the galley, pantries
and rooms for officers and men are aft the
engine and boilers. The main saloon will be
| spacious apartment and the entire width Of
| the yacht. From the centre of the saloon
leading forward will be Il large wide hall.
From the ball companionway leads to the
| house on deck.
| The stairs will have light rail, banisters
| and newell posts, all in mahogany, and heavy
| brass steps. lu the after end Of the house
| on deck will be chart room finished in
mahogany. The main saloon, ladies' cabin,
| staterooms, passageways, bath rooms and
| other rooms will be finished in solid hard
wood. The overhead panel work will be
mostly done in white poplar or pine, in neat
nd t~.l
| The house on deck will be finished in
mahogany in Queen Anne style, with seats
| for lounging or observation. The quarters
| for the officers aud men will be spacious and
handsomely fitted and finished. Electric
bells will be fitted from all rooms and electric
| lights arranged throughout the vessel. Elec-
| troliers. or chandeliers brackets and lights
| will be fitted as necessary to meet the owners
approval. The yacht will be barque rugged
| spreading about 1000 feet of canvas.
A well known authority on shipbuilding
| says of the Nourmahal " Continued study
by designer and builders, and years of sue
| cessful experience in constructing ocean
going steamers by the latter, will result in
| one OF the finest pleasure vessels that ever
sailed from an American port or carried the
| flag of yacht club into foreign water"
The furniture of the boat will be designed
especially, and made to conform with the
magnificent furnishing Of the craft. 1t will be
rich and probably the handsomest that has
| ever been used on vessel.
The Nourmahal will be completed and
ready for duty in July. Her first voyage of
any considerable length will be trip up the
Mediterranean Sea. Thither she will go in
| the autumn for cruise of four or five
| months.
| Neither Mr.. Astor, the Nourmahal's owner,
nor any one of his family were present at the
launch they remaining in New York to see
Mrs. Astor depart on a European voyage
Saturday morning.
| facn SsAnnsx, Etraa