The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-09-01
COLOSSUS AND JAVA.
THE END OF TWO OLD WAR SHIPS
Vessels for the Navy that Never Left the
Ways, Although Remaining There
for Twenty Years--B oatswaln
Parler's Interview.

For few days there will be some life
and activity in tho navy yard, for
large number Of workmen have already
been engaged to destroy two immense
hulks known MS the Colossus and Java.
For tho past twonty years these two un
completed vessels have never been
moved from the WAYS on which they
were originally built, and the very tim
beis on which they lie are almost rot
ten from long exposure. The Java and
Tho Colossus have always ntfractfd n
great deal of al eltion from visitors, and
nom their DattoIcd appearances many
people supposed that The two ships must
have been through some frlghtful naval
combats. The large nails that project
from the sides of tho shlps have often
leon mistaken for mis- siles thrown from
white oak timbers of the vessels begun
TO show signs Of decay, and at the re-
quest of tho naval constructor of tho
yard a shed was erected oyer the shlps
to protect them from the rayagss of the
storm.
You talk about your leyiatbans
afloat," said hOatSwain Parker 10 the
reporter, "but If these monsters on the
ways had been completed we would have
had one of the most powerful navies in
the world. These ships would have been
All ornament TO our waters, and would
nave been well worth the money OK
pended uu them
"COuld you give me some idea OF the
history oil these ships. Boaiswain?"
"Certainly. The Colossus was to be
q double lurreted monitor carrying four
hfteen-inrh gum. She was designed by
Benjamin DelanO, ono Of the most skill
full naval constructors OF his day. lie,
OF course, died, but never saw his shin
launched, neither did any one else. Two
millions and half were to be expended
on her, but when the war was more adj
vanced orders were received from
Washington to stop work on the Colos
sus This was done, and many men in
consequence thrown out OF employ
ment. The ships engines had just been
put in her, ana she was already for
launching when the men ceased work,
and nothing has been done to her from
that day TO this. twas only last spring
that tho machinery was taken out of her
AMI sold. The Colossus was also pro-
yid5d with double screw, which was of
great advantage in steering her."
"What about the Javap"
"The Java was designed for fast
steam cruiser for the purpose of pursu-
ing such swift vessels AZ the Alabama
and others of her class. She was to be
capable OF attaining u speed Of seven
Teen Knots an hour, i'll last sho might
have equaled tho speed Of tho Arizona.
The Java was mainly built for speed,
and all her wood work was of the best
white oak. She would have made a
formidable nalo to the Colossus, and os-
pecially In those Old war times tho two
vessel could have easily withstood the
s.f fl...ss a
isapity To see them go without having
even Touched the suit water, but then
the space that these two old hullSs occu-
py is very valuable and will be used for
something else, hope, more useful and
or laIncntal."
where arc you going to begin the
work of destruction"
ave have commenced to domolish the
Colossus already, aud as soon as we take
on some more help, We will lay the Java
low. IL Will take about five months to
break up tho two ships"
"When did the Navy department or
der the destruction of the Two vessels?n
"During the last session of Congress,
we received orders to remove these yes
sells aud sell their material NJ public auc-
ton"
"What do you propose to realize from
the sale OF tho mnterlal?"
ave just propose to realize from the
material little more MONEY than We
will pay out TO the men Tor breaking her
up. III We have any surplus il will no |
doubt be used for good purpose. ani
only glad 10 SEQ that many Idle men arc
about Ia mud n lit q employment to tide |
them over winter. What we will realize |
most money on will be the copper, aud |
these two old vessels are Just lined with |
II. They built good strong ships in those
days. They We're built to last
"When will the sale take placer"
"As soon aB the ships are broken up
and all the copper, iron, brass, etc, gath
cred together, the day of sale will be an-
nounced in the daily papers,"
IL IL most likely that the Brooklyn,
which Is also one of the old hulks, will
undergo the same fate of the Colossus
aud the Java. Rrooklyn Eagle.