Morning journal and courier., 1884-11-19

New Crafe - Built for ForeASn Trade, ~-
 To-day at about 12 o'clock noon the fine
 three-masted schooner General s. E. Merw1n
 will be launched into the briny deep at the West Haven shipyard. She is of ], ,5OO tons burtheu and is the largest vessel ever built
 in Connecticut hailing from this State. About 30 years ago vessels of about her size 1 were built on the Connecticut river at one of
 the Haddams They were cotton ships used in the cotton trade and were registered at once from New York, or other ports outside of Connecticut. During or about the war
 time several large vessels were built at the
 Pook shipyard, Fair Haven, near where the marine railway is, but these were smaller than the General Merwin. The General Merwin was built by Mir. Henry Sutton, making the sixth vessel that he has had built at the West Haven yard in four years. The General Merwin cost about $5O,O 900 and the six vessels cost about $250, 0,00O, making 1 total of about a quarter of million expend-
 ed in shipbuilding at West Haven in the last l four years good record. All six of the I vessels are afoat and doing well. About 60 | men were employed in building the General | Merwin The building has occupied four months The vessel was a very shapely model and makes a very | fine appearance on the ways as
 she lies so nearly ready to glide off into the water When launched she strikes first deep
 water directly northeast beyond where she l now lies This accommodates the "dip" which vessel takes when first into the ! water from the incline on which she has \ rested The water on beyond is not so deep, ! but deep enough for the vessel when Tight | or unburdened The General Merwin draws
 about 18 feet of water when laden, and some idea of her size is given from the fact that | she is too large to pass under the Brooklyn ' bridge, except at the lowest water, and to pass under it at high water will have to do so | with lowered topmasts. The vessel is built | in frst-class manner by Gessner & Marr, | whose record is well known. Mir. Gessner is 1 one of the veteran master shipbuilders of the New England States. The General Merwin will be christened to-day by General Mer- wins niece, Miss Dudley, in the time-honor- ed fashion by breaking bottle of wine over the vessels bows. The vessels dimensions l and other points regarding her are: Length of keel, S3 feet 10 inches; depth of hold, IS
 
 all, 190 feet; length from end of jib boom to end of spanker boom, 26511 feet. It is 147 feet from the bottom of the keel to the | mainmast truck. Length of foremast, 9S l feet inches, of mainmast 94 feet 4 ] inches, of mizzen mast 95 feet. She is be- tween decks 12 feet in hold, and 6 feet re- ! spectively, being double decked. The ves- sel has 9 hooks and pointers forward in the l lower hold, beside the deck hook. The first ! one has pointers 2515 feet long, side Ii inch es and moulded from solid timber 16 inches; and the rest are of similar finish and size The planking inside is from 2 to 10 inches, | thoroughly bolted and treenailed; the out | side planking to inches The deck is of 3x3 yellow pine. The vessel has the Provi- dence capstan and windlass, patent steering
 gear and will be supplied with steam en- zine. The saloon and staterooms are well lighted comfortable and elegantly built of | ash, black walnut and other choice woods, and are supplied with stationary bath tub, marble-top wash stand and handsomely fur | nished. There are two spare staterooms open | ing off the saloon; also an oil room, chart 1 room, besides others mentioned. The stew
 ards galley is very commodious and fitted ! up with the latest improvements, George
 S. Arnold 6 Go. of this city did the plumb | ing. She will be commanded by Capt. John F. \ Sawyer, who resides on Greene street, this city, and for number of years past com | manded the bark Scud, one of the L. w. & | F. Armstrong vessels. The owners are Gen. l Merwin, Henry Sutton, Captain Sawyer and
 others. Captain Sawyer has resided here for
 twenty years past. He takes his family with
 him on the vessel this winter. The time oi launching was changed yesterday from ? p. m. to-day to 12 o'clock noon. The vessel
 is designed for the sugar and other West l India and outside trade. About 200 people 1 including many prominent citizens with l ladies will be board at the launching.
 The admission is by tickets of invitation, the number of which is 200