The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-09-24
The Missionary Ship.

The new missionary vessel, the Morning
Star, Of which account has already been given
as building at Bath, arrived at Boston recently.
coming directly from Bath. She lies at the
south side of Lewis wharf, where she will load
with a general cargo for Honolulu, for which
port she will sail as one of the regular packets
OF Brewer Co.'s line. Having discharged
her cargo at Honolulu, she will enter upon the
service for which she has been built, namely,
the furtherance of the missionary enterprises
undertaken by the American Board in that dis
tant region OF the globe. The vessel is rugged
as barkentine and in general she will be pro-
PEELED by sails only. But she has an important
auxiliary power OF steam, being fitted ont with
suitable boiler and engine for running a two
bladed propeller. When not in use the pro-
peller will be set vertically or in line with the
stern post and thus will make no resistance
to the free passage Of the vessel through the
water. This steam power is an important
matter in the service for which she is designed
as the region is one Of frequent Gains which not
only cause serious delay to sailing vessels, but
at times put them into peril in being left to the
chances OF drift in the tidal currents which run
among the islands. The particular field which
she is to occupy is that comprising the groups
OF the Caroline, the Gilbert and the Marshall
islands. For other missionary stations in diff
ferent parts of the globe the movements of
vessels OF commerce may be depended upon to
keep up communication and to carry supplies
No vessels OF commerce frequent these groups
and some special packet Is Indispensable
This one has been superintendent in construc-
ton by Captain Bray, who is to command her,
and combines all the conveniencies and ac-
cessories which his experience of five or six
years in this service has shown to be desirable.
One popularity which will strike the observer
at once is that her upper deck is substantially
a hurricane deck. This gives the double ad-
vantage of making it possible to keep the
working deck clear for the movements Of the
men who are sailing the vessel and provides
comfortable air spaces and shaded promenades
upon the main deck for the comfort of passen-
gers in the sunny hot regions In which she is to
sail. The space between the two decks can be
securely enclosed against the weather and the
sea when necessary, as it will be for the
passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific. This
will not be literally Around the Horn" for
by utilizing the steam power in an emergency
safe passage can be made through the Straits
of Magellan. The vessel is a handsome as
well as strongly built craft, and is thoroughly
rugged and equipped for her long voyage and
the peculiar uses for which she is intended.
She will remain In port until October 10 for
the reception OF her cargo aud in order that
some OF the thousands who have been inter-
ested in and have contributed to the cost of
her construction may have an opportunity to
visit her. Her hailing port is Boston; her
commander, Captain Isaiah Bray of Chelsea,
and her first officer, Mr.. G. f. Garland. Her
crew will consist, besides, of her second Of
ficer, two engineers, two firemen, a steward, a
cook and eight seamen. Her tonnage Is two
hundred and ninety net, or four hundred and
seventy-one gross.