The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-07-09
THE STEVENS BATTERY.
The Monster That Was Never AfiOat Now
Broken and Scattered Widely.

The Monster That Was Never Aaoat Now
Broken and Scattered Widely.
II any of the millionnires who are
owners of the new Queen Anne cot
tages at Babylon, Bay Shore, or some
of the other summer resorts on Long
Island, SAYS the New York Times, were
to be told that their handsome wood
work finishings are merely remnants
of the old Stevens battery the state
ment would probably be received with
many doubts. Yet such is the fact.
When Mr.. Stevens presented the IA
nous vessel to the state of New Jersey
the United States government decided
that a man-of- war could not be accept
ed as the individual property of a~ny
state. MIR. Stevens then offered it to
the national government, but it was
refused as being inadequate to perform
the duties required of a warship. Sew
eral suits followed this decision be-
tween the estate of Mr.. Stevens and
the state of New Jersey, which claimed
that, although it could not hold the
vessel, it was entitled to its value in
money. The final decision was in favor
of the state, and the Stevens battery as
it stood on the ways was sold to Mr..
William Z. Laimbeer, of New York,
for $50. 900. He was given six months
in which to remove his purchase. but
for half of that time he turned it over
to the Stevens institute for the use of
its scholars. In consequence, Presi-
dent X. Ii. Thurston was able to give
his pupils three months of the most in
teresting practical study that has ever
been available in this part of the
country.
The dismantling of the hull occupied
the balance of the time allotted the
purchase. On no day during this peri
cd were there less than forty men at
work, while at times the number ran
up to one hundred. The woodwork
was all found to be of the finest Geor-
gia pine, in a high state of preserva-
tion. That used in the sides of the
hull was in layers to 4 thickness of five
feet six inches, These layers were
dovetailed together and secured by
bolts four feet long. In and around
these joinings creosote WAS packed in
large quantities, and. although this
wood had been in place for more than
twenty years, it was found to be in bet
ter condition than when freshly cut.
All the skill of the workmen and the
strength of the tools could not force
the layers of wood apart, and the work
was finally done by burning. 1t was
found to be exceedingly dry and sus-
ceptible of high polish. and. as has
been stated, large quantity of it has
been used in the new cottages built
and building on the south shore of
Long Island.
From the hold We're taken two en-
gines of 6, 900 horse power, each made
expressly for use in twin-screw yes
sci, and therefore worthless. These
were broken up and sold to the Della
mater iron-works, from whence they
came. In addition to the two propell-
ing engines there were sixteen driving
engines. which were preserved intact
and taken to the coal mines in Penn
sylvania, where they are still used as
superior to any new inventions. Over
two thousand tons of iron plate were
taken from the battery and sold to the
Catausagua iron works, in Pennsylva-
MIA, and 80 per cent of it was rerolled
in the country. The balance was sent
abroad. The bolts used in the con-
struction of the vessel were made in
Scotland for that purpose, and possessed
unusual tensile qualities. These were
in good condition after their long years
of service, and We're shipped to En-
gland, where they were used in the
manufacture of barrels for the sport
mans shotgun. The bolt-heads were
bought by nickel-plater of this city,
who sold them to L patriotic public.
When all the movable articles had
been carted away the two pointed end
of the boat were chopped off and the
immense hull, over four hundred feet
long, were parted by its own weight.
The labor of collecting the remnants
was then comparativly easy. Immense
quantities of giant powder was used,
however, to reduce the bulk of the iron
to a mass small enough to be carted
away. There remains intact to-day
but one article that was eed on board
the Stevens iron-clad steam-battery.
1t is bronze bell, four feet in circum-
ference. This instrument of household
torture rang the working hours at the
old shipyard since 1912. A cast mark
near the top bears the date of 1S41,
and it is probably the oldest bronze
bell in America to-day. 1t still per-
forms it duty at the country place of
retiring dock Commissioner Laimbeer,
father of the purchaser of the boat at
Tenahy, NJ.
The heir of Mr.. Stevens say that he
spent over $4,000, 900 upon his pet pro-
iect. in addition to 100000 granted
for the purpose by the government In
his will was codicil ordering the ex
pediture of 81, 100000 additional,
which was made under the supervision
of Gen. George b. Mcclellan. When
put up at auction this mass of iron.
that had never even been aioat,
brought $4,000. 1t cost Mr.. Laimbeer
in addition $31, 900 to break her up,
but by selling it only as raw material
| he mazda q very handSome nrOtit