Evening journal., 1888-12-29
LAST EDITION
NEW STEAMSHIP LAUNCHED.
The Dorchester OF the Merchants and
Miners Line Launched Into the Chris
tiana This Morning.

The Dorchester OF the Merchants and
Miners Line Launched Into the Chris
tiana This Morning.
The new steamship Dorchester for the
Merchants and Miners Transportation
Company was launched from the Yards
OF the Harlan and Hollingsworth Com
rany this morning. large crowd viewed
the launch from the shipyard and the op-
posite bank Of the river Many ladies'
were present and occupied points of
vantage on the monitor Amphitrite and
at other places where a good view could
be obtained
The flag Of The Harlan and Hollings-
worth Company ioated from the staff on
the top of the shears and national en-
signs from the two derricks at either side
OF the boat to be launched. The steam
boat Republic also showed her colors
The great hull of the vessel loomed no in
the yard All the staging had been taken
away and from inside came the noise of
hammers as the workmen proceeded with
their work. The American jack had been
raised at the vessels bow and the Ameri-
can flag at her stern.
On board the vessel were George ].
ADpold, president of the Merchants and
Grace Howard and Alic eAppold, his daugh-
ters, George a. .Deane, superintendingengi-
neer for the company, Michael Jenkins,
director of the company, and George w.
Billups, all of Baltimore, Mayor Harring-
ton, N. K. Benson of the Harlan and
Hollingsw0rth Company and
others. In the crowd were many
prominent citizens of the city. Decatur
II. Miller, director of the steamship
company, was in the crowd on the moni-
tor. At $50 o'clock the men standing
ready by the vessels keel began to drive
up the wedges. This was done in five
minutes and then the shores were knocked
out. AT 90S o'clock the sole was cut
and the vessel started towards the
water. gaining momentum every mo-
ment. AS her keel entered the
river the propeller revolved in a mass of
foam, A cheer went up from the crowd,
and the plunge Of the vessel made wave
that lifted the monitor from level keel.
At tile moment that the new steamer
was entirely in the water. Miss Grace
Howard Appold broke a bottle of wine
over her bow and christened her Dor
chester after the Eastern Shore of Mary
land county of that name. The launch
was fast one and the vessel
darted diagonally across the river and
ran aground on the opposite bank. There
she will stay until the next high tide,
when tugs will pull her off.
Those on board were taken ashore in a
row boat.
The Dorchester win be completed
about April l. and Captain +. NJ. Howes.
senio~ captain of the steamship line, will
probably be her commander
Worn was commenced on the Dorches-
ter in July, and the keel was laid about
September l. She is a four-deck ship,
built entirely of iron. That on her bot.
tom is three quarters Of an inch thick
and the on the side fve-eighths of an
inch. Her length between perpendiculars
IS 2b0 feet, over all about $50 feet. Her
beam is about 40 feet, and the total depth
under the fourth de ok, about 334 feet
She will have five bulkheads. four of
them water-tight, and will be schooner
rugged, with wire standing rigging.
The engines will be of the triple ex-
pansion type, with cylinders "a, 80 and
on inches in diameter, andt 48 inches
stroke OF piston. They will be of 1900
hotse power. capable of driving the ship
13 knots. steam will be supplied from
four steel boilers She will have steam
windlass and stearing gear and be fitted
with all the latest appliances, |
four metallic life boats, wooden |
life-boat and life raft. The gross ton
mage of the Dorchester will be 2, 700 tons.
the mean draft about IS feet The ton
mage is the same as that Of the Chatham
OF the same line, but the new vessel is
shorter.
The vessel weighs now about 10000 |
tons; $500, 600 rivets viii be used in her
construction weighing about thirty five
tons
No expense is to be spared in fitting up |
the vessel. There are to be accommoda- |
tions for eighty five first class and fifteen |
second class passengers The main saloon |
on the third deck will be finished in solid |
mahogany, with furniture of the same. |
The dining room and other accommoda- |
tions for tirst-elass passengers will be on |
this deck. On the promenade deck there |
will be three houses. The forward house |
will contain the pilot house and captains S |
andiofiicer's rooms The pilot house will be |
finished in oak and the captains room in |
white maple. The next house will con |
tain the smoking room for the passen
gers aud the officers mess room, which |
will be finished in oak The aft house |
will contain state rooms for first class |
passengers and and officers rooms. Ii
will be finished IN white pine, tastefully |
painted,