Morning journal and courier., 1889-09-05
SCHOONER GEORGE M. GRANT.


 The Big Four-Masted Vessel Which
 Has Been Arising to Completion In
 Henry Sutton's Shipyasd Since Last
 January VIII be Launched at S:3O
 o'clock Saturday MOrning-A Glance
 at the Fine Schooner and Its Dimen-
 sions.
 Mr. Henry Sutton can well be proud of the
 big, sturdy vessels which have arisen to con-
 pletion from the stocks in his shipyard at
 West Haven during the past few years.
 When the huge four-masted schooner W.
 Wallace Ward was launched on September IS
 last West Haveu people looked at the big ship
 with pride as they remarked that it was the
 largest schooner ever built in New England
 this eide of Boston and among the largest
 which are built anywhere along the coast.
 It tiokled their vanity to live in town
 whose enterprise was able to make such ad-
 mirable additions to the facilities of com-
 merce. Now they are again looking at the
 result of the eight months labor of MT. Sut-
 toms shipbuilders with just as much satisfac-
 tion as they did year ago, and the big four
 master, "Sohooner George M. Grant," which stands ready to be launched promptly at 8:30 o'clock next Saturday morning, fully justifes their admiration.
 The keel of the George M. Grant was laid last January, and since that time there have been from forty to fifty men continually at work on the vessel. The long spell of wet weather hindered the work slightly, but Mir. Sutton said yesterday that the schooner would be launched not over three weeks be- hind the time which he had calculated upon. He seemed much pleased with the progress which his builders had made. The details of interior hnishing are now almost wholly occupying the attention of the workmen. A few days ago the huge body of the schooner was painted black. Yesterday afternoon decorators were busy working up on the monumental gliding which is to adorn the bow. The legend, "George N. Grant, New Haven, has been placed upon the black stern of the schooner in bright gold letters. The upper deck and interior of the ofiicers' cabin and cIews meesrooms were also re- ceiving few finishing touches. The whole plan as the W. w. Ward. which was launch ed last September. The apartments are as comfortable as rooms in commodious dwelling house on shore. They are heated by steam, finished with brussels carpets and provided with every improvement. The engines for turning the windlass are of eight horse power and were made by the Bath (Me.) Iron Works. A mo- table improvement upon the w. W. Ward is the suction pumps with which the George M. Grant is supplied. These control full six inch stream.
 The George M. Grant measures 196 feet on the keel. It has fl E foot beam and 18.3 feet depth of hold. It's length over all, as the term implies, is 229 feet, but this is not the entire length of the ship, as one inexperienced with nautical technicalities would suppose. From the end of the jibboom to the end of the spanker- boom measures 3141s feet. From the load line to the truck ss 132 feet. The registered tonnage of the Grant is 1,190. 75 and the ca pacity is 2, 200 tons, The masts are turned from white pine which was cut in the forests of Michigan. Upon the top of each is a ball of glass; looking like SO much silver in the sun. This is a non- conductor of elec- tricity and serves better than lightning rods on shore. The wv. Ward was not provided with this design. The coew of the new vessel will coneist of but five men before the mast Ships of half the size often take more men to handle them. Besides these there will be an engineer two mates and 8 steward. The captain will be Captain A. H. vesper, form erly of the w. W. Ward, The steward, Joe Anderson, is a favorite with sailors. He always makes it point to be upon a new vessel.
 The cost of the George M. Grant amounts to $64, ,000. hr. Henry Sutton is the princi- pal owner. Those associated with him in the schooner's ownership are substantially the same as the owners ot the w. w. Ward. Mir. Sutton said yesterday that the new schooner was 200 tons bigger than the Ward and that another of the same size and plan as the new one would be begun as soon as the Grant had been successfully foated. The vessel will go from here on trial trip to Ball. timore and will then be actively put into the general coaating business.