The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-30
The American Xe.seI..

The American VESSELS.
New YoRK, March 20. -Commander Dennis
w. Mullan, the commander of the Nipsic,
was ordered to that duty October I, 1887.
He entered the service September 20, 1850;
was promoted TO ensign in October, 1903; to
master In October, 1850; to lieutenant in Feb.
ruary, 1867; lieutenant-commander In March,
1865 and to his present grade in July, 1882.
This was his first command In the
new grade, as, owing TO some trouble
with the Navy Department officials, he
was kept OF duty for over four
years. Commander Mullan, while not re-
garded as one OF the brilliant men Of the
navy, was a good fighting officer. He was a
native Of Massachusetts,, and Of Irish pa
rentage. The executive officer Of the Nipsic,
in the absence Of Lieut.. Hawley, was Rich
ard Davenport or, as he is better known,
'Dick" Davenport. His reputation as a first
class officer in every respect was vouched
for by all the navy people here. lie was a
son Of the late Capt. Davenport Of the navy,
one Of the most distinguished naval officers
OF the late war, and commanded the Congress
during the battle Of Mobile Bay. The other
officers attached TO the Nipsic were Lieut.,
Sherman, OF New York; Ensigns VIM. T..
White, John L. Purcell, Harry A. Field and
Harry Il. Jones; Passed Assistant Surgeon
L. z. Derr, Passed Assistant Paymaster
John Corwine, Chief Engineer George
W. Hall and First Lieutenant Of Marines
+. Glove Ellett The complement OF
the Nipsic was seveniy-four marines and
blue.jackets, although some OF her short
time men were sent home from Samoa when
the Adams left for San Francisco In January
last. The Nipsic was a wooden vessel, and
was built In 1879. After two cruises she was
rebuilt at the navy yard, Washington, In
1879. She was bark rugged, eighteen feet
long and thirty-fivc feet beam. Her dis
placement was 1875 tons, and indicated
speed ten knots. Her battery consisted OF
one s-lnch muzzle loading rifle, l GO-pound
breach loading rifle converted parrot
which was located on the forecastle.
-four, nine-inoh smooth leaders. In the
secondary battery one three-inch ri1ed low
itzer, one twenty FOUNDER and one short
Calling gun. In addition to these there were
sixty Hotchkiss rifles Of the latest improved
pattern in her armory. but besides the usual
number Of pistols and side arm allowed by
regulation for vessels OF the Nipsic class.
The Trenton and VandalIa were larger
than the Nipsic. The Trenton was a ship
rugged wooden cruiser Of ten guns and Of
$500 tons displacement. Tho vandalia was
also a bark.riggcd wooden cruiser Of 200
tons, with a battery Of eight guns, mostly
smooth.borcs.
As far as known the Olga was the most
formidable Of the German vessels at Apia.
She was an unarmoured aud unprotected
singled dccked cruiser Of 2 200 tons dlsplaee.
ment aud was built In 1850. Her principal
battery consisted Of eight six-inch Krupp
rifles and a number Of Hotchkiss revolving
cannon. II Is thoughtat the Navy Depart
ment that she carried a half dozen Schwartz.
koG torpcdoos, which are similar TO the
Whitehead torpodocs In that they arc pro.
tccted by tubes beneath the water line.
The speed Of the Olga was somewhat supo-
rior TO that Of the vandalih, her maximum
trial speed having been II. The Germans
also had In Samoan waters the Adler and
the Eler, which were not as large or as
strong rs the Olga, the Adler carrying -four
and the Ebcr three Krupp rifles. The great
strength Of the German feet lay In Its pos.
session Of torpedocs.