Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-01-07

Especial to the Kennebec Journal
Barn, Jan. s.-An immense crowd a.
semhled today to witness the launching Of
the RAppaLanock, 400 tons larger than any
other wooden sailing ship. Forty -nins
years ago. Arthur Sevsll's father launched
the drst ship Of that name. which vas alec
then the largest anoat. The launch VA
successful in every part.
Ths RappAhanock measures 2el feet In
length, 4s.9 in breadth. and 26.2 N depsA,
with gross tonnage Of 3. 3.ls1 and net meas-
ure0ent Of 3,o53 tons. Her keel vas laid
early last summer and measures 276 feet.
the longest keel ever laid in Maine. Her
frame is Of Maryland white oak. The
planking and ceiling is Of yellow pine. The
strength of floor may be estimated from the
fact that the keelson. built Of heavy hard
pine timber, 10 seven feet high and secured
by bolts which rivet on the under side of
the keel. The bilge keelsons and thick
streaks are Of corresponding msssiveness.
There are three decks, the frames being of
yellow pine kneed OF with hAckmatack.
The mssts are Of hard pine, the lower ones
being 80, IS and 50 feet in length, their
top mxsts IS feet and top gallants IS feet.
The bowsprit 10 Of sseel snd vas made as
the Bath Iron Works, ~ were the other
iron furnishings and steering wheel of this
vessel. The bowsprit 10 cylindrical taper
ing towards the end and weighs bat five
tons, though the timber it replaces would
weigh fifteen tons. The main yard 10
ninety five feet long and the ship will
spread nearly $4,000 yards of canvas. Her
windlass 10 one Of the largest and most
powerful ever seen in Bath. 1t can be
operated by . capstan should any accident
befall the engine or connecting machinery.
There is 200 fathOms Of 8 inch chain
attached to anchors Weighing 1900 and
8,5O0s each. Her house is all above the
main deck and 10 fifty feet long. Here are
the sailors quarters, carpenter's shop, gal
ley and engine room. Astern, set in .
long poop is the cabin 48x2s feet.
The master, Capt. W. K. Dickinson of
Phipsburg. has large room on the star
board side, just of this ssloon. The Off
GERS quarters are roomy and attractive.
Astern 10 the wheelhouse, strongly con-
strncted to protect the helmsman from the
seas.
Besides the two steam drums on the
nouse Anu tue CApst4us Ou tue IOfec8ette
there 10 = third capstan amidships, thus
making the work Of handling the sails much
easier. The great pumps can also be driven
by steam. The outside Of the hull, up to
the "a feet draught line 10 covered with
yellow metal, AGO sheets of 30.3lS los.
weight being used. one and half tons of
nails being required to hold them in place.
The standing rigging is of wire. Besides
the captain, the ship will carry two mates,
3 carpenter, steward, two boatswains, an
engineer and twenty men.
As soon ~ she can be fitted for sea, or
in about three weeks, the Rappahannock
will proceed to Philadelphia, where she
will load 100000 Cases of oil for Japan.
She is owned chiefly by her builders, Arthur
Sewall & Co., and will be managed by
them. The RappahaDnock has lead of
400 tons over any other wooden sailing
ship so tar as size gees; was built under
official inspection so that she ranks A in
every respect, and was modelled by VIM.
Pattee, the veteran designer of this city, 90
that she will doubtless sail.