The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-11-21
A MIGHTY MONARCH OF THE OCEAN.
The Ship shenandoah Ready To En-
ter Her Kingdom.
a Monster the Like of Which Was
Never Built In Maine.
AS Long as a Railroad Train and
Taller Than a House.
[special to the Press. l

BATH, November 20 There are to be sew
eral interesting launchings in this city with
in the next few months, one, and perhaps
the most interesting, occurring one week
from today, Thanksgiving day. This is the
Sewall ship Shenandoah, and that ship as
she now lies in the yard nearly ready for
the water. is sight for those who believe
that the American merchant marine is de-
clining Nobody in Maine ever saw such a
ship since the morning stars sang together.
There have been big ships and big steamers
in various parts of the world, but never
sailing ship like this in these parts. Figures
will not convey much of an idea of the sense
of her tremendous size that comes over a
man as, he, stands on the ground and looks
up at the bow OF the Shenandoah but for
the benefit of those who like them it may be
said that the vessel is 300 feet long on the
keel and somewhere in the vicinity of 325
feet in length from stem to stern. The
depth OF hold Is 20 feet. IL Is doubtful if
the vessels size, but comparisons may do
something toward it. A passenger car is 60
or 10 feet long; this ship is 325, or as long as
five cars placed together end to end. 1t 10
not as much in the matter of length that the
ship seems so much larger than others, al
though a comparison between it and others
building alongside shows that there is diff
ference in ships.
The full size OF the vessel first becomes ap-
parent when one stands on the ground, un-
der the bow and looks up. Then he realizes
that the Shenandoah is monster. A work.
man stands at the fore shoe doing some work
on the copper. Compared to the vessel he
looks ike a fly. 1t looks as though it would
take 20 men placed on top of each other to
reach the bOwsprit, aud three or four more
n a ic Tod in,
two colors at present, red above the copper
and lead color to the top. This lead color is
only temporary, and soon after the vessel
goes into the water will be painted black,
The copper runs high. There are Is streaks
laid with the lines of the ship, then 10 below
''cut bias" and three more on the keel.
A broad stairway leads up to the deck of
this monster, and the public is welcome TO
climb and inspect to its hearts content so
long as the busy workmen are not interfered
with. The houses, except the cabin, are all
above the main deck. The extreme bow is
decked over, sheltering a powerful steam
engine which operates windlass, and two
capstans on the deck above. On this deck
are also two iron tower lights. port and star
board. and place for the lookout. Under
meath the bowsprit springs nut from stout
heel. The spar is cased in tube inside the
vessel that would make a respectable smoke
stack for one of the Boston steamers.
Abaft the foremast. which like the main
and mizzen is made up mast, is the fore
castle with sleeping berths for "a men. This
room is large, high and wide, and being on
the main deck will De well ventilated and
pleasant. The galley and cooks quarters
and store room are next astern of the fore
castle. The cooking will be done on 0 good
iron range which can be bolted and strapped
to the deck in heavy weather. The cook has
a stateroom by himself Next astern of the
cooks quarters is the carpenters house,
containing double hosting engine with
boiler and condenser, intended to be used in
handling the heavy spars and also in loading
waist OF the ship is another capstan intend
ed for use with breast ropes and rigging.
These capstans and the engines and boiler
were all built by the Bath Iron Work and
are perfection in their way.
The middle house, containing eight berths
ana stove. Comes next ait for the use of
the petty officers and ships boys. A space
of deck comes next, and then occupying all
the rest of the stern, is the cabin, high and
grained wood and fitted up for the
captain and his family and the other Off
GERS. On the starboard side of the
stern is the captains private cabin, with a
self-levelling bedstead in it, and on the other
side is the bath room. Six more staterooms,
with closets and lockers. are arranged along
the sides, making as comfortable quarters for
the ships officers as can be found anywhere.
Ali the space below the deck not occupied
by the ships stores is devoted to hold space.
The carrying capacity of the vessel will be
enormous as her rough measurement is over
3400 tons.
The wheel-house is in the extreme stern of
the ship and is a comfortable, well-appUinted
room. The wheel is consequently under
cover. On this ship, at least, no quarter
masters will be frozen to death at their post.
The ship will carry four masts, the Gus
tomary full ship rig, and fourth or jigger-
mast, with fore -and-aft sail like a schooner.
She will spread a cloud of canvas, more than
twice as much as the fve-masted schooner
Governor Ames, and is expected to hold her
own in trial of speed with fare-and-afters
Speed is not The principal thing, however, as
a glance at the build will show. The bow of
the Shenandoah looks like the head of bull
dog,-broad across the lower part, ana the
ship will be a good freighter. The lower
masts are up now and she will be launched
with them, the remainder of the rigging GO
ing in later.
The steamer Monomoy in the New England
yard is framed and the work of planking
will commence in few days. The vessel
will launch In the spring.