The Portland daily press., 1891-12-07

luo VESSELS remaining unOer cOnStruc-
ton. with the acts authorizing them, are as
follows:
Act of August 3, 1886-Purtan, Amphltrite,
Monadnock. Terror, Maine, Texas.
Act OF March 8. l8s7-Monterey
ACT Of september7. 1Ss8-New York, Cruiser
NO. ., Cincinnati mo. y, Raleigh (No. 81. No.
vessel.
Act Of March 2. 1sss-Harbor Defense Ram,
Gunboat No. 8, Gunboat No. g.
Act OF June 80, l99o-lndiana. Massachu-
sets, Oregon, Protected Cruiser No. IL Tor
Act Of March 2, lss1-Protected Cruiser No.
l3.
The report recites the reasons for not
awarding to the Bath Iron Works the con-
tract for cruiser No. 13, the Bath bid being
the lowest. These reasons were given at
the time the contract was awarded to
Cramp u Sons. The reasons briefly stated
were that the Bath Works were not pre-
pared to do the whole work, proposing to
snelet the contract for the engines; that
they could not complete 1t within the
contract time, and that the department did
not care to entrust so important work to
concern which was comparatively mex
perienced in this branch of ShipDuilding.
Cruiser 10 is, of the news construction un-
dertaken during this period, by far the
most important. This vessel, of 1900 tons
displacement. Is sister ship to cruiser No.
II. The peculiar advantages of these two
cruisers consist in their extraordinary coal
endurance and their high speed, in both of
which respects they have no equal among
the large cruisers of the world. With a
maximum speed of % knots an hour and a
sustained sea speed of 21 knots, they can
safely be counted on, in any ordinary sea,
to overtake any commerce destroyer, any
commerce protector, or any mercantile ves-
sci now afioat.
The report gives an exhaustive review
of the Chilian difficulty. Concerning the
surrender OF the steamer Itata by the gov
eminent OF the insurgents, it says: "The
offer made by Senior Errazuriz was abso-
lutely voluntary. 1t was thus the Iquique
government, itself, which, within five days
OF the occurrence. disavowed the act of the
ltata, and stated its intention TO put her,
with the arms that she had taken on board
at the disposition of the United States"
The report also shows that Riggin, the
sailor killed in the Valparaiso affair, was
death. Secretary Tracy SAYS;
Another petty officer, johnson, then in
neighboring house, seeing Riggin lying
helpless In the street, went to his assist
ance. Tho crowd had now left. Finding
Rtggin still breathing. johnson took him
In his arms to carry him to drug store
near by. AT this moment a squad of
mounted police, with fixed bayonets, came
up the street. When at close quarters
they fired at johnson, being SO near that
his lace was blackened by the discharge.
One shot entered Higgins neck aud shoul-
der, infitctipg death wound. Another
shot passed through Johnson's clothe.
The sailors during the attack were with
out arms and therefore defenseless. OF
the thfrty-six men arrested and examined.
all were discharged, there being no proof
OF any violation of the peace on their part.
o me Es,il l. u ~ hs..s slab a single one
was found drunk or dfsorderly. 1t is clear
that their only offense lay in wearing the
uniform of the country to which they be-
longed."
Concerning the Ammen defense ram
now buii1ing at Bath, Me-, the report says:
Proposals for the construction of this ves-
sci, in accordance with the departments
plans and specifications, were opened De-
cember 20, $780, But one bid was received,
that of the Bath Iron Works of Bath. Me-.
for $3.50, 900, and the contract was awarded
accordingly, January 28. 1891. Since the
execution Of the contract changes in the
plans have been made, increasing the
length Of the vessel eight feet, thus giving
greater berthing capacity for the crew and
space for stowage of coal, and admitting
battery of four six FOUNDER rapid FIRE guns
to afford protection against torpedo boats.
The change has materially increased the
coal endurance and consequent radius Of
action Of the vessel, while the substitution
of a solid steel casting for the stem in place
of the ram with removable head, as origi-
Dally designed, gives the vessel greater
strength for rammiDg purposes. The con-
tract requires that the harb0r defense ram
shall be completed and ready for delivery
In 18 months from date OF execution