The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-03-26
THE OLD VERMONT.

After long life of nearly three-Quar-
ters of n century, unscathed by hostile
shot or the beaks of hostile warships,
the ancient three-decker Vermont was
rammed and nearly sunk by clumsy
steam collier last week, while lying
quietly in her dock at the Brooklyn Navy
Yard Many of the older BostOnians,
says the the journal, will remember the
Vermont as the great line -of-battle ship
whose IonGerous proportions as til oy
were displayed on the stocks at Charles
town were for years one of the sights
of the New England metropolis. A few
facts about this aged vessel may be of
interest to them and to the younger
generation also.
The Vermont was one of the heavy
war ships authorized by Congress soon
after the close of the war of 1912. EX-
perience in that conflict had demon
Strated that we needed such ships if we
were to keep our coasts clear of enemies.
| The plan of the Vermont was made and
approved in Washington in August,
| 1918, and her keel was laid at the Char
lestown Navy Yard in September of the
year following. The yard was completed
but long years of peace had dulled Amer
lean naval enthusiasm, and the Ingallses
of that day was as positive as they are
now that war ships never would be
wanted. So the Vermont rested on the
stocks until the outbreak of the trouble
with Mexico brought about n change of
mind on the part of the wiseacres. In
1913 work was resumed upon the ship.
1t was discovered that, Notwithstanding
the lapse of time, the great hull was for
the most part in excellent condition. 1t
only remained to put in new keel,
caulk the seams land otherwise prepare
her for launching.
The event was set for noon of Sept.
l4th, ls4S, and it was made a gala occa-
sion. The newspapers announced that
the United States government would
provide $500 for a collation. as was the
custom of the day, in the hall of the
NEW work house, north of the dry
dock. One half of the hall was fitted up
for the accommodation of ladies, who
could watch the launch without exposure
to the weather. When the day came all
the available space about the ship was
crowded The harbOr was filled with
boats, and crowds clustered on the
wharves and on Cops Hill and other
points of vantage in this vicinity. The
Boston newspapers had enthusiastic ac-
counts of the immense cOncourse of
people," and of the ease and dignity
with which, when the word was given.
the great ship" slid down the ways and
out upon the bosom of the water. A
great ship the Vermont certainly was for
1913, when the fine packet Ocean Mon
arch of 1900 tons, whose melancholy loss
by fire, near the English coast, our older
merchants will remember, was, with one
exception. the largest American mer-
chant vessel on the ocean. But even at
that early day, when steam as method
of propulsion for vessels of war and
commerce was in its infancy, Boston
paper was sagaciOus enough to see that
the stately sailing three-deckers were
doomed. "Probably'' it prOphesied, "no
launch Of a ship-of-the line will ever take
place again in this country"
From the description of the Vermont
published in the journals of that time, we
learn that the ship was pa feet long from
billethead to taffrail, or 1876 feet between
perpendiculars, "a feet in extreme
breadth of beam, and 81 feet deep from
the top of the star deck to the ceiling Of
the hold. 1t is interesting to compard
the dimensions of this great ship of 1913
with those of the steel armOTed cruiser
Maine of 1890. The Maine is 3lS feet
long on the water Tide and 81 feet wide,
with G0lS tons displacement. The Var
mont had 100 ports, or three decks, and
carried 81 guns, comprisingS S-inch shell
guns, % 42-pounders and As 30 FOUNDERS,
a formidable battery for the day, but mere
popguns beside the Names tremendous
armament.
From the date of the launching until
1862 it does not appear that the Vermont
had a career of a particularly eventful
nature, but in that year she fell victim
TO a series of mishaps that is one of the
most extraordinary chapters in ournaval
history. OF course the huge three-decker
was of no possible use as fighting ship
in narrow Southern channels gainst the
rams and rihed guns of the COnfederates,
and so she was fitted out ut CharlestOwn
in 1862 as a hospital and store ship, 10 be
stationed at Port Royal. On Monday,
Feb. 9th, in tow of the United States
steamer KensingtOn. she sailed from
President Roads for her destination.
About 7 o'clock that night the two YES
sells were struck by terrific gale from
the West, and the great Vermont, which
was under tOpsails, outran the steamer,
which was forced 10 cut the hawser for
he" own preservation. The gale increased
and soon the VeTmOnts sails were
blown away and four.sof her boats torn
from their davits. The ship preached
10. Soon after breakers were reported
ahead. The starboard anchor was le5 20
and lost. The port anchor however,
held the ship in II fathOms, but after
awhile that anchor went, the heavy iron
tiller broke, the rudder was carried
away, and the big ship was drifting help
lessly at the mercy Of the winds and
currents. On Thursday, the 9th, the
schooner Flying Mist spoke the disabled
vessel and took off Acti g Storekeeper
Edward A. BRINE and brought him into
Chatham. Mr.. Birnie Immediately com
muncated to Commodore Hudson at the
Charlestown Navy Yard the frstnews of
the disaster. There were many men
from Boston and vicinity among the
yermonts officers and crew, and the