The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-28

James Grifi tn Takes Captain C. F. Swan
to Task on His Communication.

The communication from Captain G. +.
Swan, of the bark McNear, which APP
peared in last Mondays PosT-INTELLI-
GENcER, has stirred up the defenders of the
whaleback vessel. James Griffiths sent
the following communication to the Posi-
1NTELLIGENCER news bureau at Port
Townsend in reply to Captain Swan:
The general opinion will. l think. consider
the terms "cranK," STOOL" etc., more applica-
BILE to the writer of the communication in your
issue OF the 2lst, by C. F. Swan, master of the
American bark MeNear, than to a steamer rec
ognized by the leading shipping people as af-
fording the cheapest means of transportation
yet brought to available every day utility.
This knowledge appears to be indistinctly
dawning on Captain Swan, as in answer to his
own interrogation he quotes some as saying
he is the common ship" In his frenzy to get
into print he has omitted consulting his "Web-
ster," and consequently gets mixed between
coming" and common" "Some say she is a
sugar electrician and some say she is land
boomer'-what idiotic boshl
An unprejudieed mind would not look upon
the whalebacks as antagonistic to the merchant
marine OF this country, but recognize in them
the principles of American ingenuity success
fully applied to transportation by sea, and con-
sequently an aid to the revival of our position
OF eminence in shipping. When the whaleback
leading English shipowners and builders, and
the leading opinion was that she was practical
innovation for handling carsoes at low cost;
and Mr.. Isnay, Of the White Star line, gave ii rs
his opinion that whalebaeks would revolutionize
water transportation of coarse bulk freights A
leading English shipbuildlng firm has recently
applied for patent for cargo steamer that en-
bodies the principal features of the whalebaek.
Captain Swan gets all mixed up in the theory
of ship building. The experience and science
is too Big a lead for his mind to carry-why in a
steam vessel provide against leeway? The re-
ference to monitors" and the alaskan" is
purely irrelevant and has no more to do with
the seaworthiness OF the whaleback than the
laundering few years ago of the Seattle coal
laden ships Harvey Mills "Eidorado," ISL
ezra Nevada" ELLA S. Thayer,' "St Stevens"
or the putting bsck short while ago OF cer-
tain vessel to discharge portion of its cargo in
Port Townsend Captain Swan has either q fac
ulty for getting mixed in his ideas or willfully
misre presenting matters, The inventor and
patentee of whalebacks is Captsin Alex Nc
Dougall, and the published plan of the whale
back passenger steamer In the Scientific An,eri
con OF the 18th of November was by a Harold
Avery, and an infringement OF McDougaAs pat
emit as far as the hull OF the vessel was con-
cerned. The superstructure was the invention
of scientific theorist who furnished enough
figures to satisfy even mathematician or coast
wise navigator.
The word "crank" seems to have a fascination
for the skipper OF the MoNear. To show the
inclination in the CAPTAINS communication to
grossly misrepresent facts, will challenge him
TO prove his assertion that there is not a single
tramp steamer building in England today.
will go farther and undertake to prove that
there are two steamers building in shipyards OF
Great Britain for every one sailing vessel. II 1
cannot do so / will pay 500, to be handed to
oh f4ahi iuz fir IN fha
do so then Captain Swan must pay q CORE
spending amount for similar purpose.
The reference made to ship OF $500 tons build
ing on the Clyde with ''excellsry" power shows
that the captain does not closely follow leading
and important events in shipping. The ship
Marie Rickmers, built on the Clyde for German
owners, is an experiment in the auxiliary
method OF propulsion. Auxiliary engines were
fitted in the Great Britain ffty-two years ago
and proved a failure and were taken out, and
the Great Britain for years did profitable
service for her owners rs a sailing vessel IN
more recent times an enterpTising Eastern
ship owner fitted the bark George :. Homer,
built for Columbia river trade, with auxiliary
engines; she made the voyage out demon
strsting the impraeticability OF the idea, and
her engines were taken out before she loaded
return cargo.
The Marie Riekmers is a large ship built for
special trade, and with the advancement of
triple and quadruple expansion engines and
feathering propeliers. 'Enterprise makes the
experiment" bu: the prevailing opinion OF
leading ship owners 10 that it Will not become
generally adopted.
The whAlebaek viii no doubt Prove = success
until the contrary is proven This is a partial
sdmittance Of fact that shows the animosify
tina. prompted the communication in the wish
that the contrary be proven "She slides the
water like & board" is another Of the captains
" ohzur f.,r 30
lous aud the inference that she Is a dangerous
craft 10 handle, misstatement for which there
is not the slightest foundation. Don't let
England Go all the carrying of freight" Yet