The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-05
OF SIAMSYACHT
he ORDERS THE FASTEST AND
MOST LUzURIoUs " OF SHIPS.


MOST LUxURIo Us" OF SHIPS.
His Majesty Intends TO be HIS own
Ahnbassador-Th Builders or the
zsria at Work on This Pisce OF Ex-
trevagsnce-It Ia TO Be Called the
Meha Chak riki-This White Elephant
to Show Up IN New York Bay.
From the Neic York World.
LONDON, Feb. 19.-Briefy stated, the in
struc.ions of the King of Siam to Messrs.
Ramage & Ferguson. the famous Scotch
ship-builders, were: "Build me the fastest
aud most luxurious steam yacht that you
can turn out" Some details about this new
yacht are as follows:
IL seems almost absurd TO call such an
elaborate piece OF ship building private
yacht. She will really be an armed cruiser
OF 1900 tons and almost twice the esize Of
the largest private yacht yet built on this
side Of the water.
The King of Siam is an exceptional east
ern potsntate. Other eastern monarchs
send costly embassies Co Europe and Ameri-
ca. The King of Slam has decided to be
his own ambassador, and do the old world
and the new Ia a style befitting his own i'm
portance and the Importance OF his king
dom. This determination has no doubt
been arrived at from urgent political mo-
tives, which have been inspired by the Brit
ish annexation Of Burmae under the usual
philanthropic pretexts and the possible in-
vasion Of Siam under similar desire to do
good.
To carry out his purpose the King of Siam
has commissioned steam yacht or armed
cruiser to be built at Leith, Of 1900 tons
measurement, to be armed with the latest
and most approved guns and to be, besides
the handsomest, fastest aud most imposing
yacht that any emperor or king possesses.
This armed yacht, besides broadside guns,
will carry guns OF large caliber in broad
side turrets, In which the embrasures will
permit a wide range Of fire. On her deck
machine guns will be mounted. She will
be brlgantlne rugged, with armed tops" on
both masts, in which Nordenfeldts will be
mounted and otherwise her armament will
be most complete for fast cruiser which
will depend more upon her speed than the
thickness OF her plating. An ornamental
steel rail will surround the deck as well as
the deck house, from which the officers in
command will direct the vessel She will
be decorated in the handsomest style, white
and gold being the prevailing TINS both ex-
ternslly and internally.
English yacht owners, who have to go to
Scotland to have their yachts built, have,
nevertheless, an idea they can only be
painted, decorated aud upholstered by Lon
don tradesmen and, in consequences, send
them round to Cowes or Go,port TO have
them finished. But the King Of Siam has
been informed his yacht can be as highly
decorated in Edinburgh as in London, and
she will be decorated by the builders.
The keel Of the yacht has just been laid
in the yard Of the builders. Messrs, Ramage
81 Ferguson of Leith, who have gained
reputation for building steam yachts, their
latest achievement being the Zaria, of 1000
tons, the largest steam auxiliary yacht In
the world. and which has gone off on q voy-
age to the West Indies with her owner,
Count Strogonof Of Russia, on board.
In the internal fittings and deck wood
work no soft wood will be used. The wood
will be polished teak from Bangkok, Siam,
purposely selected to resist the ravages of
the white ant, the scourage Of Siam, and
other insects of that country. The yacht
will be fitted with electric lights in all her
cabins and will also have search lights fitted
on deck on a novel principle, which will en-
able her to navigate The intricate harbors
and rivers of Siam during the darkness.
Marble baths will be among the luxurious
fittings of the sleeping cabins, in which the
3
retinue will find accommodation. Among
recent inquiries after yachts for Asiatic
princes in this country have been provisions
for the accommodation Of a harem, but the
King of Slams yacht is not provided with
any novelties in this direction.
The Siamese yacht will be a twin screw,
with triple expansion engines capable of
being driven up to high rate Of speed, the
steam being generated by four exception
all To- faH
and feed heaters. Her dimensions are 215
feet over all, 40 feet beam and 20 feet
nodded depth. With double tunnels, which
do NOS show much above the deck,
she will be rugged with square
canvas on the foremost and fore and aft
canvas on the mainmast.
The yacht will have no bowsprit, but her
plumb stem will be carried out under water
into projecting ram snout aud she will
have all the look Of a regular armed cruiser.
Three coats are TO be carried on davIts on
each side and the equipment is completed
with flagstaff on the bow and another on
the stern, on which will be flown the royal
emblem of a white elephant.
The yacht is to be named the Maha Chak-
riki. She will be launched IN about six
months, after which she will steam for Siam
with crew Of Siamese in charge of Euro
pean officers. The intention Of the King of
olam tnefen1ter 10 TO mako cruise round
the world, calling at the more important
European, American aud Asiatic ports. The
great size of the yacht, her powerful arma.
ment and the display of Importance which
her visits will confirm. 1t is believed, will
add to the prestige of siam as we'll as to the
prestige of the dynasty. No dates have
been fixed for the cruise and the visits it is
intended to make, but London and New
York may be reached in the course Of the
next twelve months. and in the Thames and
New York bay the white elephant would be
an attractive wonder.
REPORTERS aoNORRD