Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-12
THE yEsUyIys AND DOLPHIN.
Two ships-o!-war That Will lie Brought
Here Next Week.


THE NAVAL VETERANS WILL HAVE AN oFPoR-
TUSITY TO EXAMINE TWO SPECIMENS OF THE
NEW NAvY-wHAT TIRE LADIES COMMITTEES
ARE DOING - CORPS REUNION MEETINGS -
SoTEA
While the Kearsarge, stranded on the White
Lot. viii represent the old navy, and will nat
urally receive a large proportion of popular
attention, the great majority of the multi
tude which will be here next week
will not leave the city without enjoying at
least a glimpse az the two specimens of modern
naval architecture that are to be on exhibition
during the eacampment. Some time ago it
was suggested to the Navy Department by
the citizens' executive committee that
the old soldiers and sailors would appre-
ciate the presence of one or two of the vessels
tina: have sprung up since the Monitor and
Nerrimac showed clearly how useless all I'M
arrored vessels were in actual combat Today
che following letter was received at committee
headquarters:
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 1892.
Sir: Referring to my previous commu-
nicatiOn and to nv interview with You
on the subject of the presence of YES
sells at the Grand Army encampent / have
70 state tult tDe department HIS uttkutu
10 order the Dolphin and the yesuvius to Wash
ington during the national eucampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic
Very respectfully,
Mr. JOHN JOY Epson.
Chairman Citizens Elk. Com,
Atlantic Building.
Neither OF the two vessels is large, for the
present condition Of the channel would not per-
nit the approach OF such vessels the Balti-
more or the Chicago.
THE yEsUvIUs.
The yesuvius is a novelty. II ia similar in
many respects to several of the English torpedo
ships and differs mainly in that its torpedoes
are disc arged in the air instead of under the
water. The length OF the vessel over al Is 252
feet inches: breadth. 2G feet 5 inches; depth,
IL feet inch; mean draught. feet; displace
meut 725 tens. The Vesuvius is armed with
three pneumatic dynamite guns of ten and a
half inch cnlibc-. These guns throw shells
containing 100 pounds Of dynamite distance
of more than . mile. and each gun is capable of
being discharged once in two minutes. The
cargo Of projectiles consists of ten for
each gun Torpedoes can be fred at
anv range between 200 yards and one
mile b varying the amount of compressed air
pumped into the reservoirs Both guns are
fixed 40 that to light them any object the
ship rir.-t be turned but as she has twin screws
this j. easily accomplished TO insure the
safety c! the crew while handling the shells
ard while loading and firing Shs guns light
protective deck has been built. Each of the
guns Is fisty-four feet long and they are located
side by side on the forward part of the
vessel. shells tired from them have fuses
which ignite impact or fuses
formed % a composition which ignites on being
wet, so that the charge explOdes after the she'll
sinks below the surface of the water In addi-
ton 20 tine torpedo guns the Vesuvius
has c powerful secondary battery con-
sisting OF two three-pounders. one
one-pounler. two revolving cannon and two
Gatlngs- Motive power is furnished by two
triple-e1pansion engines developing $500 in
dieated horse power ard resulting in a speed of
over twenty knots per hour.
TIE DOLPHIN.
The Dolphin is single screw dispatch vessel
and Was built at Roach's Chester yards.
Her length over all is 2655 feet.
breadth. 80 feet: mean draught. 14.25
fee; displacement, l ,4s5 tons; indicated horse
power, 2.240; speed. fifteen and one-half
Knots per hour. The armament con-
sists Of one six-inch breech-loading ride.
mounted on shifting pivot carriage on
the spar deck. two six-pounder rapid
fire guns mounted in the topgallant forecastle
and four revolving cannon mounted n! the ex-
tremities OF each bridge III fixed armored tow
ers. The Dolphin crew consists of zen officers,
eighty men and eighteen apprentices.
To STAR reporter who asked where the
vessels wouli lie while in this port Commodore
Ramsay said they would probably be stationed
a. the navy yard but IL the Grand Army people
wanted them in the Washington or Georgetown
channel he would, If possible. have tine vessels
SO located
what the people want" said he sis to get
On board and see the interior workings. and
that they can most easily DO from the navy yard
wharf
WAR GOVERNORS.
II ex-Goy. William Burton Of Delaware
would only accept the invitation sent him
by the Grand Army executive COM
raittee and be present at tine
encampment he would be the sensation of
be week. Mr.. Burton was governor of Della
ware during the var and such addressed
In communication sent generally to all
war governors This morning the let
ter which was mailed TO his sup
posed address on September returned to
executive committee headquarters. On the foot
Of the page was the following addenda:
.P. S.-Ex-Goyernor Burton has been dead
several years.
u. II. HUGHEs.
Assistant Secretary of State"
Ex-Governor Frederick Smyth OF New Hamp-
shire is alive. but he will not be here. He
went 10 Europe during the early portion of the
summer and will not return to this country
until the encamPnent is over.
Ex-Governor Curtin will be in Washington
though. il such thing be possible. In re-
spouse TO tie invitation sent him he has replied
g. follows:
BELLEFoSrE. Pa. Sept T. 1892
John joy Edison. esq. Atlantic building, Room
90. Washington. ID. c.:
Dear Sir: 1 am much obliged to you for
your letter inviting me to attend and
participate il the reunion of the Grand
Army at the national capital / have
been hOnO-ed by repeated invitations from
separate army commando and have written
them. / do you. that | cannot promise
to be in Washington at the time fixed GER
tairiy ard not to make any arrangements
that might not be fulfilled. II pos
sible viii endeavor 10 be there as "a spectator
and with my desire always TO meet the soldiers
who served during the war. many of whom
know vii be yhere from this and other states of
the Union. Accept my thanks, and beli"-~ me,
yours truly, A. q. CuaTIS."
TWO BRANCHES OF THE POST oFFICE.
There viii be two branches Of the city post
Office on the White Lot, or on Grand Army
Place. as il will be called after Monday. One OF
these branches will be in a tent located some
where south of the road running from Pennsyl-
wanna avenue below the Treasury Department.
This canvas pos. Office will be circular and
circus-like in shape and will. so Postmaster
Sherwood SAYS, cover only one ring. On top of
the tent. supported by couple Of lengthy
pieces OF scantling will be displayed huge signs
80 that every one who read may under