The morning call., 1892-11-06

bnt with momentum enough to carry her a
hundred feet from shore, where her enor-
nous dimensions could be seen.
Other large ocean craft anchored near
by looked ike pigmies.
For the vessel to slide intosthe bay took
about half minute, ard then cheer went
up from the crowd and dozens of whistles
on tugbOats and In the factories screeched
wildly in the effort to announce that an
other warship had been added to our navy
The Olympia Is the largest uuarmored
vessel yet designed for the United States
Navy, and her construction was authorized
by an appropriation approved by Congress
September T. 1883, which provided for zone
steel cruiser of about $500 tons displace-
ment. TO cost, exclusive OF armament, and
excluding any premium that may be paid for
Increased speed, not more than 81, 800, ,000."
Bids were advertised for In April, 1890,
and on June 10 OF same year the contract
was awarded. The first rivet was driven in
July, 1891, and since then work on the YES
sci has proceeded steadily.
The principal dimensions Of the Olympia
are as follows; Length on water line $40
feet; lengbt over sall 344 beam, nodded,
62:10; beam, extreme. So; mean draught
2:6; dispiec, ment 5751 tons; indicated
horsepower 1880; guaranteed speed on
trial 20 knots; sustained sea speed 10 knots;
maximum coal capacity 1900 tons; endur-
ance at 10 knots 1900 miles; complement
as flagship $50 men.
She is of the protected" cruiser type,
SO called because secondary steel deck ex-
tends the full length of the ship Just above
the water line, that Is intended to defect an
enemy's shot. This deck ranges in thick
ness from AZ inches On the slopes over the
machinery spaces to inches On the fat of
the deck forward and aft. This deck. with
the help of the coal-bunkers, fully protects
the vital part Of the ship, and the whole top
could be shot of her without lessening
the power OF her movements. The matches
In this deck are provided with armor-shut-
ters or Earthquakes of the same thickness
as the deck-plating; and ia addition to
these, each hatch Is furnished with armor
bars or gratlngs fitted below the shutters as
4 safeguard, while the battleplates are
raised. Besides the protective deck she has
two others.
and under forced draught will be capable of
making 20A knots. at which rate she can
travel 2l91. sc knots In four and half days.
With full coal supply and at ordinary
cruising speed her radius of action would
be about 13 900 knots with an endurance of
ffty-fye days.
The ship has two masts, with two tops on
each. Each OF the lower or fighting tops
contains two rapid-fring guns; each of the
upper tops one MaDgin searchllght Of the
latest and most approved type. Her sail.
power Is sufficient TO steady her In a sea-
~.y. Freeboard forward Is fest. aft IL feet.
The battery consists of four 8-inch breech-
loading rifles. ten 6-inch rapid firing guns.
1-pounder rapid-fring gun and six torpedo
tubes.
The heavier guns are mounted on the GEN.
Ter line IN baroette turrets four inches thick,
one at the forward and one at the after end
OF the superstructure, and train from d.
fectly ahead or astern to 90 degrees on each
aide abaft or before the beam respectively.
These guns revolye inside the turrets In
stead OF the whole turret revolving as in
vessels like the monitors. The 5-inch guns
are mounted In such q way that four Of
them have direct fire ahead. five on either
beam and four direct fire astern. They
are protected by sponsors four inches thick.
The 6-pounder guns are mounted On the
berth deck and have pinch armor protec-
ton. The turrets and guns are operated by
hydraulic machinery, and the lifts for rails
Ing ammunition from the ammunition rooms
below are also operated by hydraulic
power.
There are two fixed torpedo tubes, one In
the bow and one in the stern, and two train
Ing tubes on each broadside. Eighteen
Inch Whitehead torDedoes are used.
The vessel has double bottom and con-
taiDs about 150 water-tight compartments
besides q number of water-tight doors in
bulkhead on the several decks and below
the protective deck.
A protective belt, consisting of Golfer
dam feet 9 inches wide, filled with ceiIu.
lose. extends the whole length OF the ves-
sci on both sides just above the protective
deck.
This cellulose Is made from the fiber Of
the cocoanut, and its use Is intended to stop
leaks. Should a hole be shot in the side Of
the vessel water runs In on the cellulose.
which at once swells to such an extent that
the hole is closed and more water prevented
from entering.
A narrow passage separates this belt
from the coalbunkers, which form another
means OF protection, particularly to the
engines and boilers.
The hull was built under the superin-
tendence of Naval Constructor A. w. Stahl.
U.S.N., and tho construction OF the engines
and boilers Is in charge OF Chief Engineer
G. r. Kutz U.S.N.
The work of putting In the engines and
boilers VIII begin at once, and the guns will
be put in as soon as the vessel Is ready for
them. 1t will he about two years before
She Is ready for trial trip.