The morning call., 1893-10-29
Il CID WILL NOT GO ALONE.

NEW YORK, Oct. 2S.-There is no longer
the slightest doubt of the uses to which Ell
Cid, the steamship which was purchased
through Flint & Co. from c. P. Hunting
ton, will be pu: The steam yacht Feiseen,
which has a record az the fastest in the
world, was bought to-day by Flint d Co..
from W. B. COggswell. She will be placed
on the deck of FL Cid for use as torpedo
boat.
The yacht is now at City Island, and
wOrkmen are busy ON her night and day
converting her into torpedO-Doat. The
work will probably be finished in two
weeks. The cabin of the yacht is being
removed, and the best steel plates are
being put in. In place of the ordinary
pilot-house a coming tower will be built,
and in the bow of the yacht will be a
torpedo-tube, placed forward on a pivot,
on which it will be capable of traversing
an arc $50 degrees att. a one-pound raised
fire gun will be carried.
The Feiseen has made seven miles at
the rate of 31.52 miles an hour. She cost
$4,000. Mr.. Gardner refused TO tell what
was paid for her by Flint & Co.
Admiral Maturity was aboard El Cid to-
bilities as a war vessel, and later in the
day a reporter found DR.. Salvador de Men
donca, Brazilian Minister to this country,
on board.
He was making suggestions as TO what
should be done to the steamship. 1t was
learned that El Cid would be fitted up as a
fast cruiser as one of fleet of four power
full war vessels to be commanded by Ad-
miral Maurity. This feet will be most
formidable one and will be able to give
Admiral Mello and his command hard
fight should they come to close quarters.
The Government Of Brazil, in addition TO
El Cid, will have three new vessels. two Of
which will be ironclads Of the latest and
most effective type.
One of these ironclads is being turned
out by the Armstrong; in England and
the Rcheuala is now at Toulon. where she
is being fitted oui There also is the
cruiser Benjamin Constant, which has
been, bought for Brazil. Admiral Maturity
was formerly a monarchist and friend of
De MeilO. but now he is republican and
will give the heartiest support to PeixotO
and his Government. He is one OF the
best naval officers in the service of Brazil.
FL Cid this morning was towed from her
pier down to the Erie basin, where large
force was put 10 work getting her ready to
be cleaned and painted. Her bottom will
be painted with anti-fouling paint. and
ships carpenters were at work to-day
measuring and making calculations as to
how and where her guns would be placed.
In her bow on the main deck will be q
dynamite gun, and near by will be two
IN q I'd
deckhouse will be placed twelve rapid
firing guns.
Admiral Maturity left for Chicago at
O'Clock this afternoon. He is so much oc-
cuped with the Brazilian exhibit at the
exposition that he has only been able to
give four days to the details necessary for
the purchase and fitting out of FL Cid.
For this reason the Brazilian Minister, DR..
Mendonca. has been compelled to call
upon gentlemen who are experts IN naval
architecture to superintend the fitting out
Of the ship, and to take charge OF the
metamorphosis that is now turning her a
peaceful freighter into cruiser.
In addition TO the armament already de-
scribed, Ell Cid will be fitted with Howell
torpedoes. which have been adopted By
the United States Government
A telegram from Providence tonight
stated that s1e Hotchkiss Ordnance Com
pany was getting several torpedoes ready,
presumably for the use OF the FL Cid. The
officers of the company, however, refused
to say anything about what the destina-
tion Of the torpedoes was.
1t is not known how lons it will take to
fit out FL Cid. but no attempt will be made
to armor any part OF her. The Brazilian
Government has need of a fleet at once.
and 1t is expected that the three men-of-
war will sail very shortly.
The big armored cruiser New York has
received orders to prepare to proceed to
Brazil at once.
1t is announced that the successor of
Acting Rear-Admiral Stanton will sail for
Rio de Janeiro on the New York, but who
this officer will be is not yet known.