The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-11
THE BIGGIsT SrEAMBOAT.
Launching at the Old Roach ship-Yard
af


at Chester.
CHESTER, PA. August 1O.-The largest
steamboat In the world slid off the ways
and into the Delaware river gracefully
and as easily as though she were a
cockleshell instead Of a l00O-tonner to-
day. The yards OF the Delaware River
Iron ShipbYiding and Engine Company.
formerly the John Roach ship-y<rd, were
crowded with people attracted by the un-
usual sight
The officials OF the Fan River line,
whose fleet the new boat will head. came
on from Boston. Fall River snd New
York by a special train Of Pullman cars.
stopping over night at the Continental
Hotel In Philadelphia and arriving here
AZ 10 o'clock this morning There were
about 200 people in the party, including
ladies.
The now boat has not yet been named,
but as she will be -lstef shin IN the PIT
fitan, Plymouth. Providence and Pilgrim.
she will probably be called the Priscilla.
She will be the largest and finest steam
boat aAoat. She will be to the average
sound or bay steamer what the Cam
panla or the American liners now huild
Ing are TO the average ocean steamers.
II was just 1858 when the big hun
showed signs Of life. the workmen hao
been knocking the pins out from under
her for an hour.
There were no ceremonies, and the Gus
tomary baptism with champagne was re-
served until the christening.
The weight OF the big hull pulled her
loose before the timbers on which she
rested had been sawed through. she
started slowly, gaining speed as she slld
down the incline. In fifteen seconds she
was I'm the water, riding on an even Keel
and sailing stern foremost out to the
middle OF the Delaware.
There was a shout from the crowd on
shore and steamers on the river saIuted
with many whistles. Tugs went along
side and towed her to the wharf. In the
excitement two women tainted and the
front line Of spectators on the shore got
wet feet from the wave which the new
boat sent out as she parted the waters.
The new boat Is 4Si feet on the water
line and 4l0 feet over all, or 20 feet
longer than the Puritan. Her hun Is
fftv-two feet six inches wide. and her
extreme breadth over guards is ninety
three feet Her hail in draft VIII be
twelve feet six inches, and her total
displacement 1850 tons. She Is the design
Of George Peirce. supervisor OF the Fall
River line. In outward appearance she
VIII resemble ilt Iuilihll' Hhfh', wv
steel masts and two smokestacks.
She will have greater passenger and
freight capacity than the Puritan, and
viii be even more elabOrately finished
and furnished. Her dinlng-saloon Will be
ON the main deck instead OF In the lower
saloon. She will have double inclined
compound engines. which will run with
less vibration than the compound beam
engines Of the Puritan. 1t is said that
the new boat win be MS steady as the
Plymouth, which for this feature is a
wonder
The arrangement Of the decks will ba
the same as the Puritan. Her engines
are the design Of Andrew Fletcher. OF the
North River Iron Works, Hoboken. Her
engines and machinery VIII be below the
main deck. There Will be two high
pressure cylinders each hfty-one inches
in diameter, forward OF the main shaft.
and two low-pressure cylinders, each
ninety-hve inches in diameter. side by
side aft the main shaft. All cylinders
will have eleven feet stroke OF piston.
The shaft will be in three sections. the
outboard ones having the driving ana
the centre section the drag cranks; each
crank pin will be attached to the con-
Meeting rods OF a high and low pressure
cylinder. The cranks will be at right an
giles 10 each other and the cylinders
inclined. so that there VIII be practically
no dead centre.