The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-01-10
THE CRUISER DETROIT.

IL was originally designed that the
battery of the Detroit should be eight
four inch and two six-inch rapid-fire
breech- loading rifles. The latter were
to be mounted on central pivot carriages
in the middle Of poop and forecastle, and
the former for the broadside battery.
But after the sponsors had been CON-
pleted and magazines ordered for the
caliber Of guns and ordnance as above.
the Navy Department decided to increase
that Of the broadside battery TO five inch
breech- loading guns. The broadside
battery Is mounted in sponsors on the
main deck, four on each side, the forward
and after guns to have a direct fore and
aft fire, respectively. The secondary
battery consists Of six six-pounders and
two one Founders. Two of the six
FOUNDERS will be mounted in small spon-
sons in the eyes Of the vessel, two on the
hammock nettings abaft the break of the
forecastle, and two on the forward end of
the poop deck over the after sponsors OF
the broadside battery. The two one
FOUNDERS will be mounted on the quarters
in Sponsors same as in the forecastle.
The torpedo outfit consists OF six tor
pedo ports, fitted for the Howell launch
ing apparatus and Howell torpedo.
There are two torpedo ports under the
poop, two under the forecastle, one
through the stem and another through
the stern.
The Detroit and Montgomery were the
first'ships of the United States Navy TO
have cellulose filings in the Golfer
dams. This is French invention and is
used in the vessels of that navy. Cellu-
,ose is made from the husks of cocoanuts.
II is one half the weight OF cork, absorbs
eight times its weight OF water, and
when wet swels rapidly, forming an inn
pervious substance. It's great utility in
shipbuilding was discovered by a French
naval officer, whose crew were firing at
target made of moistened cocoanut
husks. When the marksmen examined
their target they found that all the per-
forations made by the bullets had closed
and with such rapidity that no break
could be detected. This led 20 series OF
tests by the French Government, which
proved that ships built with lining OF
cellulose, as the new substance was
named, would be practically unsuitable.
The lighting is to be by electricity,
furnished by Edison, two engines and
two dynamos, so arranged that either
dynamo can be connected with any or all
OF the incandescent or arc light circuits.
Two powerful Mangin-type search lights
will be provided for use in detecting the
movements OF approaching craft, while
the sailing or running lights will also be
fitted for electricity, together with a
newly devised system OF signals.
The arrangement of officers quarters Is
quite new. The part set aside for the jun
ior officers Is in the extreme after end OF
the vessel, while the ward-room is be-
tween the junior officers rooms and the
engine compartment. Both the ward
room and junior officers quarters are pro-
yided with bath rooms on the berth deck.
The accomm odations for Capt. w. II.
Brownson, now aboard the Dolphin, who
is to be placed in command OF the De-
troit when IL is commissioned, are quite
elaborate, he being provided with large
cabin, state-room, Office, pantry and bath
room. Offices for the executive officer
and navigator are in close proximity un-
der the same deck, as are also the armory
and signal locker.
The drainage system for pumping out
the vessel is so arranged that any one
pump or all of them com bined, both hand
and steam, may be put into service at a
moments notice. The ship will be ven-
tilated throug bout by the artificial ex-
hsust blower system worked by steam
fans, one being devoted TO the forward
and the other to the aft end Of the vessel
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