Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-10

CHESTER, Pa, Aug. 1O-The largest
steamboat in the world slid of the ways
and into. the Delaware river gracefully
and as easily as though she were a cockel-
shell instead of four thousand tonner to-
day. The yards Of the Delaware River
1roa Ship Building and Engine Company.
formerly the John Roach ship yard. We're
crowded with people attracted by the I'M
usual sight
The officials of the Fall River line.
whose fleet the new boat will head, came
on from Boston. Fall River and New York
by a special train Of Pullman cars. stopping
over night at the Continental Hotel in
Phiiadelphia and arriving here at 10 O'Clock
this morning. There were about go people
The new boat has not otN yet been named.
but as she will be sister ship to the Puritan.
Plymouth. Providence and Pilgrim. she
Will be the largest and finest steamboat
af1oat. She will be to the average sound or
bay steamer what the Campania or the
American liners now building are to the
average ocean steamers.
1t was just 1888 when the big huh showed
signs of life; the workmen had been knock
ing the pins out from under her for an hour.
There were no ceremonies, ana 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 slid down the incline.
riding on an even cut and sailing stern
foremost out to the middle OF the Delaware.
There was 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 4S4 feet on the water line
and 440 feet over all. or 200 feet longer than
the Puritan. Her hull is fifty-two feet six
inches wide and her extreme breadth over
guards is ninsty-three feet Her hull tn
total displacement 1850 tons. She Is the
design of George Peirce. supervisor OF the
Fall river line, In outward appearance she
will resemble the Puritan, having two steel
rasts and two smokestacks.
She Will have greater passenger and
freight capacity than the Puritan and will
be even more deliberately finished and fur
nished; Her dining 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
Puritan. 1t Is said that the new boat will
be as steady as the Plymouth, which for
this feature is wonde-.
The arrangement of the decks will be the
same as the Puritan. Her engines are the
design Of Andrew Fletcher Of the North
River iron works. Hoboken; Her engines
and machinery will be below the main
deck There viii be two high-pressure cyl
inders. each f1fty-one inches diameter, for
ward Of the main shaft. and two low-press-
ure cylinders. each ninety-fve inches dame
ter, side by side aft the main shaft. All
cylinders will have eleven feet stroke Of pis-
ton.
The shaft will be IN three sections, the
cupboard ones having the driving and the
center section the drag cranks each crank
pin will be attached to the connecting
rods Of a high and low pressure cylinder.
The cranks will be at right angles to each
other and the cylinders Inclined so that
there will be practically no dead center.