The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-04
MONITORS IN GALES.
The Ns,tueket's Experienee and the Theery
of the Low Freebonrd.

NCDtuckctn experience VnCCr1
ofthe Low Freebonrs.
wAsHrNoroS. Sept 3.-I,ourhly handled as
the Nantucket was in the storm off Hatterns.
on the whole her experience counts In favor Of
the behavior OF monitors at sea. She reached
Norfolk leaking in many places, and nj der the
heavy buffetings and strains OF the sea had
taken In enormous quantities OF water. The
accounts show that IL came in through tho
hnwse pipes. down the matches. around the
base OF the turret through seams opened in
the deck. and between the hull and the over
hang. At one time Lieut.. Holsey signalled.
I'VE are taking in water as fast as we can
pump It out" Yet they did pump 1t out and
the Nantucket did not follow the original Mon
itor aud the Weehawken to the bottom.
There lie always one thing to be noted In re-
gard to the monitors, namely. that when seas
break clear over them, producing an appalling
sight to the observer. that is precisely what
was intended by the designer. The distinctive
feature OF the monitor Is its low freebonrd. A
turret could be put on an ordinary armorclad.
and sometimes lie 80 put, but the raft-like
structure OF the original Monitor was n radical
departure from the ordinary types OF war
ships. 1t was intended not only to offer less OF
d marx 70 an enoiny' ou. 70 secure s'apieg
pia'iorm ny alio"ins 'ne waves 10 preak I'M
impeded ovor the vessels deck. The Monitor
that fought tho Merrimnc in uamnton
I'D, ,roa oro,,n -, n ,,,..'atiaaa
no"os was tfoup vi nc" in'oh'ions'
working out OF a clearly conceiyed scien-
.,ea a.. Thno :. ,no,,,dod o..I,uSr,aa,
turret, as the best form Of protecting the guns.
since It would tend to defect an enemy's pro.
ILL.,. ,,.,hinarr tor r.noi,.,nn thi. go.
Jecties' "hc"'noiS iof ioso'ihS .his 'urret'
40 as to point the guns 20 any part OF the
horizon: the supports and rings of this turret.
the compressor gear. the port stopper. the pro-
lection to tho engines and the rudder. the
anchor we'll the vsntilatins eontrivanee. and
80 on. but aiter all these iareeiv gre" OUT OF
the great central idea OF low freeboard vessel.
ues'sneu ~ 70 "'s 49," 80. ,.n, 1870. anu
to let seas pour over ner az win. reiying on
and ,resdom from motion. which are Of vast
;n,nnrtsnca IN haiti. and trnstine 70 w.tor.
.mpor.a a In oa, u anu L1us. n 70 ws.er,
out water. and to artificial ventilation by
ous "a'..' anu sa,n .hH, ,on 10. 800 ~
for the breathing Of officers and crew.
nv keepnr this fact clearly in mind. we shall
see that the terrible pictures OF the waves
breaking in free sweep over q monitor show
that she is performing the exact functions for
.ti.h ~ 4. das;anad. md tha onIv ouost;o,
MnlGn sne 20, aesgneu ., anp ste oniy auast,In
10 wiener Tue M re sc ia anu IN me
out Tricsson's idea, '''''' CIV '''" 40 ~ '''t'
the
hionssoto 49, 80 % y
81 o. nresenH }n thrtv an nS Th n
nney were oI,t ay nn sGars NM tor
ha rs
seagoine uuH, te1 y, u .e t Hnpe in,s'
DC more aGcura'e,S Iuueeu iron, I sone neW o
narlctaa snecims ems ~ II and tn the soeworthy
Qualities OF the Monterey, low iFee6oard yes
s set n testimony has lately Been eyen.
iHe oIiStna. ;Lohitoi au a e,o nS III .. ny NJ
esg to kG% 70 sp n} ali we Gould do
wrote ner eXesu. I'VE, queer. r hna the wa.er
game my M, hene no ia @ a th
turret in Beautiful curves. and como through
the narrow eye.hIies OF me Pliot mouse with
petely round d from the wheel. The water con-
unueo 70 pour thpouGn ,mt nawse np p, anu
oyer ana GOWN ,e tes Sns anu
h p nahR H ,ha. uie shlp Wohi ~ g.
raac5ad har Gestinntion Mi riebt and vi,bn
lot -eIEn. nou.e oni iiel nsns VIII 'me W nus
Ins ve %!
men IRON m Hv tha wavas Residss G
ths U Ssrd P rome n1 n%ckins had unor
tnnntely besh put between the tprret and the
neck' anu .Iis ~ th , ~ th Wy as ~
let more Waten LII s .ne n
- was ieas onunT M nabie whnra
t na. .1 throunh tbs sida ~ fba anchor'weiI
passea t tmI sn sn 1ms eoe Oh 'e
Inc error IN pIt'ing oakH 9aa. petweend the
Ericsson As me cause OF tne nnai loss 81 tne
orlg!nai Monl t when was wsteheu on nat d
OUT me gaze. me sea. ne SAIL wasnea OUT inc
sat is WAY an TO- cona %isno
that after resistance OF several hours she
went d9Wn. 70 1o,, pourn =, Tho ,,to ., .,o
IN wrlttnG 70 oomn 81 M e S iafe Hi .he
lronciaa Atienta. Ertcssoh said tnat She went
Gown at ancmor IN M o harHor hurrhH
gale. the forward deck hatch n htaving been lelt
omen. una remaining SO i9r ilI.een m ~
se Smc f carsessne ee1 NAV seam
but we SEQ proofs OF how Tar neglect OF pre-,
,,nutions VIII e0 ID me Iatai nnnmu uk Of
iry9n leet ~ tue heuiterraneani WIN ouk-
neau uGors leit wye opeWu. lore .,iaI year
Altet the toss " ny eena hen ati:hso SSH
so"nd o. IL the passaic" Uia xisE ,rna th"t
the monitors are ifeboats on large scale.
Will cahno. psilsu ~ Guy nui iIan aug u.