The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-05-14
TORPEDO BOAT NO.
The First Torpedo Boat Ever Built
Expressly For That Service
in Our Navy
Launched With Due Ceremony al
Dubuque-Expected She Will
BE a Superior Boat.
Description Of Motor Power, Speed
Requirements, Armament, Etc.
The William Window.

DUBUQUE. Ia, May Ia - Torpedo
boat No. 2, the Ericsson, has been
launched. The event was one to which
Dubuque citizens have looked forward,
and over which her patriotic bosom has
swelled with considerable pride. The
launching took place at A o'clock Satur-
day afternoon. There was parade of
military and citizens, artillery salute
and speeches. and Miss Carrie L. Kiele
troke bottle of wine over the new
vessels bow. While much concerning
this vessel has appeared from time to
time in the marine, the illustrated and
the daily journals, the public at large is
unaware that an inland port 1000 miles
removed from the sea board has wit
messed the construction OF torpedo
boat
Designed 60 Equsl or Excell
any similar craft afioat. Strangers Wis
iting Dubuque the past three years have
been surprised to find the Iowa
Iron works engaged in construct
ing the Ericsson and the rev.
snue cutter William Window, now
well under way, and they have mar
veled on learning that in the past 20
years this esta blishment has turned out
steel hulleI craft. not only for the
waters of the Mississippi. but for the
pacific coast rivers, British America.
Yellowstone Park, China, Siam and
other distant shores. All this work has
keen accomplished under Superintend-
ent William Hopkins, who served his
apprenticeship on the Clyde.
surprised the shipbaiiders.
There was surprise among other ship
builders, too. when they heard that the
Iowa Iron Works had been awarded
the contract for the construction of the
topredo boat No. 2. They doubted the
work could be done here, and doubted
so persistently that Secretary Tracy de-
tailed Naval Constructor Hickborn and
Chief Engineer Towne to visit Dubuque
and report on the facilities here. Their
report was satisfactory and the contract
was signed October s, 1892. The price
was $118, 800 and the vessel was to be
completed In year.
In this particular the builders were
disappointed. They were delayed by
the Homestead strike and by strike at
home and the procuring of steel that
would stand chemical analysis by the
government inspectors was a difficult
matter.
First Torpedo Boat for Navy.
The Ericsson is, in fact. the first tor
pedo built for the navy, the Gushing,
or torpedo boat No. /, having leen
altered from her original design when
equipped for torpedo purposes by the
Herreshoffs, who were among the un-
successful bidders for the Ericsson.
The latter vessel is held inferior to
none of the 800 torpedo boats in the
navies of Great Britain and France. 1t
was built upon designs framed by men
skilled in naval construction, and their
thought was to make her the best ves-
sci OF her class.
The Superiority Of Design
Will be understood when it Ia stated
that the Ericsson, while larger than the
Gushing, does not draw so much water.
The Gushing has length on load water
line Of 1873 8-4 feet, q breadth of IA feet
10 inches and mean draught Of IA
feet, giving her displacement Of no
tons. The new boat has . length Of 100
feet, breadth OF 1919 feet, and, with
a depth OF 10 feet inches, has normal
draught amldships of 43-4, with dis
placement OF 100 tons. Shell has 1900
maximum horse power, against the
Cushing's l,720.
The Motive Power.
The motive power, while greater than
the Cushing's. Ii similar. 1t consists Of
two sets Of four-cylinder quadruple ex-
pansion engines Of the vertical, inverted,
direct acting type, operating twin
screws. The cylinder diameters are II
Ia, ~, 81 ~ and 30 inches. The esti-
mate Of indicated horse power OF the
propelling and circulating pump en-.
gines, 1900, is based on the propeller
speed of 412 revolutions per minute.
One water-tight compartment is suffi-
cient for the two engines. Each Of the
two boilers il also In water-tight com
partment, the engines standing between
them.
Speed Requirements.
The required speed of the Ericsson is
"a knots, and the builders are to re-
ceive premiums ranging from e, 500 to
81. 800 for each quarter-knot above the
guarantee. and corresponding reduc-