Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-06-23

Will lie Completed Mt This Point and VIII
Then steam South Naval Omcers In the
City-The Work to he Done-Descriptive
Where the Boat is Landed
The torpedo boat, Ericsson, con-
structed at Dubuque for the u. S.
navy by the Iowa Iron works, and
which was launched several weeks
ago. left the Key City last evening in
tow of the rafter Irene ID. for Rock
Island. There is considerable cop
per work yet to be done, as well as
the electric wiring, and it was deemed
prudent, in view of the rate at which
the river has been declining. to get
the boat over the rapids while vet
the stage would permit. Hence it
was determined to come on TO Rock
Island and complete her here Ac-
cordingly the boat was started last
night, in charge of +. l.. Dickey, of
the Iowa Iron works. the company re-
tanning possession until the trial trip
is made on the sea cost, and the for
NAL acceptance made by the govern
ment. The Iowa Iron works has
been nj work on the boat since the
fall OF 1891, and a detailed descrip
ton was given in The ARGUS at the
time of the launching.
Naval Officers Here.
In anticipation of the arrival of
the boat here. Chief Engineer W. A.
Windsor. of the u. S. navy; Llovd
Barkson. assistant of naval constr uc-
ton. and Cyrus G. Mattison, of the
General Electric company, of New
York. arrived ut the Harper this
morning. On the boat is 1t. n. Il.
Usher. U. S. navy. who is to have
command of the Ericsson, while the
other naval officers are to remain with
the boat until she is delivered at
Long Island. Mr.. Mattison will
oversee the general wiring for cleo
trio lighting, etc. The chief work to
be done here is the copper piping.
etc, and after it is done the boat will
steam up and make the trip by water
to the sea coast. where the trial of
speed is to be made.
Expects Much of Her.
1--WE expect" said Chief Engineer
Windsor of the navy. who by the way
is soon to be assigned to the new
cruiser. Minneapolis. Ito make some
fast speed with the Ericsson. She is
to make "a knots an hour. which is
about 26 miles. and to develop 1900
horse power. and we anticipate she
will exceed the contract speed. She
is equipped with two sets of quadru-
pie expansion engines. each set driv-
ing n screw propeller. Her hull is
$50 feet long on the water line, with
l5l foot beam, and she will draw five
feet. The torpedoes, which are u
feet long, will be fired by compressed
air 80 to as feet ahead of the bow of
the boat, the range being half mile.
She is equipped with the latest inn
proved torpedo outfit. The torpe-
does are the auto-Mobile, but wheth-
er the Whitch cad or Howell is adopt
ed is not yet determined fully.
| There are three tubes for fir
ing the torpedo. one in the bow and
two on deck. There are also four
rapid-tiring guns on deck" Chief
Engineer Windsor talked further en-
tainingly of the boat, but rs a full de-
scription has been given. these gen
eial facts will suffice to afford an
idea of what may be expected of the
new ad junct to Uncle Sans war
| fleet.
| The Boat Arrives.
The boat came through the draw
OF Rock Island bridge at 2:30 this
afternoon. On board was full crew
OF workmcn. who are improving
every moment to complete the boat
in readiness for delivery TO the gov
eminent.
The boat is experiencing consider
able trouble in landing, owing TO the
shallow water along the shore.
| River Riplets.
| The stage of the water ut the Rock
Island bridge at noon was APO; the
temperature Ss.
The Meta Durant came down with
four strings Of logs and three of lum-
Der.
The b. Hershey and Pilot brought
down eight strings of logs each.