Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-20
SAFELY DRY-DOCKED
THE AMERICAN LINER NEW YORK
NOW IN THE HANDS OF WoRKMEN.
How Easily She Was Handled IT the
Saipyards-Peoplc Of the City Jubiisnt.
An Army ON Board.

An Army ON board.
NEWPORT NEWS, VA. February 49,
(SpeciaM-1'he American liner New YORK
was successfully locked here this MORN
irg at 0 o'clock. a fog so dense that one
could scarcely make out objects a nun
dred yards away prevailed at the ume'
rendering the work far more difficult than
II would have been under clear skies.
There was not a hitch Of any kind. how
ever, and before noon every part OF the
huge hull Of the New York was visible
1t was worth d days journey 10 sec
the stately vessel pass without a jar mo
the dry-dock. IL did not seem possip'e
that the great mass OF steer ana iivn
could be forced into the big basin WHICH,
long ana wide as II is, looked 90 much
smaller by comparison. But It was coon
seen that there would be plenty OF room
and some 10 spare. The dock Is bio ieet
long. while the keel measurement OF the
New York is but 527 feet, her length over
all being 563. Nervous people VINO feared
that she might meet will some diilculty
in passing through the gateway oreathed
a sigh of relief whep they saw her boat
into the dock as gracefully as II she had
been under steam with unlimited sea-
room. But their uneasiness was uncalled
for, because long before the ship was
brought here Superintendent Smith had
abundantly demonstrated to officials OF the
American line that she could De easily
hardled. AS q matter of fact, the New
York could have been locked here had
her beam been two feet greater.
had THE HONOR.
Newport News had the honor Of con-
structing the first iron and steel merchant
vessels built I'm the South. and the largest
ever launched in the United States. III Cid.
made famous by being turned into a war
ship for the Brazilian government, enjoys
the distinction of having broken all re-
cords In the passage between New York
and New Orleans. El Norte, FL Rio, and
FL Sud are not far behind her. But TO-
day the people OF the city are jubilant
over the docking Of the big American
liner. and the reason for their rejoicing
is that she is the largest ship ever docked
in America. No other yard on this side OF
the Atlantic could do 1t. The Newport
News dock has but one rival in point of
size-the government dock, at Brooklyn
and 1t is extremely doubtful II 1t is large
enough to admit Of her entrance. l am
tOHl w D1VbIt VIM wv 9EEt f-
1t would be found much too narrow for
so large a ship as the New York. BY
adding only ten feet to its length the
dock here could easily accommodate the
Lucania or Campania, the largest steam
ships in the world.
PLENTY OF DEPTH.
The stage OF the water at fiood-tide this
morning was considerably lower than 1t
Laa IAgU fa, zx,a. IA.,o lnt ~ with
standing this fact the New York went
into the dock with nearly twelve inches
under her keel. The event was witnessed
by 1000 people,
Indeed, not since the day the FL Sud,
thu first ship built here. glided off the
ways into the water. has IN event been
looked forward TO with so much eager
ness as the docking OF the New York.
During last week. which was one of un-
usually severe weather for this climate.
hundreds of people. many OF whom were
ladies. visited the YARD to look at the
queenly ship lying at the Shears dock.
Nearly every one asked for permission
TO go aboard. but no one was permitted
on the vessel until Friday, when a Dis
patch reporter t~riumphantiy mounted the
gang-plank.
SPEAR SHANK-SHAFT OUT.
There could be no better illustration OF
the ability of the Newport News Ship
Building Company to combine rapldity
with the best results In prodigious under
takings than that which Is furnished in
the work done OF the New York since her
arrival at the yard. 1t took but thirty
minutes TO get her TO the dock, and In
less than an hour and a half from the
time her lines were made fast her spear
shank-Shaft. which weights eighteen tons.
was out and resting on the pier. When /
went aboard yesterday about the only men
who appeared to be at work on the New
York were the go scrapers who were
peeling the black paint off her steel sides.
Inside the vessel. however. / found my
self in the midst of an arm OF workmen.
They were everywhere-painters, ~joiners.
machinists-al classes of men who aid
In building ships-and every one as busy
as a bee. The scene could only be likened
to a spring housekeeping on an immense
scale.
FELL UPON HER.
To make a long story short. superln-
tendent Smiths force of workmen fell
upon the New York as soon as she touched
the dock with a vigor that completely
transformed her in the brief space OF less
than a week. The rapidity with which
work has been carried on. however, will
be better understood when II is remem-
bered that considerable time was required
to clear the saloons, state-rooms, and other
parts OF the ship OF their furniture, car
pets, etc, which. like everything else, had
to be done in an orderly manner.
Blu a good deal Of work can be got out
Of 1000 men In a short time, and that IL
the number that have pounded away and
painted and scraped and scrubbed on the
New York since she came here. The pro-
liability is. therefore, that Superintendent
Smith will be able to turn the bow of the
big ship toward the Atlantic again I'm less
time than that In which he agreed TO do
II, unless the owners should order him to
make repairs not named in the original
contract. 1t is said that such a thing Is
likely: but nothing definite in regard TO
the matter has yet been made known. In
any event, however, the stay OF the New
York here will not be long, and when she
goes away she will look as If she were
just starting out for her first tussle with
the big pillows Of the great deep.
THE YARD OPEN.
Excursion parties from Washington.
Richmond. and Norfolk were here yester-
day. The yard was thrown open and the
visitors permitted TO go aboard the ship.
Hundreds went down this afternoon to see
the big ship out of the water.
Shortly before the docking of the N"-
York was completed. the Chesapeake and
Ohio steamship Kanawha arrived at the
Spears dock to discharge a steel shaft
sent over from Liverpool for the Paris.
The story that this vessel will not be
locked here is not causing the ship-yard
officials any worry.