The record-union., 1894-12-21
FIRST WAR STEAMER.
Remarkable Vessel Designed by Rob-
ert Fulton.


ert Fulton.
Eighty years ago the first steam war
ship ever built was launched at Corlears
Hook, on the East River. She was de-
signed by Robert Fulton, who first ap-
pHed steam to the propulsion of vessels.
IN lSI2 Uncle San's navy was making
glorious record at sea, but was unable
to protect the great line OF coast Fulton
designed the pemologos for the purpose
OF coast and harbOr defense. a law was
passed by special legislation III ISL
authorizing the construction of one or
more floating batteries Of the type sub
mItted by Fulton. Y committee was ap-
pointed 10 superIntend the construction.
composed OF >. l.. Mitchell, Thomas Nor
ris and Henry Rutgers, and, with Fulton
as engineer and Auam brown as naval
constructor, the keel was laid June 20,
Iol4. Inc estimated cost was S320, 900, but
the original plans were consid derably
modified during construction.
1he Demologos was to carry twenty
nine guns, which number was subse-
quenhy made thirty, and she was LOT feet
long, twenty feet deep and tiity-slx feet
beam. There was well amidships, in
which worked the single paddle heel.
a single cylinder worked the wheel one
side OF the well, and the boiler was on
the other side, har equilibrium being
thus preserved. This well was changed
at the last moment into long channel
nearly seventy feet long, and the diameter
OF the paudle-w wheel was increased to six
teen feet.
She had two stout masts, two bowsprits
anu Jlbs and four rudders, TWO at each
end, SO that she could be worked either
forward or back ward with equal ease.
like New York ierryboat. A peculiar
addition to her armament was huge
pump capable of projecting stream OF
water Tor considerable distance. This
was intended to be turned on the en-
emy's vessel when the ships came to
close quarters, and thereby flood her
decks, drenching and rendering useless
the powder, which was always used loose
III those days.
Great difficulty was experienced in
supplying her armament The heavy
guns had TO be dragged overland all the
way from Philadelphia, ana the task was
rendered much harder by the fearful con-
dltIon OF the roads III those days. Her
tonnage when she was fully equipped
was estimated to be $50 tons, a very
large vessel Tor that period.
her launching at Corlears Hook. on
October 29, lSli, was Witnessed by 70 OOO
people. Amid the firing OF cannon and
the shouts OF the spectators she glided
maJestlcally into the water under the
name OF Fulton the First. The mudesty
of Fulton had prevented him from cali
ing her by his own name, but despite his
protests, Demologos was changed into
Fulton the First. The inventor did not
live to see her completed. Her engines
were not put in till May, 1915, and Rob-
ert Fulton died in February OF that year.
Her construction was watched with
great interest by the English, and the
newspaper reports OF that date are very
amusing. One journal describes her as
tnI igt h,,, 4
ork terrible engine of war, which is
propelled by steam. The length of the
vessel is 3OC feet, 200 feet in breadth, and
the hull Is constructed Of alternate LAYERS
OF oak and cork planking, thirteen feet
in thickness. She carries forty-four guns
her quarterback and torecastle guns ara
forty-tour FOUNDERS. y pump is work ed
by machinery, which enables it to throw
lUO gallons OF boiling water per minute
upon the decks of an enemy.
over the gunwales are brandished.
with the utmost regularity, 800 cutlasses
also worked by machinery, RENDERING
boarding impossible. From the lower
deck the same number OF hugh iron pixies
OF equal length are shot forth and with
drawn every quarter OF minute. This.
too, Is accomplished by means of ma
chinery."
There is no doubt that if the Fulton the
First had ever had an opportunity of
using her armament, she would have
proved very formidable opponent TO the
ships of that time.
she made her first trip on Juno l, 1915,
and steamed down New York Bay 10 the
Narrows. On the Fourth OF July, the
same year, she steamed out TO sea for a
distance of twenty-five miles, accom-
plishing the trip out and back III less than
nine hours.
W hen the war terminated she was
moored opposite the Brooklyn Navy
Yard, where she lay until June 4, 1879,
when she blew up. Two barrels OF
damaged powder had somehow exploded,
and the old ship was blown TO fragments.
Some twenty-five or thirty men, who
were on board at the time, were killed by
the Xplosion.-New York World