Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-28
BROADSID Z VIEW.

the exhaust principle by revolving fans.
Just forward of the stoke-holes is the en-
trance to the coming tower, which stands
on the deck forward of the funnel This
tower is placed at the forward edge of the
forward standing way, and is made of 16-
inch armor steel, covered in with the same
material, and provided with loopholes all
around, from which the officer in charge
can observe the enemy. Just aft of the
tower is the mast, the only useful purpose
of which is to support the search lights.
To continue below, forward of the en-
trance to the tower is the galley, and for
ward ofthat again are the crews quarters.
Right in the bow are water tanks, and be-
low the main deck are the after and fore
holds, the magazine, etc. A long, narrow
pasSageway runs along each side of the
vessel from the crews quarters forward
to the officers quarters aft. Outside of
these paSSageways are lockers for stores,
etc, and between them lie the engine rooms
already described.
On the upper deck, aft of the funnel, are
iron frameworks supporting the davits,
and on which the boats rest when hoietsi
inboard. AS at first constructed, the bow
of the vessel consisted of the ram in its
naked wickedness, but it was found on the
nrst trial that the slope down to the wat
ers edge tended to throw good deal of
water up on the deck, and so a false how
has been added. which covers the ram and
trings the bow above the water.
In the broadside picture Illustrating this
article the original construction of the
DOW Is shown while the false bow, heng
darker than the rest of the boat, is clearly
seen in the end-on view. The former view
was taken while the ram was out on a
preliminary spin on the Kennebec last
spring, before the snow had disappeared.
and the latter photograph was taken as
she lay at the wharf of her builders a.
Bath, just before leaving for Charlest own
navy yard last week.
The Rate of Speed.
Some idea of the difficulties experienced
in paff fhn Of r,a,.
may be had from the fact that the engines
of the Katahdin have already developed
nearly 5000 horse power. This is an cnor-
nous horse power fer a vessel of her size,
and had the lines of her hull been of even
an ordinary nature, or conduced to speed
in the least degree, no difficulty would have
been found in driving her ahead at much
higher speed than that required. 1t is
hoped that at her official trial on the Min
reapolis course, off Cape Ann, Mass. next
month, the full speed of seventeen knots
an hour will be reached.
1t must be remembered, however that
while most of the faster cruisers could I'M
doubtedly walk away from the katahdin
in straight-away run, 1t is very unlikely
that they could be maneuvered at close
quarters so quickly as to avoid her if she
attempted to ram.
The terrific power of the blow she would
give may be easily imagined when one
thinks of pointed hammer weighing over
1000 tons travelling at the rate of nearly
twenty miles an hour She would undoubt-
eddy sink the largest battle ships now afoat
and come pretty near to cutting some OF
the smaller and lighter vessels clean in
two. The possession of such a weapon OF
defense and offense puts the United States
navy some distance ahead, in one respect,
at least, of the other navies of the world
and should the occasion ever arise for her
Use there is little doubt that the Katahdin
would render good account of herself.
Sketch of the Inventor.
Daniel Ammen. her inventor. was born
in Ohio, in 1870. and entered the navy as
mds nipman in 1896 In 1912 he became a
Passed midshipman, and served in the
Wilkes exploring expedition in the Mediter-
ranean, in the East Indian squadron and
in the coast survey He was promoted
lieutenant in 1919, and in that capacity
was attached to the commission appointed
10 select a naval station on the Pacific
coast, accompanied the expedition to the
Paraguay river in 1854, and was on the
steam frigate Merrimac in 1S59-60 In 1861,
at the outbreak of the war, he was eXecu-
tive officer of the North Atlantic block
aiding squadron. AT the surrender of Port
Royal he commanded the Seneca, and on
November Z, 1851. he hoisted the flag over
the captured forts and held them until the
army came I'D to occupy them. He was
engaged in all the operations of Dupont's
command off the coast of Georgia and
Florida. and served with great distinction
throughout the war. In 1863 ne was pro-
NOTED commander, and was ass gned to the
monitor Patapsco, and a few weeks after
taking command participated in the attack
on Fort Macallister. In 1866 he was given
the rank of captain, and in 1872 that of
commodore. In 1877 he was promoted to
rear admiral, and was placed on the re-
tired list, after fifty years of continuous
sea and special service.