The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-03-26
Tho Big Llnor st. Paul Refused to
Bulge from tho Ways.
THE EVENT HAD TO Be POSTPONED,
Much to tho Disappointment of
Many Thousands OF People Who
Had Assembled to Witness It-Thc
Cause of tho Troublo-Groaso that
Didn't Work-A Description Of tho
Mngnidcout Vessel = Wonderful
Progress In Ship.Duilding,

big line steamer. st. Paul, was not
launched to-day. At tho eleventh hour,
she disappointed her owners, tho Inter.
national Navigation Company, her
builders, tho Messrs. Cramp, and tho
vast multitude OF humanity waiting to
witness hor initial dip. by refusing 10
budgo an inch from the ways. An in.
vestigalion was made and 1t was dis.
covered that tho tallow with which tho
ways had been creased had cakod to
the consistency OF flint, md instead OF
assisting in sliding tho boat OF, rather
retarded its movement. This action oil
tho tallow 10 unaccountable to the
Measrs. Cramp. who stated that it had
been bought from the concern that fur.
nished 1t for all launches. Before tho
launch was abandoned, however, stren-
uous efforts to get the vossel under way
were made. City ice boat No. 2, and
four other tugs tried to pull the St.
Paul from the ways, but the big steamer
did not mean to move, and oil these ei-
forts failed.
By this time tho tide was fast going
down; at 2:45 p. m, 1t was announced
that no further efforts would bo made
to launch the vessel to-day. Immedi-
atcly after the crowd dispersed gangs OF
workmen were set at tho ways and By
evening had already been re.braced and
in the course OF two or three days the
ways will be rebuilt, when she will again
be ready togo of. Tho difficulty OF tide
will then have to be encountered, how
ever, and 1t is feared that this may de-
lay the proposed launch Tor two weeks
or thereabouts, when full tide will be
available at a convenient hour.
1t ia well known that the St. Paul is
almost the counterpart Of the St. Louis.
II Is OF the scrcw gear type, with Will
iamson's steam and hand steering en-
ginc, while on the st. Paul, Browns
patent steering gear will DO used. The
rudder is OF the single plato type. The
ships dimensions are: Length between
perpendiculars, 535 feet; length over all,
55i feet inches; extreme beam, 62 feet
Q inches; depth from frat deck to fiat
keel, 42 feet inches; depth OF hold for
tonnage amidship, % feet . inches;
height OF bow above water line at load
dr..ught, 80 feot; number OF decks. 3:
number OF water tight compartments,
exclusive OF ballast tanks, l2; gross reg.
ister, 1000 tons; load displacement,
l5,600 tons; dimension. OF main sa.
looms. 100 ice. inches by 46 feet; di-
monsions of second cabin, 80 feet 6
inches by SO feet; seating capacity OF
main saloon, 322; seating capacity OF
second cabin, 20S; berthins capacity OF
eteerage about 900.
The propelling machinery Is pair OF
vertical quadruple expansion engines.
to carry 4 working steam pressure OF
200 pounds and expected TO develop
from 5000 to 1000 collective indicated
horsepower. These arc the largest and
most powerful marine engine, ever
built in America, and a, tho principle
ofquadruple expansion has never be-
fore been applied on so large scale. its
results in this case will be watched with
interest. Hall and Watman anchors
are to be used. The ship will carry
fourteen Chambers coiapsibe life
boats. fourteen ordinary life boats, one
ordinary cutter, one gig aud four metal
boats.
The specifications OF tho secretary OF
the navy to enable these ships to carry
and operate ut least eight six-inch rlfed
cannon have been more than fulfilled in
their construction. Tho boilers and
engine, can be protected by coal or
other suitable material. while their rud.
der area will give them tremendous
manGuvcrlng power, thus turning them
into most effective cruisers. They can
carry enough coal, cargo being ex-
cluded, TO cross the Atlantic aud return
at their highest speed, and n. tho ord-
nary speed. tor or twelve knots, they
can steam for forty.aiS days without
roplenishing their coal, q distance OF
about 10, 900 knots.
The vessels arc practically unsinking.
A coliding boat would have to cut clcnr
through tho engines and engine room
and then through six feet of solid steel
before penetrating tho second room, an
almost impossible feat
In marine accidents generally, where
ship is struck on tho bulkhead aud
tho two compartments adjacent arc
hoouoh nue VIII lHCNikAuIN blHh. III lnU
case oi tho St. Louis and St. Paul, how.
ever. the subdivision 10 such that tho
ship will remain perfectly soaworthy
with any two or three compartments
flooded. This unbroken subdivision
has all incidental advantage in making
them iire-proof as the spread OF Ere Ia
confined to one compartment.
Tho St. Paul has seventeen water tight
compartments. all below tho next dock
above water. There ia no communica.
ton between any OF these, ii being
necessary to go upon deck and down
stairs again before being ablo to reach
ono from tho other.
The comforts aud convenience OF pas.
scngors have boen arranged on acale
OF maynincancc. Thero arc smoking
rooms lavishly fitted up, spacious
drawing room, library, luxurious
dining room and several largo saloons.
In tho first OF these will bo grand
organ, with IN electrical attach mont
which will enable tho performer to play
upon tho instrument from tho ladioi'
deck room. Tho ship throughout Is
lighted by incandescent lamps, and tho
state rooms have ventilating side lights,
with automatic valves to exclude water.
-o--
Small Pox In Dallas.
DALLAS, Texas, March 26.-Small pox