The morning times., 1896-01-30
Mrs. Sweet, James McEvilly, and Miss
Draper. all of Montana.
SOME OF THE PARTY


Draper. all of Montana.
SOME OF THE PARTY.
Seth B. Cobb. Adam Jouett, Mr.. Taylor,
Mr.. and Mrs. Dickson, Commander +. C.
Matthews. NJ. F. Endicutt, David Smith,
X. s. Griffin. William II. Doe, James Pat
terson. C. H. Lancheimer, E. ID. F. Heald,
II. A. Bispham. Ensign Vogelgesang, Lieut..
F. Z. De Witt Veeder, F. 7. Magruder, Lieut..
Davis, d. W. Taylor, ID. A. Green, Mr..
Allen. Rear Admiral Jouett, r. NJ. Watt,
Theodore Jewell. Mr.. Hartman, Mr.. Kemp,
Mr.. Dunnell, A. j. Clark, j. j. Knapp,
Lieut.. Heald, Secretary and Mrs. McAdoo,
Mr.. Hamburger. William Howell, d. B.
May and E. E. Waters.
Congress, under the appropria tions for
increase OF the navy" act approved March
3, 1898. provided for the construction of
three light-draft gunboats OF about / 200
tons displacement each, to cost, exclusive
OF armament and speed premiums, not more
than S4OO, 900 apiece.
THIRD OF THE CLASS.
The Helena. heretofore known as Gunboat
No. 8, is the third of these vessels and the
last one 10 be launChed-the Nashville and
her sister ship, the Wilmington, having been
launched on OClODer ~, 1880.
The Helena has been designed strictly for
special service and is intended particularly
for the shallow waters and rivers of the
Asiatic station.
Owing TO the light draft of this vessel and
the use of twin screws, together with the
special river service for which the boat is
designed, the huh is of unusual shape aft:
that part being followed out into two
tunnels for the purpose of admitting an easy
flow of water to the propclers, the water
line breadth being maintained over nearly
the vessels full length aft and about the
counter, thereby affording protection to the
screws against river banks and injury from
other craft in a crowded river.
The extraordinary beam allows large
berthing space, augmented by covered
deck extending aft for about two-;hirds
of the vessels total length. The light
draft has necessitated the adoption of
twin rudders, one forward of the other,
and so arranged that they shall respond to
either the forward or backward action of
the screws before the vessel has acquired
headway. These rudders are strongly
protected against damage when backing.
CARRIES NO SAIL
There VIII he no SAIL power. Inere is
one military mast, carrying two gatling
guns in the upper top, and two 1-pounder
Hotchkiss guns in the lower top. The
mast is large enough to admit of a spiral
stairway for access from below to the
coming tower, which is situated just be-
meath the lower top, at the same time
providing a covered way for the ammuni-
tion hoists which raise the gun supplies
for the tops.
Every precauton has been taken to pro-
vide against fouling, and but few obstruc-
tions appear upon the sides. The sponsons
are so arranged that the guns are entirely
within the side-line OF the vessel, while
their range is in no wise limited on that
account.
Coal protection Is provided for the water
line region, the bunkers being placed on
the slopes of the water-tight deck.
The arrangement of the batteries will
he as follows:
Four 4-inch guns, mounted in pairs, two
forward and two aft, those aft being
mounted on the main deck, those forward
on the forcastle deck, and all protected
by gun shields. Four 4-inch guns. mounted
in armored sponsors on the gun deck, TWO
on each side, amidships. Two 6.pounders,
mounted in armored sponsons on the gun
deck. Two 6-pounders, mounted forward
on the forecastle deck. Four 1.pounders;
two on the bridge and two In the lower
top. Two Gatling guns In the upper top.
There will be no torpedo arrangement.
All of the guns will be of the rapd-fire
order.