The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-01-31

large steel house, fitted up as aladies'
observatory. All thes ocinl halls and
main deck Will bc-tlnished I'm mahog-
| any, as well as the ladies' observatory.
| The second-class social hall ana recep-
tions rooms will be finished In quarter
| cd oak.
/ The vessel will be equipped with
| twelve life-boats, six life RATS, and the
necessary life prcscrvars. etc: in fact
| everything necessary for the safety OF
passengers and Grow.
There VIII also be II complete ventila-
| ting system connected to every com
puiiment and state-roSm In the vessel
The vessel will be tittcdw uh a COM
plete ilre-alarm system. and will no
lighted by electricity, which will he fur
nlshcd by two generators direct driven
also search-liyhts. etc The machinery
Will consist OF two inverted. direct act
ing, surface expansion engines driving
| twin screws, wheels to he mndr of the
best manganese bronze. The total ca
pacity Of the engines will be about 1000
horsepower.
Steam will be supplied by eight Bah
cock u Wilcox water tubular boilers
built for working pressure of 25O
pounds of steam, fitted with one smoke
stack. In addition, there VIII be nu-
merous pumps for ballast. bilge, SAM
tnry, fire and feed purposes
Unusual precuution has been used I'm
every part Of the construction of tho
passengers. having recommendations for
about 3Uv first-class and 400 second
class,
This vessel was designed so that she
would comply with the United States
Government requirements for auxiliary
cruisers, and particular attention has
been given to make her especially
strong. and at the same time reduce her
weight as much as possible
u,JlE, rJINIonAu tlu,r ,,>-
AS stated in yesterdays virginian. the
Helena has been designed strictly for
special service. and is intended particu-
larry for the shallow waters ana rivers
OF the Asiatic station. Her principal di-
menSionS and general features arr.
Length on load-water line normal dis
placement, 800 feet inches; maximum
breadth. 40 feet inch; mean draft mt
normal displacement. . feet: frccioard
forward, 10 feet 8 inches: freeboarl aft.
II feet 2 inches: normal displacement.
1882 tons; coal carried at normal dis
placement, 100 tons; total coal capacity.
1913 tons; speed, contrac; ana csti-
mated, Is knots; complement, officers
and crew. ITO men. The hulls will be
constructed OF steel throughout
a watcr-tight will be worked over the
region occupied by the "vitals." In he
pluccd about the level OF the watpr-llne
with slopcs extending IL the sides be-
low the watcr-llne. There will he II
double bottom, worked in The neighbour
hood OF the engine. boiler and magazine
spaces, throughout which this double
bottom Will be of cellular construction
requiring that two skins be pierced he
fore water can gain entrance to either
the engines or fire rooms.
Owing to the light draft Of this vessel
and the use of twin screws. together
with the special river service for which
lN.a I,fNn L., Il 4.
usual shape aft that part being hol-
lowed out into two tunnels for the pur-
pose OF admitting an easy flow Of water
TO the propeliers, the watcr-line breadth
being maintained over nearly the YES
sells full length aft and about the count
er thereby affordiEg protection To the
screws against river banks and Injury
from other craft in crowded river
The extraordinary beam allows n
large bcrthing space, augmented by Il
covered deck extending aft for about
| two-thirds of the vessels total length
The ligh tdraft has nccessitatcd the
adoption of twin rudderS. one forward
of the other. nnd so arranged that they
shall respond 10 either screws before
shall respond 10 either the forward or
, backward action OF the screws before
| he vessel has acquired Roadway. These
rudders are strongly protected against
damage when backing.
There will 10 no sail power There
| is one military mast, corrying two Cat
| ling guns in the upper top and two
one.'pounder lIotchkiss guns I'm the
lower top. The mast is large enough
| to admit of spiral stairway for access
| from below To the coming tower. which
| is situated just bencat IN the lower top.
| at the same time providing a covered
way for the ammunition hoists which
raise the gun supplies for the tops
Every prccaution has been taken to
provide against fouling. and but few
distractions appear upon the sides The
sponsors are SO arranged that the guns
are entirely Within the side-line of the
vessels while their range is in no wise
| limited on that account Coal protcc-
| tion is provided for the water-line re-
| gion, the bunkcrs being placed on the
| slopes Of the wntcr,isht decks.
Aside from the customary exhaust
system OF ventilation, the ship will he
provided with supply of fresh air
| through an arrangement of electric
| fans, placed in numerous vcntilators
| running from the main deck to the
spaces below, and further supplemented
| by number of portable fans of SINH
| lar propulsion In hot weather or dur
| ing a wet season, owing to the arrange
| ment of awnings the main deck can be
utilized for bcr;hing the men.
The arrangement of the batteries will
| be as follows: Four finch guns mount
ed In two forward and two aft those
| aft being mounted on the main deck
| those forward on the forecastle deck,
and all protected by gun shields: four
sons on the gun deck two on each side
| tlt, f1.,pI.