Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-11-26
DEPARTURE OF THE MARA.
A Fine Steamboat Built by the Pussy
g. Jones Co..

q Jones Co..
An Elegant Graft Sent From Wilmington to
south America for Service tho Shallow
Rivers in Venezuela and Also on the
Maracaibo Bay-To Garry Freight ana
Passengers.
The handsome side wheel freight
and passenger steamboat Mara, built
by the Pussy & Jones Co. for use on
Lake Maracaibo. Venezuela, y. A., left
the wharf OF the builders shortly after
noon Saturday for her destination, In
charge of Capt. Henry d. Chapman
and chief engineer John I. Vandever
This contract, which will be fulfilled
upon the delivery of the boat at Mara
caibo, has been put through with nota-
BILE dispatch, Charles W. Pussy having
given the work personal attention in
every detail, and although il was about
the first of September when the keel
was laid and there were delays there
after, owing to the failure Of mills to
furnish material fast enough to keep
pace with his men the boat was
launched on October 9Th.
The official trial trip occurred m
November 10th. at which time Nthe
boat was practically completed. The
time that has elapsed since then has
been consumed in procuring necessary
papers and making preparations for
the long voyage to Maracaibo. Tbs
dimensions OF the boat are as follows:
Length on the main deck, 131 feet;
breadth of beam, 25 feet; depth, 8 feet
8 inches, and when finished and loaded
with 10 tons of coal will have draught
of 81 inches. The hull is constructed
of iron and steel and has four water
tight bulk heads. The accommodations
for officers and passengers are on the
promenade deck. The inside bulkheads
OF the saloon have been fitted with
Venetian blinds, thus furnishing
ventilation and making the saloon
light and airy. The windows and doors
of staterooms and officers rooms are
also fitted with Venetian blinds
The pilot house is on the hurricane
deck and is provided with the latest
improved steering apparatus. This
deck is covered with canvas and coated
with fire-proof paint. The boat is
fitted with two masts and sails and also
a steam windlass. The engines are en-
the main deck and consist of two tam
dem compound iet condensing engines
one on each side of the deck, each
driving its own wheel independently of
the other. The cylinders of the engines
are ii and "a inches in diameter and
of 40-inch stroke, fitted with slide valves
and operated by link motion. The
paddle wheels are of the radical type,
having cast iron centres, wooden arms
and buckets. The steamer is fitted with
condensers and air pumps, one for each
engine and placed in the hold and
operated by the main engine. The
boiler is of the return tubular type, con-
structed of steel, for working pres
sure of 100 pounds, according to the
requirements of the United States
steamboat laws. The engine room is
fully equipped with signal bells, speak
ing and sounding tubes leading from
the pilot house to each engine
The vessel sailed under the flag of the
United States and upon arrival. at the
future home port she will fly the flag Of
Venezuela.
reporter of The Gazette paid
visit to the shipyard of the Pussy Is
Jones Go. previous to the departure of
the vessel and through the courtesy OF
Clarence Switzerland was shown tho
vessel as she was prepared for her long
voyage.
Temporary bulkheads have been
erected on the main deck to prevent the
QeaNy seas lrOul washing ONbr Inc u6Cky
and on account of the lightness of the
joiner work they have been braced with
temporary braces The portions of the
deck fore and aft of the paddle wheels
and portion of the housing have been
left off, SO that the seas may pass
through. Temporary quarters for the
officers have been placed on board and
these will be removed upon the arrival
of the boat at her destination.
The interior of the boat is painted
white and with the white enameled
name plates and gilt letter present
neat appearance. The names over the
doors were explained by Mr.. Souther-
land as follows: Almacen, meaning
store room; despensay, or pantry
contador, or purser; captain, or cap
tain; camarote, or state room iavatoria
para senoras, or washroom for women.
These terms arc not pure Venezuelan,
but rather Venezuelan veInacular.
A mechanic will leave the shops of
the Pussy g. Jones Co., via the Red
ID. line from New York in short
time for Maracaibo, in order tt taxa
down the temporary work and put
together the balance of the work, which
has been left unfinished on account OF
the voyage.
The Mara is intended for service on
the shallow rivers in Venezuela. She
was built specially for local traffic and
will carry both passengers and freight,
coffee in particular.