Evening star., 1897-03-05
MARIETTA AND WHEELING
These Gunboats to Be Launched at San
Francisco This Month.
They Are of Light Draft and Great
Effectiveness for Patrol
Service.

The Navy Department has been informed
that the United States gunboats Wheeling
and Marietta, named after the historic
cities in West Virginia and Ohio. will be
launched at the Union iron works, in San
Francisco Thursday, March IS. According
to the present intentions of the builders
both vessels will leave the ways at the
same moment. Unusual interest attaches
to this event, as there has never before
been a double launching on the Pacific
coast. Extensive preparations have been
mace by the contractors, and the affair
will not fail to attract attention. Both of
the cities after which the vessels nave been
named VIII De represented at the launching.
Miss Lucy r: own of Wheeling has been
chosen to cnristen the gunboat which will
hear tho name of her city. She is MEM
Der CT one of Wheeiing's most prominent
families and is well known there for her
beauty. She is now on visit to San Fran
cisco, and has been notified of her selec-.
ton. The Only other representative which
the city of Wheeling will have at the
launching is Mr.. Leroy J. MoNe,iy, Wash
lnSton correspondent of the Wheeling
Evening News. Mr. McNeely also goes as
the representative of his paper at the
launching. He originated the idea of hav-
ing one of the gunboats named Wheeling,
ana the matter was first given publicity il
his Washington correspondence
LtEht-Draft Boats.
The city of Marietta will send q delesa-
ton to the twin launching, AMI will have
one of its prominent young-lady residents
to stand sponsor for the gunboat Marietta
These two vessels are the fourth and fifth
of the six light-draft composite gunboats
provided for in the naval appropriation
act of March . 1875. The gunboatS Nicks-
burg, Annapolis and Newport have all been
launched, and the launching OF the Prince
ton is expected to occur before long. The
Wheeling and Marietta arc sister ships,
and are different type from the other
four. They are twin-screw vessels and
carry steadyng sails. while the others are
full-rigged barkentine vessels with only one
screw.
An important feature of this class of
gunfoats is their light draft. They are
often more serviceable than the heavy
cruisers and battle ships. which draw a
much greater depth of water. They are
designed particularly for duty IN pitrolling
our coasts and for cruising in and about
shoal harbors either at home or abroad.
They are capable of entering shallow
rivers, and it Is probable they will be as
signed to duty in the waters of the orient
to watch American interests there.
Their Size and Equipment.
The principal dimensions of the Wheeling
and Marietta are as follows: Length on
load water line, ia feet beam, extreme, at
bottom Of keel IL feet displacement, 1000
tons. The indicated horse power will be
about 500, and the vessels will be capable
of a speed of twelve knots an hour. They
will be constructed with copper bottoms,
which are found to prevent injury 10 the
hulls through the accumulation OF seaweed,
barnacles and other refuse. Unlike the
hulls of the crpirerS and battleships, which
are of steel covered with thick coats OF
paint, the sn Doth copper bottom does not
retain the barnacles, which in many IN
stances retard the vessels speed
The complement of officers and crew is
144 All of the guns composing the arma.
ments are of the rapid-fire type. There VIII
he six four-inch, four siX-pounders ana TWO
ne-pounder guns. 1t is believed that both
the Wheeling and Marietta will be ready 10
he placed in commission about the 1St OF
June next At that time committee OF
Wheeling citizens will visit the suhpoa'
and present the citys gift which will con-
sist of a silver piece and a complete set OF
china and glassware, the latter being the
product of the potter1eS ana siass"oihs
of the West Virginia city.