The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-26
THE NEW REPORTER.
HIS GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE
STEAMER CRUSADER.

STEAMER CRUSADER.
He Was from the Country and Was Eagel
to Distinguish Himself-The Accommo
dating Captain Gives Him Some Very I'm
portant Information.
Co." said the editor to the new re-
porter, land write up the new English
steamer just arrived. Give thorough
account of her from stem to STERN
From what?" said the young mar
recently arrived from far interior
State, and to whom vessel ut any
sort was a mystery and wonder
From stem to STERN" said the edi-
tor, fixing a suspicious and threatening
eye upon him.
This was the young mans first mis-
sion. He was eager to distinguish
himself. He had already done SO on
his village paper, but he wanted a
wider field for his aspirations, and had
come to New York.
Yet he went out of the Office anxious
and doubling. Il will 80 to the cap
tain," said he; "he will explain to me
the ship and its uses. He will tell me
ALL"
Captain" said he, II am sent to
write up your ship. Oblige me by
stating how many masts she has"
Eighteen" promptly answered the
captain.
Where are they?"
1--WE have sent them on shore to
be painted"
How much water does your vessel
draw"
Three inches" re.
"How do you draw it,"
"By steam-power from the we'll"
"Were you ever in storm at sea?"
"Never," said the captain.
"Are you ever seasick?"
lawfully; can't leave my berth from
the time we leave New York till we
arrive at Liverpool"
Are the rest of your officers and
crew seasick?"
Always. We're only on deck and
about in port"
why, who steers the vessel at sea?"
"The cook; he's the only well man
on board"
do you sail nights when out of sight
Of land?"
Never; we anchor"
What! in midocean?"
"Of course, you landlubber. There's
docks to tie up at regular distances all
the way across"
How do you see to sail dark
nights"
1--WE send our boats ahead with Ian
terms, which light up the road"
Are they there now?"
eyes; anchored in line all the way
across the Atlantic Ocean,"
After getting much other informa-
ton, which the captain said he was
only too happy to impart to such an in
teresting young gentleman, the repor-
ter returned and wrote as follows:
1.-THE new steamer Crusader is a
splendid specimen Of naval architec-
ture. Her keel revolves on hinges,
so as to be readily unshipped in
storm, when it is not wanted. The
rudder, also, by patent contrivance,
can be drawn out Of its socket and de-
ported on deck during the night and in
hurricanes. The Crusader has folding
decks which can be doubled up when
she has but little cargo and her ton
mage In this way can be decreased from
four thousand to two hundred tons.
The sail can, if necessary, be used as
a sky-sail or wind-sail, and the saving
of canvas effected In this manner re-
duces the wear and tear of her run
ming rigging one-half. The main brace
passes from the end OF the bowsprit !
over the fore, main, and royal masts,
thence down over the boom
to the taffrail and into the cabin win
dows, where 1t is secured by a double
banked sheepshank to the head of
the captains berth. She has compound
engines, which boil water at an ex-
tremely low temperature. Her screws
revolve at the rate Of ten thousand
times minute, and can, If necessary,
be brought forward and used as paddle !
wheels. The Crusader is also con-
structed on the crab principle and by
bracing up everything sharp on the
wind and wearing ship frequently she
can go as fast sideways as any other
way. The engines are furnished with
condensers, which condense milk as
we'll as water. Her cabins are con-
structed on the Frenchl1at principle,
their being six stories with kitchens,
ETC., for each family of passengers. The
Crusader also carries her own docks,
and thus saves all the expenses of
wharfage when in port. She also car
res her own quarantine, and so can
never be detained IL there is any ma
laria or measles on boat. The pilot
pilots her all the way across the At
lantic and comes back with the ship
each time. Her compasses in the bar
nacle give daily the direction of the
wind. The captains COW is MIXED by
the boatswain in the foretop"-.