The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-11-27

tected against the entrance Of water. in
| case OF injury TO the side, at the water
| line, by cofferdams extending for the
| barbettes, and working above the Pinch
| length Of the vessel on each side, and
| having general width Of feet, with a
| total capacity of about 800 cubic feet,
for stowage Of fire-proof corn-pitch cellu-
lose. Independent Of the numerous small
water tight pockets or cells forming the
entire scheme of cofferdams. the inner
bottom and hold, the platforms. splinter
and birth decks, are divided into between
200 and 800 water tight compartments,
both for the accommodation of the mo-
tor power and the stowage Of coal, provis-
ions and ammunitions. and other stores;
and also for the preservation of the ship
IN the event OF a rupture Of the outer
skin, or injury in battle. All these many
compartments are provided with pipes
connecting with powerful steam pumps
for the purpose of removing any water
that may get in them either from acct
dent or design. Arrangements are also
made for flooding all ammunition rooms
in the event fire on board the vessel.
All these compartments. together with
all living spaces, state rooms, ETC., occu-
pied by the officers or crew, have special
pipes or ducts arranged with a view of
supplying fresh air to the occupants. and
TO make the temperature of all store
rooms, even in the most remote parts of
the vessel comfortable and healthy. These
pipes all connect with powerful blowers
which draw fresh air by means of venti-
lators extending from 10 to 20 feet above
the ships deck
Inc forward coming tower armor will
be in thickness 10 inches oval in shape.
size IN the clear, XII feet with an armored
tube inches thick extending down to
the protective deck to house all wires or
otner means of interior communication
so that the officer coming the vessel in
action can be in constant and safe COM
munication with all parts of the vessel
An after coming. or signal tower is also
provided, having an inside diameter of 6
feet and thickness Of inches.
me turrets Will be operated by electric
power; also the ammunition HOSTS. and
the Dynamo and auxiliary blowers for
Ventllatlng purposes. There will be some
elshty-oud auxiliary engines in the vessel
thus adding greatly 10 the efficiency of the
ship, In the celebrity and certainty with
which the work can be done. The cranes
for handling the boats are operated bv
steam; also the deck winches. pumps
WlndIass and steering gear (this latter is
located beneath the protective deck, and
several feet below the water line). The
introduction of thes auxiliary engines is
brought about mainly by the variety and
nature Of the work TO be done and the de-
mand for the latest and best in every
branch of mechanics represented in
man-of-war. Manual labor is therefore
reduced TO a minimum: a condition of
affairs which must result in a greater in
terest and development of the crew in
their special duties. as now required in a
modern battleship, where fighting and adj
that leads up TO thorough efficiency in
that line of art is not handicapped by the
constant drudgery so universal in the old
time vessels In our navy.
The height of free board forward Of the
vessels hull proper is 20 feet, and at the
stern 1874 feet. The floor of the pilot house
is 45 feet high. thus placing the eye of the
steersman for ordinary cruising about 80
feet above the water The sight holes in
the coming tower for use IN close fight
ing are S4Ia feet above the water. The
bore of the forward 13-inch gun Will have
an elevation of 2S12 feet and the after 13-
inch gun 10 feet above the surface Of the
water. The 6-inch guns vary from 10 TO
22l9 feet, and the 6-pounders from so TO 4Ota
feet above water, according TO their loca-
ton on the vessel. The smaller guns are
mounted in the military tops, at heights
OF from SO to 70 feet This great height
above water of both main and secondary
batteries will enable the vessel to be
fought in any weather; a quality always
sought for but obtainabIe only in vessels
of good size, and considered of immense
advantage by all naval authorities. She
is also provided with bilge keels. placed
before and abaft the midship body only,
so as not to interfere with docking her.
These Seels have a maximum depth of
three fet, and will largel ytend to lessen
her motion in a seaway and so contrib
ute to her steadiness as a gun platform,
so ESSENTIAL for correct gun sire. Four
powerful electric searchlights are also
provided, two on top of the forward chart
house and two on each side of the after
military mast: also having an elevation OF
% feet above the water and commanding
a complete all around range There will
be two sets of triple expansion. twin screw
engines, each in its own separate water
tight compartment. The collective indi-
Gated horse power will be 10000 with 120
revolutions per minute. stroke feet.
There are eight single cylindrical boil /
ers. each 151A feet in diameter by feet
ia inches long, having a total CRATE sur
face Of 6s5 square feet, with 2l2N square
feet of heating surface; pressure, lso |
pounds These boilers are placed. two |
each. in four separate water-ught SOM
psrtrnents. The smoke pipes are two IN |
number and stand abreast Of each other.
WHY THE MOHEGAN WAS LOST