New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-01
THE CONQUEROR INSPECTED.
PROBABLE PURCHASE OF FREDERICK '"
vANDERBILTs YACHT BY THE
COVERNMEET

TIL. mos, important vessel reported upon oy ths
Rodgers Naval Auxiliary Board yesterday was
the steal yacht Conqueror. owned by freoer'ch w,
vanderbilt. which Inspected In the Ere
Basin where It IL now lying. 1t was learned yes.
,ordov that the vessel was favorably considered
ond that her purchase was probably recommehn-
Cd II ,s understood that she can ne oo'ahed AT
what IL regarded as fair price. the 'onduero'
was built for Mr. Vanderbilt IN 1896 al glasgow
cno,iard She is I7C feet in length. 246 feet oeam
,a "a, foo, deep Her tonnage is $40. She Is
ho,h s,anch and speedy. and can be converted
into q ,orpedo boat OF the class With when tho
Government desires TO equip the Navy
Another important vessel OF the same 'iass Is
the new yacht Niagara. which Is being bulit az
wilmington Del for Howard Gould. and which
viii soon be ready for launching. Naval Con-
,tructor Tawresey will go from his nome III F"I-
odelphia to-day to Wilmington 10 see the Niagara
and a favorable report will doubtless DC made
upon her tomorrow.
7, has been expected that Captain frederick
podSers nresident OF the Naval Auxiliary Board
was to command one Of the four American liners
chartered as cruisers By the government anu az
the Paris is the only one not now ac'ua's !" NV
Navy It was thought that he was 10 take COM
mand OF her ms soon she became the fale
Rut 4, was learned yesterday that captain Rod-
cara declined the command rendered 20 his al mo
time when Captains Sigsbee. Goodrich ana cotton
were detailed II the ST. Paul St Louis ana mar
ward. respectively. II was said that the reason or
hiE decllnatlOn was tndt II ~ edN' uP S""'' -
for deep water he wanted TO be In COMMAND OF
eshting ship. For the present. at least captain
Rodgers will continue to with the Auxiliary
Hoard in selection OF vessels Tor the use OF nv
Navy $500. -, ,,s ,ssk.
s wGsx reyer,sd Upon were the Saratoga ward
Line. and the froquois OF the Cyde Linz r1 1n1
Roass SOFA %S' PHI she 2s:
gss feet long $50 feet beam and 80 feet deep:
The Irouuois Is a steel vessel, constructed py me
William Cramp Sons Company, IN ISIS Sne Z
IA tons burden 80 feet long q feet beam ana
% feet deep II taknn both are likely to be u>ee
"a ,rausports or ships. Either couid re
made A refrigeratng vessel by putting propct
nian, aboard The Board made favorable report
on the Abcranda, as her condition was iouf'd 70
Two tugs will be inspected tomorrow. one 10
roaaed M once for use in the harhor At Ports.
mouth y H.. IN connection with the defence OF
that point, which has been partially provided lor
by CARR oning old Fort Constitution where S I
81 the smoothbore guns taken from bOs'o' Ia''
Dor are he placed. -. -
member OF the Board said Yesterday that tns
only vessels 10 he examiner were those ING
owner. wanted to dispose OF. No orders had yet
hesn sent from Washington TO recommend any
,ess.ls Tor the ha rbor defence feet. Whether The
lack Of orders from Washington was signincant
Of great activity I'm the Navy department or OF
n lack OF funds to secure more vessels ihls MEM
Der Of the Board could not say. He said. however,
the Senate providing for increase OF the regular
Navy by the expenditure Of So 10000, II oe.
came a law. would mean great activity IN tne
matter OF construction, and important promotions
when the vessels were completed 1 ne gen
oral feeling among officers OF the Navy he said,
was one of great qualification over the prospect OF
an adequate Navy for the United States behtung
lts rank among the maritime Powers OF the ~orn-