Griggs courier., 1898-09-29

Mehss.'s Faneus vessel was osss .
uerwegsaa Crafs-alanAsene3y
Fitted.


The famous collier at the bottom Of
Santiago harbor has history the de-
tails of which are generally unknown
and which are well worth the reading.
Hobson's feat of unparalleled brav-
cry was done with craft that in its
early history saw service il Norwegian
waters. Then It was not known ~
the Merrimac. It, sailed under the
name of the Solveig. and many and
many q good load Of merchandise it
carried in the Baltic and North seas.
Occasionally the Solveig would cross
the Atlantic, and ON one OF her trips
to America she met with disaster.
In March, 1897, at Newport News,
Va, she was almost wholly destroyed
by fire, and complete rebuilding. was
necessary.
In the transition from burned-out
hulk to hrand-new trader for the
Atlantic coastwise trade her name was
changed from the Solveig to the Merri-
mac. And under the latter name will
she be known to history as long ashis-
tory records daring deeds on sea or
land.
The claims on her occasioned by the
fire were settled by United States
marshal's sale at Norfolk, Va. in 1897.
She was purchased by the firm of ].
Hogan & Son, No. II Broadway, and
was rebuilt by j. Robbins & Co., also
of this city.
Under the name Of the Merrimac she
was fitted up for trading at various
points on the Atlantic coast, and, as q
coastwise trader of the better order
requires an interesting detail of equip
ment, i! may add to the readers nauti-
cal knowledge to learn few facts re-
garding the Merrimac's equipment.
She was strongly and carefully built
Of steel. Youwill note that thorough
ly up-to-date methods entered into her
construction and furnishings. Coast-
wise trading demands cargo posts; so
she was fitted up with these essentials,
as we'll as seven steam holsters for the
rapid handling of cargoes. She is $40
feet long, her breadth of beam is 45
feet; her depth Of hold is ~ feet. Her
total carrying capacity is about 5000
tons. Her measurement capacity is
100000 feet. She could steam IL knots
per hour under a compulsion of 22 tons
of coal. Her water tanks hold It's, 900
gallons of water.
So much for her capacity in the con-
ventional directions. She proved her
capacity in an unconventional direc.
| tion in manner that drew upon her
the eyes of the civilized world when she
acted IS the cork that bottled up Santi.
ago harbor. We might say little
about her woodwork as well as her in
terror furnishings and arrangements.
She had cabin accommodations for 18
frst-class passengers, and her saloon
was arranged to dine 20 guests at one
sitting if necessary. 81
Her woodwork and cabin were hand.
somely finished in light American oak,
with crimson velvet cushions and hang
ings. Speaking generally her interior
was furnished generously-yes, luxuri-
ously--with the demands of necessity
or the fancies of luxury.
Just before her departure she was
sumptuously fitted up from stem to
stern with a complete line of interior
fittings, such as glassware, china,
crockery, pictures, rugs, upholsteries,
furniture, etc.
When she sailed she was considered
one Of the most elegantly and excel
lently finished traders sailing from
New York harbor.
The Merrimac, with all this sumptu-
BUSINESS, is now at the bottom of Santi-
ago bay, but who shall say that it has
not served better purpose than If she,
were cruising along the Riviera or in
the Mediterranean, with some great
fortune.
The Merrimac was rated A No. in
the American Shipmasters' Record as
sociation, the United States Standard
associa ton and in the British Lloyds.
She made several voyages in the At
lantic trade, and on her return to
Baltimore. in April, 1898, the United
States navy department bought her as
a collier to accompany Admiral Samp-
sons feet. The rest of her history is
everybody's knowledge. To-day she
lies at the bottom of Santiago harbor.
the center of millionfold greater adj
miration than if still plying up and
down the Atlantic coast, in the peace-
full vocation of trader.-N. Y. World.
Skim MIX in Paper Making.
A new product-a simple by-product
of the dairy is the manufacture Of
sizing to be used by the manufacturers
of paper, to put the glazing on paper
CT fine quality. The practice hereto-
fore in accomplishing this purpose has