The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-30
ORIGINAL STEAM WARSRIP.
FIRST IN OUR NApY BAUNCHED -
YEARS AGO YESTERDAY.

YEARS AGO
The DemoIoRos, but nan the Fulton
the First NJ She slid Into the water ut
Corlsara Touchdown Up Later-Hsr
Formidable Strength and New Inventions
WASHINGTON. Oct. 2o.-To-day was the
eiRhty-fourth anniversary of the launching Of
the first steam warship of the navy. It passed
unnoticed. and there are few to-day who are
familiar with the history OF that innovation
In the nav. Only In tho musty records Of
the Navy Department can there DO found
mention Of the craft.
During the war Of 1872 the United States
Navy was making an excellent record at sea.
but the Government felt the pressing neces-
sity OF vessels for coast defence. Finally q
suggestion by Robert Fulton was adopted and
By special legislation Congress passed an act
in the same year authorizing the immediate
construction OF o number OF floating batteries
after q type submitted to the Navy Depart
ment by Fulton. It was not until early In 1S14
that o commission was 'appointed 10 %superin-
tend the construction OF the first OF theseYessels.
h commission was composed OF g. l..
Mitchell. Henry Rutgers. Robert Fulton and
Naval Constructor Adam Brown. On June 20.
1914. the keel Of the new vessel was laid at
Corlears Hook on the East River and Oct. 29
OF the Same year the Demologos. as she was
first called. was launched. 1t was estimated
that the vessel would cost $4,000. but ow-
ing to many notifications In the original plans
made before the work was completed the cost
was somewhat smaller. It was at first In
tended that the DemoloGos should carry TWEEN
ty guns. but this number was increased
to thirty. She was 1853 feet long. 90 feet
beam and 20 feet deep. As Viewed In the
light OF modern times the most peculiar thing
about the ship was the situation OF the pro-
pening power In the centre OF the deck there
was q well-like opening. straight Town to
the water. in which the single .p~addlewheel
worked. AT the last moment this well was
converted into q channel seventy feet long and
the paddlewheel was increased to sixteen feet
IN diameter, TT vessel was propelled by q
sci was preserved by having the cylinder on one
all the machinery being placed amidshlp.
sired by the designer Of the Demologos, and
with that end in view she was provided with
at each end. BY this Advancement she could
be propelled forward or backyard like a ferry
r poSs f Ei' Ta sSu and ia at from tS Se9 decE s.0q In m thoss
days. when breech-loadinR guns we're I'M
known.i Il was customary to use loose powder.
muzzle- loading pieces. In this custom the de-
point In warships. and they prepared to take
advantage Of It. In addition to the vessels
armament. there was built a powerful pump.
propelled the Wheel This PUMP could send
two streams OF water a considerable distance.
and It was determined that these should be
turned upon an enemy when in close quar-
ters, drenchlnG the loose powder and render
The greatest difficulty experienced by the
builders was In getting the ships armamenS
to New York. The thirty guns allotted to her
railways were then unknown. they were hauled
overland, INT roads were miserable and
most nU3st Of the guns were hauled h9 to their desti-
The day OF the launching marked the be-
ginning Of a new era in the navy and was a
were present to see the strsnge-iSoEine' craft
glide down the ways into the water. Cannon
i Go0 slHSf. a1 Wb aaRs nv waved Dsm Iron every erte building Ing
water she left behind her old name and was
christened Fulton the First. despite the pro-
live to see her completed. The engines were
not put in the vessel unit. May, 1915. and Full
completed the Fulton registered a tonnage Of
200. The vessel attracted considerable at
alarmed at the possibilities OF the new craft.
English newspapers, gave much space to dis
description OF the new addition to the 1meri-
There is now building in New. York a terri
The length Of the vessel is 300 feet, 200 feet
in breadth. and the hull is CONSTRUCTED Of al
mo iuSCl5 VI odh uHu CoIh plduhlUR UUlT-
teen feet In thickness. She carries forty-four
guns and her quarterback and. forecastle guns
are 44-pounders. A pump is worked by
machinery which enables her to throw 100
gallons OF boiling water per minute upon the
decks Of an enemv.
Over the gunwales are brandished with the
utmost regularity 300 cutlasses. also worked
by machinery. rendering boarding impossible.
From the lower deck. the same number of huge
iron pixies OF equal length are shot forth and
Withdrawn every quarter OF q minute. This,
too, Is ACCOMPLISHED by steam"
The E1lltnn tho Fircf navar had nm oppnr
tunity, to demonstrate her worth as n fighting
snip, although she would doubtless have proved
a formidable opponent to any war vessel on tho
sea at that time. Her first trip was made on
June l, 1915. down New York Bay to the Mar
rows, On, July 4 of the same year she had a
speed trial. steaming twenty-five miles out to
sea and back. The trip was accomplished in
a little less than nine. hours and was entirely
satisfactory to both the Government. and the
land the Fulton was tied up opposite the
Brooklyn Navy Yard and remained there until
June 4, 1929. On that date two barrels OF
powder stored in the hold exploded and the
ship was blown to pieces. Between twenty
and thirty men who were on board at the time
were killed The cause OF the explosion was
never found out. Some years later another
vessel in the navy received the name Of Fulton.