The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-05-28
FOREMOST In FIGHT.
BALTIM0RE-BUILT WARSHIPS IN
THE WAR WITH SPAIN.
Inc fetrel, Distinguished In the Battle of
Manila Bay, Was the First Warship
bullt by the Columbian Works.


Manila Bay, Was the First Warship
Built by the Columbian Works.
baltlmore-built ships have figured prom
lnentIy IN the war with Spain. These boats
were bullt at the Columbian Iron forks,
ana mayer Malster, who for years has been
at the head of that shipyard naturally
feels proud of the part which vessels of his
building are playing. When asked about
the vessels this week he smiled broad
smile of satisfaction and asked Colonel
Wardwell to give detailed information
about them. He feels sure that e.,ch of
these vessels will give good account of
ITSELF
The first steel vessel of the new navy
constructed South of Mason and Dixon's
line was the gunboat Petrol, which dis
tinguished itself so signalIy in the battle
of Manila. This boat, which is a toy COM
pared with some of the war vessels now
ailoat, is, neverthess, fighter. She was
built at the Columbian Iron Works, in
1883, and WIS sent to the China station as
soon as she was placed in commission She
$ armed with four 4-inch rifles broadside,
and with one 4-inch after gun. Her second
airy batteries consist Of four 6-pounders,
two 1-pounders and two Calling guns. She
is vessel Of 900 tons, and, therefore, of
light draft. This fact brought her the dis
tiuction of going closest to the batteries at
Cavite and finally sweeping from the
waters the remaining portion of the enemys
fleet after the heaviest of the fighting was
over.
The Detroit, partially protected cruiser
of 20S0 tons, was finished under the direc-
ton of Mayor Master in 1892. She is
swift vessel as well as something Of a
fighter. She is the fastest OF her class in
the world with the exception of her sister
ship, the Montgomery, and on her trial
trip she made 10 knots. Her primary bat
terry consists of ten 5-inch rifles and her
secondary battery consists of II 6.pound-
Founders, 1-pounders and Gatlings
all rapid-fire. The Detroit has the record
having fired the first hostile shot of the
new Navy in defence of the bark Army in
the recent Brazilian war. She captured the
big Catilina as prize few days ago.
The Montgomery is like the Detroit in
every respect except as to speed. She
made 20 knots on her trial trip and won
speed-bonus of $780, 600 for her builders.
The Detroit won $40, 900. The Mont
gomeIy was finished in the fall of 1899 and
came near being called the North Point.
She took the place of the Maine at Havana
after the destruction OF the latter vessel.
She has so far captured four Spanish prizes.
She AID the Detroit are both rambuilt, and
in that way are given fighting ability
against slow ships much beyond that indi-
Gated by their batteries Commander
Davis, now of the Dixie, says that he could
sink any battle-ship ahoat with the Mont
gomery, provided he had an opportunity to
ram it. Both vessels are provived with the
best sort of a torpedo service.
The torpedo-boat Foote, distinguished in
drawing the first fire of the Spanish, re-
sulting in the Smelling Of the Matanzas for
tifcations, is also from the Columbian Iron
Works, which she left last year. She is a
25-knot vessel 1S5 feet over all, and is
armed only with torpedoes and rapid-fre
guns. She and the Winslow, a sister ship,
completed the first of the week, are now in
the fleet of Captain Sampson. The Rod
gers, OF the same class, launched about
three months ago. is in this vicinity OF the
Antilles.
The McKee, which has just been turned
out, showed on her trial trip maximum
speed of 235 knots. She is rated as a second
class torpedo-boat
The Columbian Iron Works have also
completed the lighthouse tenders Holly
and Jessamine and submarine boat Plum
ger. She has revenue cutter on the ways
The Holly is being rebuilt at the works at
present.
The speed OF the vessels built in Balti
more for the United States Navy has in a
measure brought back to Baltimore her
fame for swift ships, so that she is coming
to be regarded in maritime affairs as highly
as when her clipper ships destroyed any,
thing ahoat.
Mayor Malster thinks the Montgomery
could run away from the Vzcaya had she
occasion to do So