Semi=weekly graphic., 1898-12-14
THE NEW REPORTER.
HIS GRAPHIC DIES sRIPTIoN OF THE
 STEAMER CRUSADER.

rbCtouHJ OI her lTOl4 stem to SIelu.
 From what?" said the young man recently arrived fl om a far interior State, and to whol a vessel of any sort was a mystery and wonder
 From stem to stern,p said the edi- tor, fixing a suspicious and threatening eye upon him.
 This was the young mans first mis- sion. He was eager to distinguish himself, He had already done so on his village paper, but he wanted a wider field for his aspirations, and had come to New York.
 Yet he went out of the office anxious and doubting. T will 90 to the cap tain, said he; he will explain to me the ship and it's uses. He will tell me all
 Captain" said he, q am sent to write up your ship. 0blige me by stating how many masts she has,
 Eighteen, :, promptly answered the captain.
 Where are they?"
 We have sent them on shore to be painted.
 How much water does your vessel draw?''
 Three inches.
 How do you draw it?"
 By steam-power from the wells
 Were you ever in a storm at sea?''
 Never" said the captain.
 Are you ever seasiek?"
 "Awfully; can't leave my berth from the time we leave New York till we arrive at Liverpool
 Are the rest of your officers and crew seasick?"
 Always We're only on deck and about in port.
 Why, who steers the vessel at sea?"
 'The cook; he's the only well man on board"
 Do you sail nights when out of sight of land?"
 Never; we anchor. /"
 What! in midoeean?"
 tOf course. you landlubber. There's docks to tie Up at regular distances all the way across. D
 How do you see to sail dark nights?"
 We send our boats ahead with lan- terms, which light up the road.'
 Are they there now?s
 Yes; anchored in line all the way across the Atlantic Ocean"
 After getting much other informa- tion, which the captain said he was only too happy to fmpart to such an in- teresting young gentleman, the repor- ter returned and wrote as follows;
 The new steamer Crusader is splendid specimen of naval architec- ture. Her keel revolyes on hinges, so as to be readily unshipped in storm, when it is not wanted. The rudder, also, by a patent eontrivance, can be drawn out of it's socket and de- ported on deck during the night and in hurricanes. The Crusader has folding decks which can be doubled up when she has but little cargo. and her ton mage in this way can be decreased from four thousand to two hundred tons. The sail can, if necessary, be used as sky-sail or wind-sail, and the saving of canvas effected in this manner re- duces the wear and tear of her run ming rigging one-half The main brace passes from the end of the bowsprit over the fore, main, and royal masts, thence down over the spanker-boom to the taffrail and into the cabin win dows, where it is secured by a double banked sheepshank to the head of the captains berth. She has compound engines, which boil water at an ex- tremely low temperature. Her screws revolve at the rate of ten thousand times a minute, and can, if necessary, be brought forward and used as paddle wheels. The Crusader is also con- structed on the crab principle and by bracing up everything sharp on the wind and wearing ship frequently she can go as fast sideways as any other way The engines are furnished with eondersers, which condense milk as well as water Her cabins are con structed on the French-fat principle. their being six stories with kitchens. etc, for each family of passengers. The Crusader also carries her own docks. and thus saves ali the expenses of wharfage when in port. She also car ries her own quarantine, and so can never be detained f there is any ma laria or measles on boat. The pilot pilots her all the way across the At lantic and comes back with the ship each time. Her compasses in the bar nacle give daily the direction of the wind. The captains COW is milked by the boatswain in the foretopa-.
 National Soldiers Homes.
 No man receiving more than $16 per