The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-08-18
BIG SEWALL SHIP
FOlT MaStGd Iron Merchantmen
Launched at Bath, Me.
GIVEN A RATTLING SEND OFF
Named for a Friend Of the Owner.
Sticks 200 Feet High - Captain
Graham to Have Command.

The launching of the big four-mast-
ed Sewau ship took place the after
noon of July &c, at $50, says the Bath,
! Ne. Times. The large vessel made
most graceful dip in the Kennebec
amid salutes and cheers from an inn
mense crowd. Several excursion boats
and yachts were in the river, repre-
santing the different summer colonies.
The ship was decorated with signal
flags and many of the boats on the
river displayed their bunting. making
the scene a festive one. The tugs Sc
gum and Perry were on hand to dock
the ship
Among those present at the launch
ing and guests of Mr.. Arthur Sewall
were: Hon Erskine NJ. Phelps, OF
Chicago, for whom the ship was named,
his friend, Chief Justice Fuller and
daughter, who are summering at Bar
Harbor, d. b. Dearborn, the New York
agent for the Sewalls, and George S.
Dearborn.
The formality of christening was
omitted.
The handsome, four-masted iron ship
Erskine NJ. Phelps, one of the finest
vessels afioat, has won the admiration
of all, including several veteran sea
captains, who have had an opportunity
to view her immense hull and lofty
masts of steel. The ships dimensions
are as follows:
Length, over all, $50 feet; measur-
ing length, 312 feet; breadth, Al feet 2
inches; depth, % feet inches. Her
gross tonnage is 1000 tons and she has
a carrying capacity of 4,600 tons,
weight. The masts, rar superior in
strength to those of other sailing YES
sells, average about 200 feet in height
from keelson. They are 30 inches in
diameter at deck and 20 inches at heel.
The lower yards are "a feet, lower top
sail, 50 feet g inches, upper topsail rs
feet, top gallant 90 feet, royal SO feet
and skysail yards 46 feet. The bow
spirit, also of steel, is 6S feet in length.
The ship has three decks and four
matches, two of the latter being 12X16
feet and the remaining two Sx6 feet.
Inc IOEWdIu ueCh uOuSG 10 tOAIo lCCbs
In the forward section is the forecastle,
the sailors home, with twenty hunks.
Skylights above give good light and
ventilation. The rest of the forward
house is devoted to the galley, donkey
engine room and coal bunker of seven
tons capacity.
In the midships house, 26x18 feet, is
the carpenters shop, extending across
the house, and six rooms for the petty
officers.
Aft is the commodious cabin, the
home of Capt Graham and his officers,
forty-eight feet long and thirty-eight
feet wide, extending the entire width
OF the ship. The place is excellently
lighted by skylights. In the forward
cabin is the dining saloon and aft the
main saloon, tastefully finished in
white The captains apartment, Off
GERS staterooms, stewards pantry, bath
rooms and lavatories are adjoining the
saloons.
A spiral stairway leads to a chart
house 14x16 feet on the quarter deck,
with numerous ports, affording plenty
of light and ventilation. Here are two
hunks for passengers. Aft of the chart
house is the wheel house, 10x14 feet.
The various houses of the ship are
composed of iron with wood finish
The ship is supplied with all modern
improvements including steam pumps
and hose for washing decks. steam
winch, two portable cranes to weigh
anchors and steam capstan are for
ward and two hand capstans aft The
bulwarks Of the ship are "stiffened"
every four feet with round iron two
and one half inches in diameter. For
ward are two imported lighthouses for
the side light.
Mr.. Phelps is a Democrat and has
ably served for several terms on the
National Democratic Committee He
is an intimate friend of Hon. Arthur
Sewall and during the recent campaign
was one of Mr.. SewalI's strong sup
1orters.
Capt. Robert J. Graham, of PhiladeI-
phia, commander of the Erskine NJ
Phelps, was formerly commander of
he ship William T. BabcOck, and as
such has visited Honolulu. When a
BOY of Is he began his successful sea-
'aring life in the Bath ship Idle Lilly,
If which Capt. G. J. Carter of that city
vas then mate.
Previous to commanding the Bah
,Ock Capt. Graham was master Of the
Bath ship Reuce
Capt. Graham is young man who
las confidence in the welfare of Amer
can shipping, a firm believer in the
advent Of that old time prosperity
which will come with the restoration
If our merchant marine.