Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-04-02

John r. Morgapo OF Boston. was sent
out with Il large number of worlkmen
to the forests in Georgia to select the
proper timber, to cut, mold, shape and
haul it to navigable waters 1t was
then shipped to the various yards for
the six frigaies.
In December, 1905, two-thrds of the
live oak frames for the chesapeake"
and most OF the material, spars. iron
| and copper were in store or in course
of preparation. The keel had been laid
and part Of the frames bolted together
for raising. Upon the establishment Of
peace in 1896 between the United states
and AlGicrs. work was suspended on
this vessel.
France in 119S gave Il fresh impetus -
the navy. In July orders were scnt 10
resume work upon the "Chesapcakc. -
Mr. Josiah Fox. who was the naval
constructor. was directed to proceed
with the work. but during the interim
he though, out and recommended Il
plan of reducing the size Of The vessel
from rnrtyfour guns to thirty-siN suns.
The main feature uf MIR Fox's plan was
10 produce Il ship as Formidable as
those common abroad and To effect a
saving in cost and also 4 saving Of
some months in building. The keel.
having been laid had to he cut and
''''i' 'tN Itl'it's ulll " lti w is-t'
most OF the material held in store was
of service il, finishing the "Chcs5pcaNc
under the new plans.
THE DIMENSIONS.
On July l6, 1893. Commodore Samuel
Barron was ordered 10 duty as super
intcndcnt Of the yard and the friyaie
Chcsapeakc" was finally launched the
following month, December. 1890. Her
dimensions were as follows
- IL
pct. lol feet: breadth. 10 feet II inches:
depth of hold. Is feet Q inches: main
mast length. % feet inches. Carried
SO guns. S43 men. Displacement 1920
tons. Cost, S22O,67S.so
She was smaller than the United
states" and "Constitution'' by 80 tons
and twcnty-one less than tho ''Constel-
iauon,' with an average cost Of $50. 900
less than either OF her sister ships. Her
first cruise was under Captain Samuel
barron To the West Indies i'm 1900. and
she captured off Bermuda the Young
Creole and remained off Bermuda and
othcr West India islands till recalled in
1901.
In 1902 the chesapeake" sailed for
the Mediterranean under CAPTAIN j.
iiarron and Commodore IT. V. Morris
AZ Gibralter March %, 1903. Captain
Mnrris shifted his pennant to the ''Nev,
YORK and the "Chcsapealsc" sailed for
, , ohited States under Captain J.
barron Again in 1906. the .Chesa-
pcake' was ordered to fit out for a
cruise to the Mediterranean to relieve
the Constitution" whose time was
ABOUT up. Captain Charles Gordon w3s
attached to her and Captain James
barron was selected to hoist his pen
nannt and command the squadron. The
chesapeake" was lying at the WASH
inSton yard taking in stores masts
and receiving officers and men til
about the beginning of June. 1907 when
she sailed for Norfolk She had But
WE'VE guns on board and some other
war material was wanting. The ..rhes-
apeake' arrived at Hampton Roads
June Attn and on June % 1907. she chi
under way for the Mediterranean. Shc
carried twenty weight S-pounders on her
gun deck and twelve carronades above.
making total Of forty gums
no sooner was the war of tho Rovo-
luton over and the American vessels;
Tree 10 sail to foreign ports than tho
outragcs OF the press gang began IN
the American scamcn. 1t was upon III
sailing day of the 'Chcsapeake." June