Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-03-21
THE NEW REPORTER.
HIS GRAPHIC DIES :RlPTloN OF THE
 STEAMER CRUSADER.

to Distinguish Himself-The Accommo-
 dating Captain Gives Him Some Y ry 1m-
 portant Information.
 "Go,' said the editor to the new re- porter, "and write up the new English steamer just arrived. Give a thorough account of her from stem to stern.
 From what?" said the young man recently arrived from far interior State, and to whom vessel of any sort was mystery and wonder
 From stem to stern," said the edi- tor, fixing a suspicious and threatening eye upon him.
 This was the young mans first mis- sien. He was eager to distinguish himself. He had already done so on his village paper, but he wanted wider field for his aspirations, and had come to New York.
 Yet he went out of the office anxious and doubting. q will go 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. Oblige 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 we'll"
 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 scar"
 "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 midocean?"
 "Of course, you landlubber. There's l docks to tie Up at regular distances all the way across.
 How do you see to sail dark snights?"
 We send our boats ahead with Ian- terms, which light up the road.
 Are they there now?"
 Yes; anchored in a line all the way across the Atlantic Ocean"
 After getting much other informa- ton, which the captain said he was only too happy to impart 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 reyolyes on hinges. so as to be readily unshipped in a storm, when it is not wanted. The rudder, also, by a patent eontrivance, can be drawn out of its 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 d 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 reyolye 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- 5tructed 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 condensers, which condense milk as well as water. Her cabins are con- structed on the Frsnch-flat principle, their being six stories with kitchens, etc, for each family of passengers. The Crusader also carries her own docks. and thus saves all the expenses of !, .for r1,0 Cd. ries her own quarantine, and so can never be detained if there is any ma- laria or measles on boat. The pilot