The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-09-17

the torpedo boat destroyers. Dale and
Decatur.
DIMENSIONS OF DESTROYERS.
The contract price Of the destroyers was
10000 each. They ale also % be just
alike Their length on load wate- line viii
be 2i5 feet: extreme breadth % feet IA
inches: mean draft feet 9 inches; dis
placement. 40 tons. speed. . knots an
hour: maximum indicated horse power
estimated 5000 tons tons per inch i'm
mersion az normal draft "a; normal coal
supply % tons; bunker capacity. 100 tons.
Bach will have twin screw, vertical In
verted. triple expansion engines.
They are 10 have electric and search
lights, and coming towers similar %
those Of the Shubrick
The batteries will be composed Of seven
rapid firing guns I'm coming tower. which
with their mounts and fittings VIII weigh
about eight tons. The ammunition re-
quired viii weigh about seven tons. There
VIII be mounted on the midship line two
D-f0Ot torpedos % carry F-fo0t tOrpedoes
Weighing In all four tons. and a space be-
low will be provided for storing the spare
torpedoes and four war-heads The total
ordnance weights will amount to about
q tons.
Berthing space viii be required 20 ac-
commodatte a crew OF On men and 4
officers. and provision space f1r % days
The destroyers and boats are 90 be built
and fitted for sea by the contractors with
the exception Of sea stores. ordnance and
outfit and such other articles as are emu
merated 10 be supplied by the government
The contractors viii ft and secure I'm
place all ordnance and ordnance outfit
FOR WHOM NAMED.
IT. ]. far ff.v
modore Robert Field Stockton. whose
eventful life OF Il years closed al Prince
ton. his birthplace. October eth. 1896
Among other things, he negotiated in
1871 the purchase from African chiefs Of
the territory constituting Liberia, asss-
ted I'm the suppression Of piracy In the
West Indies; surveyed the Atlantic coast
OF the Southern States: declined the Sec
retaryship Of the navy I'm 1871. and SUI
perlntended the construction OF TIE Sl0op
Princeton the first successful war steam
snip. I'm 1912. He resigned from the navy
in 1850 and was elected to the United
states Senate the next year.
Captain James Shepard Thornton. after
whom the Thornton will be named. was
born I'm Merrimack. y. H.. February 18th
lS2g. and died IN Germantown Pa. in
1919. He served as a mildly" during the
Mexican war I'm the CUE squadron. and
also with distinction IN the civil war He
was executive officer Of the Hartford ~
the forts and batteries below New or
leans and during the ensuing fighting on
the Mississippi Hn was executive officer
Of the Kearsarge in the fight with the Al
aDama.
DESTROYERS' NAMES.
The torpedo boat destroyers are named
after Commodore Richard Dale and Com.
modore Stephen Decatur
Commodore Dale was born near Nor
folk. Va. November sth. 1885, and entered
the merchant service when only twelve
years Of age.
At the commencement Of the revolution
ne was made a lieutenant IN the marine
service OF Virginia He was captured By
an English vessel and was over persua-
ded 70 JON the English side Receiving a
wound he had time 20 think over his
conduct and repenting Joined the United
states navy in 1916 He was CAPTURED
sent 10 London and re-captured after an
escape. but got away and Joined Paul
Jones In France He was q lieutenant
aboard the Bon Hommie Richard and when
she fought the Serapls he greafiv d's-
tinguished himself and was wounded He
was wounded and CAPTURED the fourth
ing the Trlpolitan war he commanded a
squadron. Commodore Dale died I'm Phil
adeiphia February 24th 1896
THE OLD DALE.
Another boat which was named - honor
Of Commodore Dale was a wooden SAL
ing vessel. still I'm existence but unfit for
service. She was built by the government
in PHILADELPHIA IN 1889 and Is IN the care
OF the Baltimore naval militia She Is a
small craft. III feet 7 inches long and 80
feet 10 inches wide and draws IA feet Q
inches OF water Her displacement Is 675
tons.
Commodore Stephen Decatur, for whom
the Decatur will be named, was born at
Sinnepuxent. Nd. January 5Tn. f779 and
was killed in duel by Commodore James
barron March 22d. 1890 He rendered
distinguished service in the war with
Irpoii, the war Of 1872 and in the affair
with Algiers