Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-08-09
THE OLD VERMONT.
Last Of the Big Three. Decker
Line-of- Battle Ships.
The Last Of the Big Three-Deeker,
Line-of-BattIe Shjps.

Vermont" and to have the marines
given shore barracks in place of their
quarters on the receiving ship. The
plea is that the vessel is old and in
tested with microbes. Practical men.
however, say that the microbes are
only an excuse, that the ship is in fine
condition, and there has not been a
case of sickness among the crew, not
to mention death, in Is years. The
discussion makes of interest this ac-
count of the ship which bears the
name of the Green Mountain state.
The Vermont was one of the heavy
war ships authorized by Congress
soon after the close of the war of
1872. Experience in that conflict had
demonstrated that we needed such
ships If we were to keep our coasts
clear of enemies. The plan of the
Vermont was made and approved in
Washington in August, 1918, and her
keel was laid at the Charlestown navy
yard in September of the year follow
ing. The vessel was completed, but
long years of peace had dulled Ameri-
can naval enthusiasm, and there was a
comfortable feeling that war ships
never would be wanted. So the Yer
mont rested on the stocks until the
outbreak of trouble with Mexico
brought about a change of mind on the
part of the wiseacres. In 1S4S work
was resumed upon the ship. 1t was
discovered that, notwithstanding the
lapse of time, the great hull was for
the most part in excellent condition.
1t only remained to put in new
keel, caulk the seams and otherwise
prepare her for launching.
This event was set for noon of Sept.
IA, 1S4S, and it was made a gala occa-
sion. The United States government
gave $500 for a collation., and when
the day came all the available space
about the ship was crowded. The har-
Dor was filled with boats, and crowds
clustered on the wharves and on
Cops Hill and other points of van
tage in the vicinity. The Boston news
papers had enthusiastic accounts of
the immense concourse of people,"
and of the ease and dignity with
which, when the word was given, the
great ship" slid down the ways and
out upon the bosom of the water.
The Vermont certainly was a great
ship" for the year 1S4S. From the de-
scription published at the time we
learn that she was 234 feet long from
billethead to taffrail, or 1876 feet be-
tween perpendiculars. "a feet in ex-
IRENE breadth of beam, and 81 feet
deep from the top of the spar deck to
the ceiling of the hold.
From the date of the launching until
1862 it does not appear that the Yer
mont had a career of a particularly
eventful nature, but in that year she
fell victim to a series of mishaps
that is one of the most extraordinary
chapters in our naval history. OF
course the huge three-decker was of
no possible use as a fighting ship in
narrow southern channels against the
rams and rifled guns of the Confeder-
ates, and so she was fitted out at
Charlestown in 1862 as a hospital and
store ship, to be stationed at Port
Royal. On Monday, Feb. "a, in tow of
the United States steamer Kensington,
she sailed from President Roads for
her destination. About 7 o'clock that
night the two vessels were struck by
a terrific gale from the west, and the
great Vermont, which was under top
sails, outran the steamer, which was
forced to cut the hawser for her own
preservation. The gale increased, and
soon the Vermont's sails were blown
away anu lOuI VI ucI DOdlS IOlu
their davits. The ship preached to,
Soon after the breakers were reported
ahead. The starboard anchor was let
go and lost. The port anchor, how
ever, held the ship in II fathoms, but
after awhile that anchor went the
heavy iron tiller broke, the rudder was
carried away, and the big ship was
drifting helplessly at the mercy of the
winds and currents.
On Thursday, the 9th, the schooner
Flying Mist spoke the disabled vessel,
and took off Acting Storekeeper Ed
ward A. Birnie and brought him into
Chatham, Mass. Mr. Brine at once
communicated to Commodore Hudson
at the Charlestown navy yard the first
news of the disaster. There were
many men from Boston and vicinity
among the Vermont's officers and
crew, and the news caused consider
able excitement. When Mr.. Brine
left the ship she was 95 miles east
southeast from Cape Cod, with both
anchors and her rudder gone, and the
only canvas remaining was her fore
sail and maintopsail. Tugs were
hastily coaled and provisioned and
sent out to the rescue. The steamer
Saxon OF the 1ulIduelpuld LlHS was
dispatched on the same mission, and
gunboats put to sea from both Charles
town and Brooklyn.
Meanwhile, though the Vermont re-
manned reasonably tight, and there
was no immediate danger of founder
ing, she was being knocked about ter
ribly by the heavy winter seas. Sew
eral of her seamen died, and so or
more were made seriously i'll by eX-
posure. On shore, as day after day
went by and the tugs and the Saxon
returned from their search unsuccess-
full, there was much anxiety.
During the weeks she was drifting
aimlessly the Vermont was several
times spoken by small sailing vessels,
which, however, could render no as
sistance to the crippled leviathan, and
her officers and crew refused to leave
her. The gunboat Aroostook fell in
with the Vermont, but lost her smoke
stack in a gale of wind and sustained
other damage, and was compelled to
return to port. The Philadelphia
steamer Saxon, on another attempt,
found the disabled ship, relieving the
Aroostook in the nick of time. The
Vermont's crew had constructed a
iury rudder, but an attempt to ship
II proved unsuccessful, and after try
ing manfully to tow the heavy vessel
ooSoinet head seas the Saxon, too, was