The Washington times., 1901-12-08

construction of one or more steam war
vessels.
October 81 was the eighty fourth ami
versary OF the launching of the first steam
warship OF the navy. II passed unnoticed.
and there are few today who are familiar
with the history of that innovation in The
navy Only in the musty records of the
Navy Department can there be found men
tion of the craft which was considered at
the time of its building an experiment OF
which little was expected.
During the war of 1872 the United
States Navy was making an excellent rec
ord at sea, but she Government felt the
pressing necessity of vessels for coast de-
fence a greater part of the Atlantic sea-
board being then unprotected.
Fulton's Plan Adopted.
Finally Fultons suggestion was adopt
ed, and, as special legislation, Congress
passed an act in the same year author
izing the immediate construction OF
number of floating batteries after type
submitted to the Navy Department by the
inventor.
Ii was not until early in 1914 that
commission was appointed TO superintend
the construction OF the first Of these YES
sells.
The commission was composed Of S. l..
Mitchell, Henry Rutgers, Robert Fulton,
and Naval Constructor Adam Brown. On
June 20 1914, the keel OF the ney vessel
was laid at the Coriears Hook on the
East River. and October 20 of the same
year the Demologos. as she was first
called, was launched. II was estimated
that the vessel would cost s52o,000 but,
owing to many notifications in the origi-
nal plans. made before the work was
completed, the cost was somewhat small
er. IL was at first intended that the Dc
mologos should carry twenty guns but
this number was increased to thirty. She
was 156 feet long. ffty-six feet beam and
twenty feet deep.
Shielded Paddle Wheel.
As viewed in the light Of modern times
the most peculiar thing about the ship
was the location of the propelllng power
In the centre of the deck there was
well-llke opening straight down to the
water in which single paddle-wh
worked. At the last moment this well
was converted into hannei seventy feet
long and the size of the paddle wheel was
increased to sixteen feet in diameter. The
wheel was propelled by a single cylinder
The equilibrium of the vessel was pre-
served by having the cylinder on one side
Of the wheel and the boiler on the other
all the machinery hafDg ulapad arnf5Ehin
For Rapid ManeuvrInE.
Rapid maneuvring in any direction
was desired by the designers of the Demo-
iogos, and with that end in view she
was provided with two bowsprits and
3ibs and four rudders, two at each end
By this arrangement she could be pro-
PEELED forward or backward like a ferry
boat with equal ease.
Two short stout masts rose forward
and aft from the deck. In those days,
when breech-loading guns were unknown,
1t was customary to use loose powder.
The explosive was kept near the guns in
time OF action, ready TO be packed down
the old muzzie loading pieces. In this
custom the designers of the Demologos
recognized weak point in warships, and
they prepared to take advantage of il.
In addition TO the vessels armament
there was built powerful pump, which
was worked by the same engine which
propelled the wheel.
To Drencb Enemy's Powder.
This pump could send two streams OF
water considerable distance, and it
was intended that these should be turned
upon an enemy's deck when in close
quarters. drenching the loose powder and
rendering it useless.
The. greatest difficulty experienced by
the builders was in getting the ships
armament TO New York The thirty guns
allotted TO her had to be brought from
Philadelphia, and, as railways were then
unknown, they were hauled overland. The
roads were miserable and most OF the
guns were hauled to their destination by
strong teams of oxen.
Began a New Era.
The day Of the launching marked the
beginning OF new era in the navy, and
was memorable occasion. Fully 20 900
people were present to see the strange
craft glide down the ways TO the water.
Cannon doomed and flags waved from
every building In sight. When the Demo-
logos entered the water her old name was
left behind, and she was christened Full
ton the First. despite the protests of the
modest inventor. He did not live 10 see
her completed. The engines were not put
in the vessel until May. 1915. and Fulton
died three months before that time.
When completed the Fulton registered
q tonnage OF $500. The vessel attracted
considerable attention while in process
% construction from the English naval
authorities who were alarmed at the pos
sibilities OF the new craft. English news
papers gave much space TO discussing
her. One OF them gave the following de-
Bcription OF the new addition 10 the Amer
ican Navy:
Engli- i-hmen Frightened.
"There is now building in New York
terrible engine Of war. which is propelled
by steam. The length of the vessel is 300
feet. 200 feet in breadth, and the hull is
constructed Of alternate layers OF oak and
cork planklng. thirteen feet In thickness.
She carrieE forty-four guns and her quar-
ter deck and forecastle gun5 are forty
four Founders. A pdnp is worked by ma
chinery which enables her to throw one
hundred gallons of boiling water minute
upon the decks Of an enemy.
Cutlnsres Drandisbed by Stenm
''oyer the gunwales are brandished,
with the utmost regularity. 300 cutlasses,
Ilso worked by machinery, rendering
boarding impossible. From the lower
deck the same number Of huge iron pixies
Of equal length are shot forth and with
drawn every quarter OF minute. This,