Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-07-23
ONLY sEvEN-MAsrER AFLoAT.
The ssThomas W. Lawson" Recently
Launched at Quincy, Mass.

Launched at Quincy, Mass.
The seven masted schooner Thomas
w. Lawson", the only one In the world,
was launched last week at the yard Of the
Fore River ship and Engine company,
Quincy, Mass, In the presence OF great
multitude OF spectators. The schooner Is
| also the largest sailing vessel sfioat. She
was christened by Miss Helen Watson, the
daughter OF the president Of the Fore
River company, who smashed bottle OF
champagne on the steel stem just as the
huge hull started down the ways. The
vessel is the fret to be launched at the
new yard, which has under contract i've
war crafts for the United States navy.
The Lawson" 10 the biggest sailing
vessel that was ever launched, and Ia the
first American built steel schooner. More
than that, she IL the first seven-m ssted
vessel of any kind ever constructed. Her
launching, therefore, nscessitsted some
unusual preparations, the conditions be-
ing somewhat complicated by the tact
that her seven steel lower mssts we're put
in place while she was still on the stocks.
The groundwsys were two feet wide
and one foot thick, extending about 800
feet astern of the schooner as she lay In
her cradle; the sliding ways were some
what narrower and gave her bearing
surface OF sos feet As the schooncr's
weight at her launching was 1850 tons,
the pressure on the ways was q little more
than three tons to the square foot. A ton
and half OF tsllow, spread over with soft
soap and then linseed oil, was smesrsd on
the groundwsys as "launching grease,
and the great hull was held 10 position by
boiling one end of the sliding ways,
which had been cut partly through 10
the groundways. the cradle being released
by severing the remaining planks. 1t
shores and keel blocks and set her moving.
When she got into the water the ship Yves
brought to stAndstill by means OF one Of
her own anchors.
| During the launching the Lawson"
Was In charge OF Captain Arthur l..
| Crowley, who lie to be her commander,
and who has been the csptsin of thu
six mssted schooner "George W. welisn.
W hitch, when she was put overheard a
year or so ago, was the largest fore
and after ever attempted. The syn
dictate tor which the Fore River Ship
and Engine company built the seven
master Is headed by Capt. Crowley
| brother, Capt. John O. Crowley, as
managing owner and includes the Bos-
ton cooper king, Thomas w. lawson,
after whom the vessel Is named. Mr..
Lawson's christening gift was the largest
set OF coiors any vessel ever had.
From the tip OF her bowsprit to her
sftermost point the Thomas W. Lawson
measures nearly 500 feet, her overall length
being so3 feet, her waterliae length 36s
fret, her beam so feet and her depth d feet
S inches. She will draw 26& feet OF
water when fully loaded. Inside OF this
enormous hull. which has displacement
OF II 600 tons, there is room for 500 tons
OF cargo.
The ssLawson's" mss,s are unusual not
only for their number but tor their sire
and construction. Each Is i55 feet high,
with an Oregon pine topmast IS feet long,
the lower masis being steel cylinders 81
inches Ia diameter. The masts alone
Ntthu etNt1ttta A1bH AlEAAfs As49
their rigging adds almost three tons each.
The s5-foot spike bowsprit is of steel also.
Forty-three Thousand square feet OF canvas
viii be stretched from these great poles.
To handle such heavy rigging SIS the
seven masters 10 practically beyond
the power OF human muscle, and Eve
engines OF Is horse power each will hoist
and lower sails. Besides this, they viii
do stevedore work when they are not on
crew duty and they have been placed near
the six big hatehwsy- with that In view
A sixth engine, OF 30 horse power, is to
work the capstan, TO which are attached
two 10 900 pound stockIess snchors. The
foremost and aftermost engines are IA
deck houses with the boilers that supply
steam, " lille the others stand In tho open
The steam steering gear is connected with
the after boiler, while the forward boiler
furnishes power for the electrical plant
that will light the vessel. The cabin viii
be heated ey steam. and there Is a siren
whistle for signalling and ssiuting.
telephone system win connect the whse
house with the boiler rooms.
Like her hull and her three decks, the
"Lswson's" houses are constructed OF
steel plates. One IL fitted ap rs the
galley, second Is an engine room,
smother Is the main esh,n, while tie
Wheel house IL the fourth. The crews
| quarters are in the fosecastle. Her
steam equipment makes IL possible for
| the seven-msster to get along with a
| crew of sixteen men all told, whtsh j.