The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-04
NEW YORK NAVY YARD.
Many Warships Have Been Built
There Historic Frigates.

Memorial day was holiday on which
many persons living al considerable dis
lance from New York obtained special
permits to visit the navy yard and ships
there. Among them were a large mum
Der of women school teachers from Put
nam county who had special attention
shown to them because of the relation
ship OF one of the officers to some OF
them. They saw ships and sailors IN
their best apparel; officers and mascots.
guns and ammunitiOn-both domestic
and relics of the Spanish war, and they
were especially privileged to see the be-
ginning of the new battleshiO Connec-
ticut whose keel plates and transverse
frames-the real beginning of new
warshiD-were already in place.
School teachers are notably well in
formed on matters in general but these
were not familiar with the fact thas
the Connecticut is not the first ship to
be laid down for construction at the
New York navy yard. And yet there
are many others more familiar with
naval affairs who are not better in
formed than these school teachers.
judging from their inquiries. In fact.
it was at this navy yard that the FIRST
steam warship ever constructed by any
nation was built and launched She
was the old frigate Fulton, a 30-guh
vessel of about 1000 tons, built in 1915
after plans drawn by Robert Fulton.
But her armament was not limited to
guns, for she was fitted to throw hot
water as well as hot shot upon her en-
envy. She made her trial trip under
Capt. David Porter, father of the late
Admiral David d. Porter and she was
destroyed by the explosion of her mag
azine at the navy yard in 1925 In adj
dition to the destruction of the ship
one officer and forty-seven of her crew
were killed.
The next vessel constructed there was
the 74-gun frigate Ohio, modelled by
Henry Eckford a prominent navas
architect and shipbuilder in his day
She was launched in 1920. and after a
long period of active service she became
the receiving ship at the Boston navy
yard. where she remained until few
years ago, and was succeeded by the
Wabash.
The Savannah was the next vessel
she was followed by the brig Somers
which became notorious on account of
the hanging from her yardarm of Mid
shipman Spencer and two of her crew
for mutiny. Other vessels were built
there during the civil war. some being
laid down but not finished before the
war was closed. one of them being the
New York, which was afterward broken
I'D and thrown into the scrap heap.
Then came the battleship Maine, which
vessel was sunk by a mine explosion in
the harbor of Havana on February IA,
1928. which resulted in the war with
Spain. another vessel built here was
the gunboat Cincinnati, which has re-
ceived new machinery and boilers and
had much other work done. thus prac-
tically making her a new ship. She
was recently ordered to the European
squadron
Much historic interest is attached to
the old gate at York street. which was
used as the entrance to the navy yard
until the Sands street gate was finished
few years ago. The timbers with
| which The York street gate was con-
structed were at first used in building
the mansion which stands on the eleva-
ton at the west side of the navy yard
and which has been the home Of every