Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-27
ing one-pounders and two s-caliber gattling

ing one-pounders and two 3-caliber gattling
guns.
The Puritan Is fitted with twin screws.
the engines being of the horizontal COM
pound type, with Scotch boilers. On her
trial trip the Puritan maintained speed
Of twelve and four-tenths knots, with an In
ten knots an hour the Puritan has steam
ing radius of 641 miles, normal coal sup
ply.
One of Six Monitors.
The construction of the Puritan was be-
gun at the shipbuildng works OF john
Roach, in Chester Pa. 1t was one OF SIX
monitors authorized by Congress, March D.
1885, the other vessels being the Amphl-
trite Miantonomah, Monadnock, Monterey
and Terror. The Puritan was the largest OF
these vessels. She is thirty feet longer
and considerably wider than any Vi ne
vessels in her class, her gross tonnage IS
500 tons greater and she carries larger
battery than that of any of the other YES
sells in the same class. 49,
The Puritan was launched from the
Roach shipbulding yards, but clrcum-
stances made it necessary that the niish-
ing work be done at the New YORK navy
yard.
The new vessel TO be turned over to the
District naval militia is considerably larger
than the single-turreted monitors, the Ar
kansas and Florida, now anchored IN w ASH
ingtCn channel. \ comparison between the
Puritan and the Arkansas will perhaps give
Washing tonians a clearer IDEA OF the Tor
mer's size. The Puritan is about nifty feet
longer than the Arkansas. has ten Feet
greater breadth of beam draws SIX feet
mora water, besides having twice the dis
placement. and has doGble the battery Of
the Arkansas. Tie gross tonnage of the
Puritan is 2,1i4, while that of the Arkansas
and monitors of the single-iurreted class is
1880.
Several times in past years the District
naval militia has applied to the Navy De
partment for other vessels much inferior TO
the Puritan to replace the present training
ship Fern. The applica lions were. however,
without success, for the stated reason that
the department officials did rot have sufil-
Gent confidence in the efficiency Of the DIS
trict naval organize ton. Under the COM
mand of Lieutenant Commander r. b.
Brummett, it is stated the District naval
battalion has had a rapid growth and has
developed greatly in efficiency and num-
berS, naval discipline and exercises being
strictly adhered to, and the assignment of
this important vessel to the battalion at
this time. it is considered is a proper rec
ognition of Lieutenant Commander Brum-
mettS success and aSo mark of conf
dence on the part of the Navy Department
in the future administration of this young
and popular officer
In Satisfactory Condition.
The condition of the District naval bat
talon at present is considered as the most
satisfactory of any period since its or
ganlZanon. The battalion has had varied
experience, but just now, it is believed, 1t
has struck upon the smooth track
The first commanding officer of the
battalion was Robert P. Haines a grad
uate of the Annapolis Naval Academy,
who served over a year and then re-
signed. being succeeded by Lieut.. Com
mandcr SherDourne C. Hopkins. Com
mandor H2fneS was reCOmniSSioned as
commanding officer of the battalion, but
on account of pressing business was oblig-
ed to resign Lieut.. Commander Hopkins
who again succeeded Commander Haines