The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-27
NIXON BUILDS TORPEDO BOATS
MAYBE THEY'RE FOR RUSSIA,
BUT HE WON'T. TELL.

At Least Ten Under Way At Perth AmbOy
and Many More to Follow-"Highs Speed
Launches" the superintendent Calls
ELIZABETH, N. j., Sept. 2e.-When Lewis
Nixon returned from Europe about two
months ago it was persistently rumored
that he brought home with him contracts
for the construction OF fleet OF torpedo
boats for the Russian Government. Mr..
Nixon always refused to confirm this re-
port.
On his return he assumed control OF
the shipyard at Perth Amboy formerly
run by the Ramseys as the Perth Amboy
Shipbuiding Company. He had been in
control Of the Crescent shipyards here up
till almost a year ago, when the troubles
of the United States Shipbuilding Com
pany caused the local concern to be shut
down by Receiver James Smith, DR., and
Mr.. Nixon was for time apparently out OF
the shipbuilding business
The Perth Amboy Shipbuilding Com
pany has also been shut down for about
twelve months but the plant was reopened
and began to thrill with activity as soon
as Mr. Nixon got back, He took personal
charge Of the plant and is there almost
daily now.
At Perth Amboy this afternoon a Sun
reporter failed to get statement from
any one in authority that Mr. Nixon had con-
tracts from the Russian Government, but
he saw there tangible evidence that he
was building torpedo boats for somebody.
Besides the sohoolship Young America
and the keels of two tugboats, there are
on the ways almost as many torpedo boats
as the yards can accommodate.
Ten were counted and there may be more.
In the blacksmith shops the workmen are
turning out SIX eletons of more torpedo
boats as fast as they can forge their iron
ribs.
The boats on the ways are OF pattern
similar to the O'Brien and the Nicholson,
which were built here. They are about
| 10 or 80 feet long.
Although any one who makes a particular
| effort to do 80 can see these boats from the
| street, care is taken to prevent stranger
from entering the yards unless he possesses
a pass. The gates entering to both the
| wards and the Offices are guarded by a
| Waterman.
Mr.. Nixon was not at the shipyards this
afternoon, but the superintendent in charge
| Of the offices came down to the gate. When
asked what was the cause Of the sudden
revival in the shipbuilding industry in
Perth Amboy, he replied that they had
| contracts to build large number Of high
| speed launches"
| Whom are these launches for?"
Il don't know" was the reply. but
guess the boss is going to sell them 10 some
body or he wouldn't be building them"
Haven't you contract to build torpedo
boats for the Russian 0overnnentf"
@You'n have to ses Mr.. Nixnns for any
information you want
It was called to his attention that the
O'Brien and Nicholson and to all appear.
again referred to Nixon.
Some of the mechanics in the shipyardf
were asked about the boats when they
quit work this evening. They said they
were building torpedo boats and didn't
take kindly to the suggestion that perhaps
they were building high speed launches.
They thought they knew what a torpedo
boat was Any one who has ever seen 6
torpedo boat will say at once that that i,
the type OF vessel on the ways at Nixon's
The men said they understood they hac
to turn out frames for at least sixty Of thest
boats and perhaps one hundred. We're
going to build about mile Of them, the
foreman says, is the way one man put 1t.
In few weeks one OF the boats will be
launched. These boats can be taken apar
and shipped in sections, the men said
Mr.. Nixon was found at his home in this
city last evening and asked about thu
torpedo boats. He refused to discuss
the boats or where they were to be sem
when finished. "You can suit yourself
| about the place they're going to- he said