Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-11-02

fcarfully; the squalls Of hail and rain
were violent" When morning came. the
wind moderated, with heavy rain and
dense fog. At $50 p. m. the fog sud-
denly lifted and the duartermaster OH
lookout reported a large vessel without
sails and her mizzentopmast gone. TIL
excitement was intense as the ships drew
nearer. The strange vessel was seen to
he identical with the ship reported by
the brigantine, except the smokestack.
AT fve O'Clock all doubt was removed.
The search wal ended. the Vermont vas
cheers by oil hands.
Captain Ringgold In his graphic rcpcS
TO the department says:
w were prepared to find the ship in
n desperate condition and probably aban-
doned; when fret discovered, she was
heading s. f. without a sail set or any
signs of life; our colors were displayed
long before we received a response. The
ship was nj the mercy OF the winds and
waves. and when, in the obscurity of
the atmosphere. a flag Of some sort be-
came visible (whethcr Union up or down
could not be determined) and signs of
life on board were evident, language could
hut feebly describe the emotions that
filled our hearts. In her discovery, all
hands forgot the storms encountered dur
ing the anxious search.
THE strong wind ana the agitated state
Of the sea forbade all intercourse by
means ~ boats. and I could only carry
the assurance that VIC would stand by
him and ut tho earliest moment supply
all his wants, As the Sabine passed close
under the stern. her shattered look and
lost rudder too plainly exposed the raw
ages of tho storm she had experienced. =
The noyt morning the Sabine supplied
the Vermont with sails and stores. n
iiry-rudder was shipped. and with n fair
wind Captain Baldwin proceeded to Port
Royal. whore the Vermont arrived on
April the 18th, under her own sails.
with This experience. active service of
the Vermont may be said to have ended.
She remained as n receiving ship at Port
Royal until the close Of the war, when
she was towod to the New York navy
yard. where she was employed in like
manner for many years. In 1901, she
was sold and broken up. Few ships were
better known to the general public, than
the "old Vermont" and although with
out tho scars of battle. her long service
entities her to the respect she has al
ways inspired.
on August Fl. 1nn5. at the yards Of tho
Fore River ShiphuildinC Co. at Quincy.
Mass. was launched a new Vermont. -
ono of tho largest and most nowerful
hattlcshins of the navy-of 1890 tons bur
den. $40 has a length Of No feet and a
breadth of u 1870 feet. Her guaranteed
srccd is Is knots.
She is protected at tho water-line nv
nm armor holt . feet 3 inches wide. hav-
ing a maximum thickness Of II nchce
for about 90 feet amidships. which grad
ually decreases to I inches AT tho stem
and stern. The main battery will consist
of four Pinch rifles. two forward and
two nft; eight S-inch, and twelve finch
breoCh-loading rifles. The Vermont was
designed as n fag-ship. and has
dations for nearly eight hundred officers
and mon.
This splendid ship, the latest design OF
naval architecture. is n worthy successor
Of the old -. Lot rs hope that hcr
career may he moro %renuou and active