Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-20
FIRST STEAM WARSH|P
Vessel Designed by Fulton for
the War of 1912.
DID NOT GO INTO ACTION
Hostilities Ended Before the Marine
Monster Was Ready.
REGARDED AS GREAT SUCCESS
Startling Descriptions Of Her Al
legged Proves Printed Abroad
The Great Western.
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
The first steam man-of-war was designed
by Robert Fulton and was authorized by
Congress March II, 1914. Her keel was laid
June 20, 1914, and she was launched Oc-
tober 20 of the same year. She was calieo
Fulton the First" was 156 feet long, %
feet beam, 20 feet deep, had draught OF IL
feet and a displacement of 2,47o TONS She
cost 100000 and was built in the shipyard
of Adam and Noah Brown in New YORK
city Her engine had a steam cylinder
forty-eight inches in diameter and hve-feet
stroke of piston. She was furnished with
steam by copper boiler % feet long, IL
feet wide and feet high, and turned
wheel between the two hulls 10 rect III
diameter, with buckets" IA feet long
and dip of feet. The sides were feet
10 inches thick, and her spar deck was sur
rounded by musket-proof bulwarks. Inc
armament consisted of thirty 32-pounders'
Intended to discharge red-hot shot Inc
ship fitted with furnaces TO neat tneiii
and some of her guns were to be discharged
below the water line. There was one mast
for each hull fitted with lateen sans. large
pumps were carried, intended to thro"
streams of water on the decks OF tne
enemy. with view to disabling him by wet
ting his ordnance and ammunition. Sup-
arine gun was to have been carried az
each bow, to discharge shot Weighing Ioo
pounds, at depth OF ten leea peio"
water. 80,
The war of 1912 being in progress, this
tremendous engine of destruction was con-
structed in response TO demand lsoii , siis
citizens of New York for means OF harDor
defense. They appointed what was called
a coast and harbor defense committee, and
this committee examined FultOn's plans and
6 l.,
ment to them. The government appointed
a board of experts from among Its most
famous naval officers. including Commodore
Decatur, Captains Paul Jones, Evans ana
Biddle Commodore Perry and Captains
Warrington and j. Lewis They reported
| unanimously in favor of the proposed con-
struction and set forth her advantages over
all previously known forms of war vessel
The citizens offered to guarantee the ex-
pense of building the ship and the con-
struction was undertaken under the super
vision of a committee appointed for the
purpose, consisting of several then DIS
tinguished men, both military and naval
A Foreign Description.
The English were not uniformed as to
these preparations which were making for
them, nor inattentive to their progress 1t
is certain that the steam frigate lost none
of her terrors in the reports or imagina-
lions of the enemy In treatise on steam
assures his readers that he has taken great
care to procure full and accurate informa-
ton, and gives a description of steam
frigate said to have been launched in New
York in the following words: Length of
| deck, 800 feet: breadth. 200 feet; thickness
| of her Sides thirteen feet of alternate oak
plank and cOrkwood; carries forty-four
| guns, four of which are hundred Founders;
| and. further, to annoy an enemy attempt
| ing to board, can discharge 100 gallons OF
boiling water in minute, and by mechan-
| ism brandishes 300 cutlasses with the ut
most regularity over her gunwales; works
also an equal number of heavy iron pixies
of great length, darting them from her
| sides with prodigious force and withdraw
ing them every quarter Of minute!
The following description of the scene of
the launching is given in the newspapers
of the day:
TT happened on one of our bright au-
tumnaI days. Multitudes of spectators
crowded the surrounding shores and were
seen upon the hills which limited the beau
tiful prospect. The river and bay We're
filled with vessels of war dressed in all
their variety of colors, in compliment to
the occasion. In the midst of these was
the enormous floating mass, whose bulk
and unwieldy form seemed to render her
as unfit for motion as the land batteries
that were saluting her. Through the fleet
of vessels which occupied this part OF the
harbor were seen gliding in every direction
large steamboats, of the burden of three
and four hundred tons. These, with bands
of music and crowds of gay and joyous
company were winding through passages
left by anchored vessels ,as If they were
moved by enchantment. The heart could
not have been human that did not share
in the general enthusiasm expressed by the
loud shouts of the multitude. He could
not have been worthy citizen VINO ola
not then say to himself with pride and eX-
ultation, This is my country! and when
he looked on the man whose single gen US
had created the most interesting objects
of the scene This is my countryman!
The First Trip.
On the 4th of July in the same year Full
toms steam f,igate made passage from
Hoboken down the bay to the ocean and
back, and went the distance of fifty-three
miles In eight hours and twenty minutes
by the force of her engine. These trials
suggested the correction of some errors
and the supplying of some defects in the
machinery. In September she made
other passage to the sea, and having at
this time the weight of her whole arma-
ment on board she went at an average of
five and half miles an hour with the
tide. When stemming the tide, which ran
at the rate OF three miles an hour, she
advanced at the rate of two and half
miles an hour.
This performance was not more than
equal to Mr.. Fulton's expectations, but 1t
exceeded what ne had promised the gov
| ernment, which was that she should be
! propelled to steam at the ratH of from
| three to four miles an hour.
A Satisfactory Trial.
The committee. of citizens. Mr.. Samuel L.
Mitchell, Mr. Thomas Morris and Mr. Henry
Rutgers, make a very enthusiastic report
| concerning the wonderful ship and their de-
| scription OF the third trial September
| H. 1914 is as follows:
Suitable arrangements having been
| made third trial of her powers was at
| tempted on the nth day of September with
the weight of twenty-six of her long and
ponderous guns and considerable guam
ill., Of cfo