The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-09-05
Vessel Built For This Dis
trict Is Handsome and
ComrnodiouS.
SHE WILL REPLACE THE LAUREL
IN SERVICE HERE-VESSEL is
COMMANDED BY CAPT. p. l..
coSGRoVE, OF THIS CITY.

The Key West Citizen, of recent
date, contained the following regard
ing the light house tender Hibiscus,
which was constructed for this dis
lrist- and which is commanded by
Capt P. L. CosgrOve, OF this city:
Through the cOurtesy of Chief En-
gineer w W Demerritt, a Citizen
reporter was given a complete de-
scription of the new light house tend
er Hibiscus, which arrived from New
York Friday morning.
The Hibiscus, which was built for
the 9TH Lighthouse District, was de-
signed by Geo w. Warrington, a
naval architect and marine engineer,
who is the constructing engineer OF
the lighthouse service, and was built
by the New York Shipbuilding Co, al
Camden, y. J. Her construction was
superintended by Inspector William
W Demerritt, who is at present
chief engineer of the vessel. Capt.
P. l.. COsgrove, fOTmedly of the LaU-
rel. is the commanding officer of the
ship.
The Hibiscus was constructed with
eight other vessels of like design. but
has proved herself to be superior to
all the others. She sailed into New
York harbor carrying a broom at her
masthead, having made the highest
speed on her trial trip. She also
succeeded in breaking all previous
records for taking on equipments
and supplies in eight days, while the
other ships required from two to three
weeks to equip themselves, which re-
fleets much credit on the ability of
Ene crew.
She had a very successful and IN
eventful Journey south, leaving Sta
ten Island Sunday morning and enter
sng Key West harbOr at G o'clock
Friday morning. The vessel made
an average of 10 knots an hour from
the time she cleared until she reach
ed Key West.
The Hibiscus, which was built at a
cost of $4,000, is a schooner-rigged
steel steamer OF 900 tons dfspIace-
ment She measures 100 feet over all
with 173 feet inches load water
line; has 80 feet beam, IL feet draft;
1915 knots speed, and LOO horse
power
Her machinery consists of two
triple expansion. inverted. direct act
ing engines. driving bronze propeII-
ers. Z feet. inches in diameter. and
is supplied with steam under a pres
sure of 100 pounds to the square inch,
by two Scotch boilers, IL feet, 9
inches in diameter and Il feet long,
which were constructed and connect
ed in accordance with the United
States laws and the rules and regu-
latiOns of the inspectors of steam
vessels. She IS fitted throughout
with all modern appliances. includ-
ing electric lights and a large search
light.
The foremost Is of steel and forms
the mast OF a revolving derrick adopt-
ed fO- hosting a load of twenty
tons She is also equipped with ex-
ira strong cleats and towing bits
and has a Gypsy engine which is used
10 advantage in effecting 4 landing
Another decided Improvement 10 the
old and cumbersome method of rails
ing and lowering the anchor is the
electrically driven air compressor
which Is also used for cleaning
buoys With this machine one
man can do the work OF five men By
the old method
She has a buoy deck nearly fifty
feet long. which Is used for handling
the new acetylene buoys, which are
now being practically tested by the
lighthouse department
All the material used in the con-
structiOn of the new vessel IS OF
American manufacture The main
deck is built of steel with transverse
bulkheads OF steel plates. The upper