Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1914-09-24
STEAM NAVY NOW
IS LITTLE OVER
100 YEARS OLD
Strange Craft Which Was Fore
runner of Dreadnaught.
FULToE's ORIGINAL WARsHIP
Vessel With Twin Hulls and One Pad
die Wheel Made Four Miles an
Hour In Fair Weather.
Ro.ted In Navy Yard.

Philadelphia little more
than one hundred years ago the steam
navy OF the United States had its ma
terial beginning. On that day, June
20, 1914, for the same reason, the
steam navies OF the entire world had
their origin. Such is our debt to the
mechanical genius of Robert Fulton,
who planned and built the epoch'mak-
ing craft, the Demologos, q writer In
the Philadelphia Inquirer says.
or course, as all OF us know, steam
navigation was not novelty in 1914.
but the vessels so propelled were craft
OF peace and limited their routes to
the protected waters OF rivers. Full
tons Demologos was designed to with
stand the heaviest blows that the big
gest fighting ship afloat could bring to
bear, and, at the same time, the craft
was TO navigate the open sea without
drawing her motive power from the
free winds of the heavens. Remember,
we were then in the throes Of our
war with England, and II was Fulton's
desire to build a ship that would be
able 10 make our harbors unassail'
able while having the power to destroy
whole squadrons OF the foe. Rather an
ambitious scheme. no doubt, but some
thing that might have been proved en-
tirely practicable had the .Demologos
ever had chance to measure her
forces against those OF the foe.
FuItOn's Floating Battery.
Toward the close OF 1913 Fulton laid
before the president Of the United
States plans for a war steamer or
floating battery. Strange to say, know.
ing how inventors are commonly treat.
ed today, his extraordinary project was
favorably received, and in March Of
the year following congress authorized
the building and equipping of 'one or
more floating batteries for The defense
Of the waters OF the United States"
The Demologos, or. as she was after
ward officially known, the Fulton, was
begun on the Goth Of June, 1914, BY
of Adam & Noah Brown in the city OF
New York. The craft had two keels
because she really was given two bulls.
Fulton used a single paddle wheel and
he wanted to place this vital part Of
his propulsive mechanism where II
could not be reached by an enemy's
cannon balls.
Notwithstanding many difficulties
due to the existing war with Great
Britain. the Fulton was launched on
the Goth OF October, 1914, and the oc.
casion was one Of national rejoicing
and much local ceremony. To the aver
age eye the body of the craft appeared
bulky and unwieldy, but no less an
authority than Capt. David Porter said:
Il would not alter her II 1t we're in my
power 70 do So"
The Biggest Steamer Then Afoat.
The Fulton had length OF $50 feet,
a breadth OF Sc feet and a tonnage of
a.l15, and at that time was hundreds
OF tons bigger than the largest steamer
Of the day ahoat Difficulty was ex-
perienced in obtaining suitable guns
for her armament. A gcodly number
of her cannon came from Philadelphia,
and in order to escape possible cap
ture by British ships 20 OF these weap-
ons were transported overland upon
the miry roads Of New Jersey. They
we're dragged by horsec.
Unfortunately, Fulton's untimely
death on the oath Of February. 1915,
prevented him from seeing the com
pletion Of the ship, and, too. his de-
mise likewise delayed her finishing.
However, her engines were made
ready By the last Of June and By q
happy coincidence she was taken out