Evening journal., 1916-08-11
SHIP Delaware
Was PRIDE OF NAVY
Two Boats Named After
This State Were Largest
in U. S. Fleet
)NE BUILT NEARLY
100 YEARS AGO
ypecial to THE EVENING JOURNAL !

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL
NEWARK, Aug. lion two occa-
sions within the past century Della
ware has had the distinction Of hav-
Ing named after the State, the largest
lighting boat in the United States
Navy at that time. Six or seven years
ago when the present battleship Della
ware was finished and anchored for a
time in fhe Delaware river, opposite
Wilmington when thousands Of Della
Wareans visited and inspected the
mammoth boat. she was the largest
battleship in the navy, although larger
boats have been built since then.
Eighty-three years ago there was
another Delaware that was the larg-
est ship in the United States Navy at
that time This was the ship of the
line Delaware. She was looked on as
a mammoth boat at that time and the
last word in lighting efficiency al
though her length was only a little
more than 200 feet. The comparison
between the present battleship Della
ware. and the old ship of the line
Delaware, would be something like
comparing the ordinary excursion
boat with one Of the large ocean lin
ers, yet she was the pride Of the navy
in 1888
Eighty-three years ago this month
the Delaware was in the New YorH
harbor waiting to take MIR. Livingston
the new minister TO France, to thai
country She was the largest boa
that had ever fioated in the Hudson
up until that time and attracted muci
comment throughout the States. Tit
issue Of the Delaware Gazette ant
American Waterman Of August Id
1888. published in Wilmington, beinI
one of the old newspapers found b.
Dean f. Laurence Smith Of Delawar
College. nailed inside Of the colonia
columns removed last week from Il
front Of the college dormitory huild
ing. contains the following article o.
the ship of the line Delaware, whicl
was reprinted from the New Nor
Standard
There are now lying in the Mort
River of the battery. United State
ship Of the line Delaware, the sloop
war ST. Louis and the revenue cu'
.er Alert: three beautiful models
the several classes TO which they be
long. The Delaware is the large'
vessel that has ever foated in tn
Hudson as she measures about 2,1l
tons. Her extreme length is 2lO fe'
and the breadth of beam is 50 feet; 81
mounts ninety-two guns and is pier
ed for 104. Her guns are distribute
in the following manner: Lower ri
deck. thirty-two 42's; upper gun dec
shirty-two long 36's; spar dec
.wenty-eight, 42-pound cannonade
when all shotted they contain 3.6
pounds of iron or about one and thre
quarter tons. so that her broadsid
delivered 1886 pounds. She is n
launt rugged and has not the raki'
appearance Of the ST. Louis, but h
oficers describe her as fast sail
md pleasant sea boat. We were ]
,ormed by one of them that on b
passage from Norfolk to this port 81
was put about under treble reefed to
sails without even getting stern boa
On her. Some years ago the once
If the old Constitution used to boa
Of the gallant behaviour Of that sh
in going about under double reef
topsalls. The ships that do this mu
work well and be we'll handled.
ION the spar deck is the captain
cabin, neatly, but plainly furnishe
On the upper gun deck are the apaT
ments for the wardroom officers, al
astern of them those for Mr.. Living
ton. the Minister to France and b
suite. On the lower gun deck is q
ness room for the surgeons, mat
and passed midshipmen; below II
Is the cockpit. the younger midshl
men sling their hammocks--th
keeping apart the grave part who
on the eve Of promotion, and the SIX
larking youngster who has scarce
been out bantam day The comp
ment of seamen and marines will
about 900. They are divided IN
messes Of sixteen each and seem
have every comfort provided for the
There are about seventy-fve othc'
and petty officers so that with
passengers. there are about l.
souls on board.
This is not the time to see sucf
vessel to advantage; the hustle nee
sarv attendant on the preparati'
previous to sailing keep both offc
and men constantly on duty. and
decks must in consequence be croN
ed most part Of the time with pre-
sions and stores, not TO speak OF
awkwardness of crew just ship