The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-25

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OF her particular design tcargo
steamers 459 feet long, there will
be 20, the STAG HOUND and two
others TO fly the Grace Line house
flag. All 20 bear names of famed
clipper ships, except the first COM
missioned, which WAS named DON
AID MCKAY in honor of the origi-
nator of American clippers and one
Of the greatest shipbuilders since
Noah.
But the lads of the STAG
HOUND are unhappy. Little
good In their ships venerable
name.
So far they've had to hear her
called swACK HOUND. STAGE
HAND, GRACE HOUND. GREY
HOUND, STACK HUN--and nu-
merous imaginative variations in
the same vein.
They wouldn't mind II 1t were
done in the spirit of fun, but IN
most instances there apparently is
no consciousness of error. A few
of the oldtime windjammer men
feel positively insulted.
Frankly, We were disappointed
in the STAG HOUND. In a good
many respects. she's unhandy-an
unmistakable mark of SNUG east
coast designers.
In other words, she Incorporates
virtually none of the seagoing
wrinkles developed on this coast.
For instance, she'll handle a great
deal of lumber; her matches,
holds, gear and winches are strict
ly for general cargo.
As a matter of fact, Fred Lind
holm, chief mate and son of the
late Capt. Hands-and-Feet Lind
holm, has himself designed deck
arrangement for ships OF the STAG
HOUND type which provides sew
eral times the specialized efficiency
for cargo work, yet detracts moth
ing from her abilities as general
carrier and naval auxiliary. but
then he's a sailor. innocent of eye
shade and sleeve-holders.)
Then, the ship has flat decks
instead of decks properly Gambler
ed. We longed for boots as we
sloshed around In the rainwater
puddled ankle-deep everywhere.
Crew quarters are both good and
bad-further indication of incom-
plete planning. There is space
actually wasted, yet in other in
stances the spaces are insufficient
for the uses intended.
She has a streamlined stack;
good so far as 1t goes, but II has
no horizontal vane and the smoke
slams down onto the after deck
and houses-very messy.
Fire resistant throughout. her
composition interior decks are a
good idea. being non-skid and nom
inflammable. but they are vile color
which looks filthy no matter what
is done.
Little things. certainly, which
come under the heading of sins
of omission and could just as
easily have been eliminated.
But there's no gainsaying the
STAG HOUNDS turn of speed.
Her clean hull lines and long,
easy run aft make for knots. She
does between 10 and IL full laden
Nobody knows what her maximum
speed is; the navy has a governor
on her turbines, and the STAG
HOUNDS capacity speed is an
official military secret.
However. judging from her Off
GERS reports of her maneuvering
abilities and behavior under way
1t is suspected there are potentially
at least 10 knots more.
BY the same token, the STAG
HOUND is weatherly and there
fore handy in a seaway. She's a
flush-decker.
Like any new vessel. she's fun
Of bugs" meaning her crew is
still In the process Of getting &C
quainted with her idiosyncrasies,
her patchwork has that skinny.
dingy look; the mate is still trying
to discover a way to either empty
or fill her storm-oil tanks. Those
things just take time.
But II you'd care to start a
fight. you might drop around and
inquire II she's the new cattle boat
running to South America (Shen
have four blue-ribboned. prize cows
aboard when she leaves here.
Among other thingsl
Silver Lining Dept.
We apologize for being so tardy.
but il way last week the seascout
ship ALBATRosS acquired a new
home.
Chauncey Lingerman. local ter
minal impresario who manages
Baker Dock and most recently
EKToksNEkT IS
| THE BETTER WA. I