Year: 1873

The Alarm Put Anoat at the Brooklyn


Navy Yard-Distinguishcd Spectators.


Shortly after three O'Clock yesterday new tor
pedo boat, constructed from designs by Admiral
David D. Porter, was Launched at the Brooklyn Navy
Yard. Although actual christening took place, 1t
is understood that the vessel will be known as the
Alarm. Admiral Porter, who came on from Wash
ington to witness the launch, was accompanied by
Captain Jones, OF the English Navy. The latter
gentleman Is attached TO the British Legation at
Washington, and has been specially detailed to
examine into all improvements that may be made
in the Navy Yards OF the United States
and applied to American war vessels for the
benefit OF his government. And perhaps 1t may
be as well to call attention to the fact that while
the American government has scarcely one o1icer
abroad watching the progress in European navies,
England and other countries keep their best naval
officers here and elsewhere to find out and report
every improvement applied to naval vessels or the
United States as fast as they are made. Among
those present at the launch yesterday was Admiral
Boggs together with number OF other officers
including Chief Naval Constructor Hanscom. The
Alarm Is constructed entirely OF iron with double
decks and watertight compartments. She is 10
feet long,, 2s ieet beam and II feet deep. The
draught OF the vessel is feet forward and feet
aft Her actual capacity in tonnage will be 450
tons. The upper deck will be covered with steel
plates with wooden deck above that; The en-
connected with patent propeller, which, in addi-
tion to driving the vessel, has also the Office OF
steering her. A rudder, however, will be lifted in
case OF accident to this apparatus. The boilers
will be four III number, and are calculated Tor
pressure OF about eighty pounds of steam. There
Will be no ''starting,n "stoppngn or "backing,n
all this duty IS performed by the steering appa-
ratus IN the hands OF the pilot. The armament
will consist of one gun in the bow OF the vessel,
but IL has not vet been decided whether it VIII be
a twelve-nch rife or an ordinary ffteen-lnch gun.


She is altogether a curious looking craft The
bow extends out below the water about thirty
ieet from which still iurtner projects torpedo
spar, which will be worked in and out by appr0-
pirate machinery. There will also be two other
torpedo spars extending from each side, which will
be olked in the same way. may be mentioned
that the forward part OF the vessel is encased In
wood with thick armor plates. There will be no
masts or sails for the vessel What is considered
important feature is the fact that she is fitted
vessel SO that in case OF accident or injury the
remainder OF the vessel will float. As
soon as her machinery is completed she
will be taken to the Washington Navy Yard and
fitted with her torpedo apparatus aud kept in
readiness for any emergency tnat may arise. A
vessel similar III dimensions Is at present in course
OF construction at the Boston Navy Yard which,
however, Is to be operated by duplex screw
worked by the ordinary machinery. 1t will take
about three months to complete the two vessels.
Ii Is said that the Alarm Will possess facilities OF
handling by means OF her propeller such as no
vessel has hitherto had She has been constructed
entirely from designs by Admiral Porter, and
whatever credit may attach to her belongs solely
to the officer under whose auspices she has been
constructed.