The Steam Ram “Dunderberg.”
Patriarch Noah, aided by superior wisdom, although a novice at the trade of ship building, constructed as his first attempt a masterpiece that in the magnitude of its proportions has never yet been excelled. Admirably adapted to the purpose for which it was designed, it would hardly be accepted now by our modern ship-wrights, as furnishing a model when speed is required. Yet, as we looked upon the Dunderberg, lying idly at her dock, with no other similitude could we so well compare her, as with the juvenile “Noah’s Arks” of our toy shops. Of the exterior appearance or dimensions of this vessel it is needless to repeat here the general description which has already appeared in our columns, but some of the minor details then omitted, a note of the changes made since launching, and a general survey of her internal arrangements, may interest the reader as they interested us during a late visit. The “thunder mountain” now awaits the reception of her ordnance, at the ship yard of her builders, the Messrs. Webb, at the foot of Sixth street, East River. Entering through a porthole, we come at once upon the main deck within the casement quarters. Descending into the depths we reach the boiler room, a gallery seventy-three feet in length. Here, arranged on either side, are the six main boilers, and the two, but little inferior in size, belonging to the donkey engines. The fire-grates, numbering sixty-four in all, are built in a double bank. Three large ventilators opening on the upper deck, serve the double purpose of supplying air, and also of furnishing a passage-way for discharging the ashes. The coal bunkers, stationed between the boilers and sides of the vessel, have a total capacity of from twelve to fifteen hundred tons. Forward of the boiler room, is placed the condenser, containing twelve thousand feet of copper tubing. The cylinders are one hundred inches diameter, with a forty-five-inch stroke; the engines are of six thousand horse-power, designed by E. W. Smith, A. P. D., and built by Messrs. John Roach & Son, at the Etna Iron Works. Returning to the main deck, we re-enter the casemate or fighting deck, the scene of action in future encounters. The sides are pierced with twenty-two ports, and preparations are being made for immediately placing in position six fifteen-inch guns, each weighing with its carriage twenty-six tons. The captain of such a vessel is a privileged character; his attributes are king-like, his word reigns supreme over six hundred subjects; hence his apartments, located on this deck, are fitted up with princely magnificence. With less of display, still handsomely furnished, well lighted and ventilated, is the officers' ward-room, aft, directly below the bomb-proof of the main deck. The ship’s company numbering so many, it may well be supposed that the preparation of food is no small undertaking, and the facilities must be on a corresponding scale. With the immense range which we noticed on this deck, designed by the late Rear Admiral Gregory, it is expected that this demand may be met and easily supplied. Outside the casemate, the extension of the main deck to the bow and stern is heavily plated so as to form a perfect bomb-proof. The rudder and propeller are protected by the extension of the sides and deck of the vessel, which completely encloses them, with the exception of several grated openings which serve as safety valves in allowing the shock from heavy seas, to escape. The sky-lights on this deck for the officers’ ward-room below, the interior of the smoke pipe, and all other necessary openings, are protected by bomb-proof gratings of heavy bars, placed across some two inches apart. The immense telescopic smoke pipe is built in two sections, the upper one of which may be lowered previous to an engagement, but even then stands nearly fifteen feet above the spar deck. The small boats belonging to the ram are six, launches, barges and gigs. The former are small ships in themselves, capable of holding from eighty to one hundred men, together with a small howitzer each. The fighting-wheel house on this deck stands seven feet high, and of a size sufficient to accommodate four or five men. Heavily plated, it has a number of narrow horizontal slits through which observations are to be taken during action. The wheel in use ordinarily, is aft upon the same deck; in heavy weather, an auxiliary wheel on the main deck is employed, and still again, if any emergency should arise, the tiller may be resorted to. We have thus hastily and with no attempt at minuteness, referred to some of the features of this vessel, which through the kindness of Mr. Mackenzie were pointed out to us. Her trial trip may at some future time furnish material for a more extended and accurate notice.—Scientific American.