Launch of the Steel Ship Algonquin

The big steel ship, Algonquin, built on the Clyde, near Glasgow, Scotland, by Nepier, Shenks & Bell, for Thomas Marks, & Co. of Port Arthur, Ontario, which was brought here in two sections, in the early part of the present month, and taken upon the St. Lawrence Marine Railway to be reunited, was most successfully launched into her proper element at 2:45 p.m. Friday, June 29th. A large number of people of this city were present to witness the event.

It was intimated in Thursday's Journal that the launch was liable to take place that day, and a large crowd gathered to see it; but everything was not completed till 2:45 Friday. The Minister of Marine of the Dominion government, and other Ottawa officials, were present to look over the ship and see what had been done in the work on here here. When everything was ready for the launch, falls and tackles wee made fast at either side of the carriage, at the upper end, to hold her while the chain was being cast off at the bow of the carriage.

This was successfully accomplished, and at 2:45 the ropes wee cut, and the carriage bearing the great ship began to descend on he railway. At first the movement was scarcely discernible, but the motion rapidly increased, and soon the Algonquin was flying trout space, to kiss the green waters of the Great Lakes, which, it is hoped, she will long continue to navigate.

When it was discovered that she was on the move the spectators began to cheer. Ladies waved their handkerchiefs and parasols; the men in the yard swung their hats, and Mr. Marks, her senior owner, chased her down the line, cheering with exultant pride and satisfaction. Quicker than it takes to read the lines of this paragraph, she had reached the water, and was swimming like a duck in her natural element. As soon as the carriage went into the river the broad blocking which sustained the ship, caught the water and retarded her motion. She was soon snubbed and turned around to the northern dock, and moored with her bow pointing out into the stream.

The work of bringing this large steamer from Montreal, where she was cut in two, to this city, taking the sections out upon the railway, reuniting them so perfectly that she bears the appearance of not ever having been separated, and then launching her so successfully, has been an achievement that reflects credit upon all who have had a hand in its accomplishment.

The Algonquin is the largest vessel that has ever been taken out "slick and clean" upon the railway here. Some doubted the power of the works to take her out, but Arthur Woods, the superintendent, had the grand confidence that he could do the job and Mr. Marks had faith to have the trial made. The launch, Friday, justifies the faith of her owner and the skill and ability of Mr. Woods to manage a great marine job. The success shows that the the St. Lawrence marine railway has the power to take out and repair any of the great vessels which now navigate the lakes.

In connection the following taken from a letter to the Utica Herald, of June 10th, written by G.M. Kelsey, its Ogdensburg correspondent, in relation to the steamer will be of interest:

The building of the Algonquin was commenced in the latter part of November, 1887, and completed April 15th, 1888. Freighted with general cargo, the Algonquin left Glasgow April 19 for Montreal, at which port she arrived all right about May 11. She was built with two bulk heads, running at right angles to her keel across the ship, one being 86 feet from her bow and the other one only a few feet further toward her stern. Her entire length is 253 feet.

At Montreal the rivets fastening the steel places were cut between the bulk-heads, and the steamer was taken asunder, the steel plates forming her sides inter lapping variously from 10 to 12 feet, so that when she was severed two ragged ends of projecting plates were presented, which give a leverage in putting her together again in all her original strength. The two sections were towed by six tugs, the rear portion being placed stern forward and they were six days in coming through the system of canals upon the lower St. Lawrence, and up to the marine railway to Ogdensburg, where the bow section arrived on the evening of the 6th, and the other section the next day.

The steamer was cut in to to allow her to pass through the St. Lawrence canals. New rivets were made to take the place of those the were cut when the vessel was taken asunder. The bow section was taken out of the water upon the marine railway first, and then shored up to allow the carriage to pass back into the water, when the rear section was brought up, which being much the heavier, was allowed to remain stationary, and the other, being lighter, was adjusted to the bow section by means of a screw and by hydraulic jacks.

When in position it was ready for the insertion of the new rivets, with are being placed in the holes from which the other ones were cut, and when the work is complete no one can tell, from the external appearance, that the steamer was ever cut asunder. Mr. Marks expects the work of putting her together will be finished in 15 days when she will be ready to start for the lakes.

She will run this season between Kingston and Port Arthur or Duluth. The entire cost of the Algonquin will be about $127,000. Sh is a freight boat, but her cabins are more elegantly fitted up than any freight boats upon the lakes. Additional strength is given to the steel plated sides of the Algonquin from the peculiar plan of her cabin and officers' quarters, with plan was designed by Mr. Kirby, of Detroit, one of the best marine architects along the line of the lakes. Her engine is one of the most improved Scotch pattern, and is stronger and more powerful than any over easel of her capacity upon the lakes. It is a triple compound engine and indicates 1,350 horsepower.

The Algonquin had a cargo from Glasgow to Montreal of 2,100 tons, besides her fuel of 350 tons of coal; and the two sections had 350 tons of Scotch pig iron for ballast when they reached the marine railway. Her total length is 253 feet and her draft of water, when fully laden, is 19 feet, with ballast 8 1/2 feet. She is foreign bottom and British registered, coming into Canada free, with the right to ply on the lakes with all the privileges of a Canadian vessel.

She has the right to take cargo for export from any port in the United States to any point along the line of the marine highway; as, for instance, from Kingston to Montreal or Quebec. An ordinary foreign bottom, enjoying the same privileges, would have to pay 10 per cent, on her hull and 25 per cent, on her machinery.

The Algonquin is the largest vessel ever brought through the St. Lawrence canals. This splendid new steamer is a rarity in this section, and the only vessel of the kind that was ever taken out of the water upon the marine railway here. Her massive steel hull, complicated and beautiful machinery and elegantly finished and furnished cabins, render her a curiosity, and crowds of people throng the ship yard to take a look at her.

Under the supervision of Superintendent Arthur Woods and his corps of workmen, the work at the marine railway, including the new steel steamer, is progressing smoothly, as usual.