THE CRADT.E OF THE MODERN NAVY. 3 



at the Phoenix Foundry were the first iron boats built in this country. When 

 they were launched, large crowds gathered at the dock to see them sink and went 

 away wondering why they floated. Thus early in its career did this plant become 

 a pioneer in initiating advance in engineering practice, and especially in the marine 

 field, in which it subsequently held a dominant position. 



Ericsson was not idle in obtaining orders on his own account. He soon secured 

 other work and arranged with the Phoenix Foundry to construct it. He built two 

 steam propellers, one the Vandalia, which ran between Oswego and Chicago, and 

 this was followed by the Clarion, which plied between New York and Havana. 

 These were respectively the first lake and ocean steamers fitted with the Ericsson 

 propeller. Others followed fast, and before 1840 was over fifty propeller steamers 

 had been constructed and were plying our rivers and lakes and in the coastwise 

 service. 



In 1842 Stockton secured the order for the iron frigate which he arranged to 

 be named the Princeton after his birthplace, and he commissioned Ericsson to do the 

 engineering work of designing the engines and hull. 



Ericsson at once placed the order for the engines and propellers of the Prince- 

 ton with the Phoenix Foundry and the hull was constructed at the navy yard in 

 Philadelphia. This was the first iron steamboat built in this country and, with 

 its propeller wheels and engines wholly below the water line, presented a design 

 which was at once adopted by this and all other countries for naval vessels of the 

 future. In this beginning, which was later followed by further advances just as 

 radical, these works should easily lay claim to being "the cradle of the modern 

 navy." 



The Princeton, so far as every detail of construction by Ericsson was con- 

 cerned, was an absolute success. One of the saddest occurrences, however, in the 

 history of the U. S. Navy happened on one of her trial trips, February 28, 1844. 

 Ericsson had constructed in England, and brought with him to this country, a 12- 

 inch wrought iron gun of his own design with the butt reinforced with heavy 

 wrought iron bands shrunk on. This gun had been subjected to the severest tests 

 and to-day is in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, a monument to the knowledge of the sci- 

 ence of ordnance engineering possessed by Ericsson. The ball of this gun weighed 

 216 pounds and with 30 pounds charge of powder was thrown 3 miles. Stockton 

 planned a gun along certain lines which Ericsson would not approve, and the two, 

 called respectively Oregon and Peacemaker, were placed on the Princeton. The lat- 

 ter's trials on the Potomac were scenes of great rejoicing. On one of these, the 

 cabinet of President John Ouincy Adams, both Houses of Congress and many dis- 

 tinguished guests were on board. The guns were repeatedly fired. Just at dusk a 

 call was made for one more discharge, but the admiral commanding declined to or- 

 der it. Appeal was made to the Secretary of the Navy. His assent was considered 

 an order and the Peacemaker was fired. The gun burst, killing two members of the 

 cabinet, Secretary of State Upshur and Secretary of the Navy Gilmer, Senator Vir- 

 gil Maxey, Capt. Beverly Kennon, Col. David Gardiner of Gardiner's Island, and a 



