Length of keel, 187^ feet; over all, 200 feet; breadth of beam, 41 feet 
10 inches; depth of hold, 22 feet 1 inch. And right here we may as 
well state that the Wildwood is not only the finest, but is also the 
largest vessel ever built on this coast. 
The keel consists of two pieces of timber, each 10 inches square, bolt¬ 
ed one above the other, and resting on a shoe 3x18 inches. Upon these 
rest the floor or frame timbers, 14 inches thick and 16 inches deep, bolt¬ 
ed together in pairs, forming one frame, with but two inches space be¬ 
tween frames. Without giving figures, it is only necessary to say that 
the keelson, riders, stanchions, sister keelsons and floor are all substan¬ 
tial and well proportioned. At either end of the ship, in the lower 
hold, are three pairs of pointers, secured by immense knees, in pair of 
which one may count 53 bolts of 1 1-4 inch iron, exclusive of those cov¬ 
ered by the knees. All through the lower hold the bolt-heads are so 
plentiful as to remind one of a vast mosaic pavement, of which they de¬ 
scribe the corners. The depth of the lower hold is 14 feet 1 1-2 inches. 
Between decks the height is 7 feet 8 inches, unobstructed from stem to 
stern. The thinest part of the hull is between decks, and there it is 21 
inches, solid wood. The thickest part, at the bilge, is 32 inches, full. 
All the decks are best quality 3 1-2 inch square timber, laid with great 
care—the grain of the wood being all edge up. The outer covering of 
the vessel is worked on with composition spikes below the water line, 
and with iron above, securely fastened with 11-4 inch seasoned treenails 
and copper butt and bilge bolts. There were used in her construction 
over three tons of composition bolts, and a quarter of a mile of 1 1-4 
inch iron bolts in the dead wood, forward and aft. 
Commencing forward is the top-gallant forecastle, extending 28 feet 
aft, and occupied by cat-heads, 15x17 inches; a pawl-bit, 18x30 inches; 
a patent windlass gear, capstan and windlass-bitts, 8x24 inches. The 
bow-chocks are 15 inches high forward, and terminate in taper near 
fore swifter. A round the foremast are main and main topmast stay-bitts, 
arranged in neat and substantial manner. The ship’s pumps, two in 
number, with brass chambers and iron pipes, are about the mainmast. 
The accommodations for officers and crew are all on the upper deck. 
The cabin is 38 feet long, 25 feet wide at the forward, and 19 feet wide 
at the after end, with three entrances. Aft, on the starboard^side, is 
the captain’s state-room, 8x9 feet, well furnished, and opening forward 
into a saloon, with a state-room on either side. Abaft this saloon are 
store room, wash room, water closet, etc., and a gangway to the poop- 
deck. The main saloon, in the middle of the house is 12x18 feet. It 
has three state-rooms, six feet square on the port side, and two state, 
rooms and pantry on the starboard. Forward of the saloon, and be¬ 
tween the passage leading from the waist, is a state-room around the 
mizzen mast, which passes up through the house. On the starboard and 
port of the entrances are the two state-rooms for the mates. The 
cabin, as will be seen, is convenient and comfortable. The forward 
house is 12x44 feet, containing a forecastle of 18 feet for the men; the 
remainder is divided up into galley, petty officers’ quarters, carpenter’s 
