HMCo #190p Morris

"[1896-08-07] Fri 7: ... Hon. H. H. Herbert here, Sec'y of Navy [who on June 18, 1896 had asked for bids for 30-knot torpedo boats (#189601ep Unbuilt 30-Knot Torpedo Boat), 22 1/2-knot torpedo boats (which would become #190p Morris) and 20-knot torpedo boats (which would become #191p Talbot and #192p Gwin)], and Capt. Sampson in Cushing [#152p].
[1896-08-18] Tue 18: Very fine. L[igh]t NW [wind in] a.m. Strong SW [wind in] p.m. with NW squall at 5. Made experiments in towing models [for #189601ep Unbuilt 30kn Torpedo Boat as per George Coverse notes in collection of DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University Collection, Box 1, Folder 10 as well as probably what eventually became #190p Morris, #191p Talbot and #192p Gwin].
[1896-09-16] Wed 16: Finished drawings & bids for torpedo boats [which will soon result in contracts for #190p Morris, #191p Talbot, #192p Gwin]. ...
[1896-09-18] Fri 18: Bids opened at Washington for torpedo boats. Ours are nearly all successful [and will soon result in contracts for #190p Morris, #191p Talbot, #192p Gwin]. Finished tubing 2 boilers for No 6 [#184p Porter].
[1896-10-06] Tue 6: We are awarded to build for US Navy two 100' & one 140' torpedo boats [#190p Morris, #191p Talbot, #192p Gwin].
[1898-05-13] Fri 13: ... Morris [#190p] here. ...
[1898-05-20] Fri 20: ... Morris [#190p] here.
[1898-05-23] Mon 23: ... Morris [#190p] left for Newport.
[1899-01-11] Wed 11: ... Launched Morris [#190p] from n[orth] shop & lost some of lead from cradle into dock.
[1899-01-12] Thu 12: ... Took Morris [#190p] to Walkers Cove Pier & moored. ...
[1899-03-09] Thu 9: ... Torpedo boats Dupont [#185p] & Morris [#190p] left the cove and steamed to Newport.
[1899-04-11] Tue 11: ... Capt. (?) here in afternoon in Morris [#190p]. ...
[1901-04-27] Sat 27: ... St[eame]r M. Morris [#190p] arrived. ...
[1905-03-06] Mon 6: 25deg. in AM. ... [Torpedo boat] Morris [#190p, built in 1896] here from torpedo station. ..." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1896 to 1905. Manuscript (excerpts). Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection [1896-1898]. Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff [1899-1905].)

"St[eame]r 190.
Oct[ober] 1896.
140ft Torpedo Boat for U.S.N. no. 14.
Frame sapces 16 1/2".
Plating length generally 9 frame spaces.
Deduct for thickness of plating 5/32".
Coordinates for seams is for centre of lap or line of rivets.
Beam mold 8" in 15'-6".
45ft radius." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. [Penciled note in Offset Booklet HH.4.028.] Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

"In 1896 the Herreshoffs built the 'Morris,' U.S.N.T.B. No. 14 as well as the 'Gwin' and 'Talbot,' U.S.N.T.B. No. 15 and No. 16. 'Morris' was one hundred forty feet long and the sister ships 'Gwin' and 'Talbot' one hundred feet long." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. The Wizard of Bristol. The Life and Achievements of Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, together with An Account of Some of the Yachts he Designed. New York, 1953, p. 193.)

"Secretary Herbert Tuesday awarded the contract for building the smaller torpedo boats. Herreshoff of Bristol, gets one 22 1-2 knot boat [#190p Morris] and two 20 knot boats [#191p Talbot and #192p Gwin]; Wolf & Zwicker of Portland, Ore., get two 22 1-2 knot boats, the Columbian Iron Works of Baltimore, Md, get one 20 knot boat, and the Hillman Shipbuilding Company of Philadelphia get the remaining 20 knot boat." (Source: Anon. "News and Notes of Local Interest." Bristol Phoenix, October 9, 1896, p. 2.)

"... The work on No 14 [#190p Morris], which is in the south shop, is progressing as fast as possible, and considerable of the plating is on. This torpedo boat is larger than the Nos. 15 [#191p Talbot] and 16 [#192p Gwin], and her contract speed is twenty-two and a half knots. She will be about 138 feet on the water line and will have two Du Temple boilers." (Source: Anon. "Concerning the New Torpedo Boats." Bristol Phoenix, January 11, 1898, p. 2.)

"... The engines for No. 14 [#190p Morris] were put on board at the boat works yesterday and the work of finishing the boat is being hurried as fast as possible." (Source: Anon. "News and Notes of Local Interest." Bristol Phoenix, March 11, 1898, p. 2.)

"PROVIDENCE, March 30 [1898] --- The Herreshoffs are still working night and day on the third of the small torpedo boats which they contracted for last summer, the craft is known as the Morris, and it will be better than a 22 1/2 knotter." (Source: Anon. "Rushing Night And Day. Work On The Morris, The Third Of The Small Torpedo Boats." Boston Globe, March 31, 1898, p. 2.)

"Government Has Asked the Herreshoffs to Have the New Torpedo Boat Ready in a Week.
PROVIDENCE, April 6 [1898] --- The government has requested the Herreshoffs to have the new torpedo boat Morris ready in a week.
In order that the Bristol firm may push the finishing touches as much as possible, material for her is being sent from government stations and from the Brooklyn navy yard.
The three hotchkiss rapid-fire guns for the Morris are all ready. The craft will the equipped in an unusual degree for a 22-knotter. One hotchkiss will be on top of the turtle back forward, one will be placed in position amidships just forward of the smokestacks, and the third is being set up in place at the after end. In addition to these guns there will be three torpedo tubes. The Gwin and Talbot have only two of these.
The carpenters at the boat shops where the Morris is being constructed began working extra hours last night, finishing the bulkheads, wooden partitions and other parts. The metal workers have been working overtime on the boat for the past few weeks. The steel deck has been covered with linoleum firmly glued down. This is a new device. The Herreshoffs are quite certain they can meet the urgent demand of the government, and give the Morris a trial inside of a week." (Source: Anon. "Rushing Work On The Morris." Boston Globe, April 7, 1898, p. 4.)

"Crowd Gathered to Witness the Event, Cheered the Boat, the Builders and Old Glory in Turn.
PROVIDENCE, R. I. April 13 [1898] --- The launching of the torpedo boat Morris took place at Bristol this afternoon. A big crowd gathered on the wharves surrounding the Herreshoff shops to witness the event, and when the trim-looking vessel of war with its hotchkiss gun carriages swung out into the blue of the Bristol bay everyone cheered the boat, the builders and the old flag in turn. Someone called for 'The Star Spangled Banner' and it was sung by about 25 voices. After a little more war paint is put on and the rapid-fire guns are mounted the boat will be ready for war.
In less than one hour after the launching the Morris had steam in her boilers, and her propeller was churning black mud up from the bottom of the slip at the torpedo boat builders' dock.
On Friday the naval board will have a test, and before the end of the week the Morris will be close on the heels of the Talbot and Gwin, bound for southern waters." (Source: Anon. "Torpedo Boat Morris Launched." Boston Globe, April 14, 1898, p. 7.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., April 17 [1898]. --- The torpedo boat Morris had a builder's trial Friday [April 15, 1898] and developed a speed of 23 3/4 knots, with only seventy-five pounds of steam. Her contract calls for 22 knots, with 225 pounds of pressure." (Source: Anon. "Torpedo Boat Morris a Flyer." New York Times, April 18, 1898, p. 3.)

"The official trial of the U. S. Torpedo Boat Morris, which was launched from the Herreshoff works last Wednesday, was held yesterday [April 18, 1898]. The boat proved to be in every way worthy of the genius of her noted builders, maintaining an average speed of 24.0 knots in a two-hours run with the greatest ease, without the semblance of an accident, and without heating a bearing. The Morris left the Herreshoff dock at 10.45 having on board, besides the builders' crew the Official Board of Inspection and Survey consisting of Lt. Commander T. O. McLean of Newport, president, Lieut. C. E. Fox Commander of the Morris, who acted as recorder, Passed Ass't Engineer Gow of Boston, Passed Ass' t Surgeon Braisted, and Ass't Naval Constructor H. G. Smith of Cramp's Ship Yards, Philadelphia. Naval Constructors Gilmore and Anderson were also on board as were 13 of the crew of the Morris who came from the receiving ship Wabash in Boston. These are picked men, short in stature, all having seen at least three years service on men of war, though this is their first experience on a torpedo boat. The other seven men to complete the crew will be taken on at Newport. The guests on board were Prof. Peabody of the Mass. Institute of Technology of Boston, and a student, Mr. Packard, Francis Herreshoff of Brooklyn, Lieut. Miller of the Newport Torpedo Station and J. F. Farrally of the PHOENIX.
The Morris ran down to the north end of the measured course at Sandy Point Light at a speed of about 16 knots, and a short blast of her whistle announced when she entered the course. In going south over the 8 mile course for the first time she carried 200 lbs. of steam and the engines whizzed about 450 revolutions. She made the first eight knots in about 19 minutes, and on the next trip, as it was seen that she was exceeding what the builders desired her to do --- 23 1/2 knots --- the steam was run down to 190 lbs. and the revolutions to 440. This was about the average during the remainder of the trial. The boat was run twice over the 8 mile course from Sandy Point to Fort Adams and four times over the 7 mile course from Sandy Point to Rose Island, making 44 miles, which with the time occupied in making the turns consumed a little less than two hours. On the way back to Bristol the Morris hove to and her hoisting apparatus for her anchor was tried, and found to work satisfactorily. Capt Natter, who managed her steam steering gear during the trip gave way to Capt. N. G. Herreshoff, who put the helm hard over, running around a circle, and executed other maneuvers to the satisfaction of the official board. The engines were under the efficient care of James T Robertson, who was assisted by four oilers, etc. Commander McLean expressed himself as thoroughly satisfied with the performance of the Morris. He said she could easily have made 25 knots, but as the contract speed was only 22 1/2 knots there was no occasion for higher speed than she had shown. He said she ran remarkably steady with but little vibration, and she would no doubt be turned over to the government at once, after the board had given her an examination today. On the trip the speed was semi-officially figured as 24 and two-one-hundredths knots, but it was subsequently ascertained that the Sandy Point mark was 40 feet too far north and the mark at the other end of the official course was 100 feet too far south, so that the course was 140 feet too long. In going over the figures on this basis it was found that the official speed was 24 and five-one hundredths knots.
The Morris had only one of her torpedo tubes on board during the trial and none of her rapid fire guns. Pig lead was carried, however, to make up for their weight. The tubes were put on when she came back to the dock, and the guns will be put on at Newport. Before the trial yesterday every one on board was weighed, and about 500 lbs. of pig lead was taken off, to allow for the extra number of men carried. The official time is subject to tidal corrections, which, however, cannot make more than one tenth of a knot difference either way. Commander McLean sent a telegram to the Secretary of the Navy last night giving the official time and stating that the Morris was entirely satisfactory.
In traveling with the wind yesterday it was hard to realize that the boat was going at such race horse speed, but when she came north against the breeze it was with difficulty that some of the unaccustomed guests kept their feet, and it really seemed that if a man was forward and wished to be aft, all it was necessary for him to do would be to spring into the air and the stern would be under him when he alighted.
The torpedo boats Gwin and Stiletto and the dynamite cruiser Vesuvius were lined up along the course, and there were many steam launches containing Kodak fiends pressing the button." (Source: Anon. "Official Trial Of The Morris. Uncle Sam's Newest Torpedo Boat Made 24.05 Knots Yesterday with Ease." Bristol Phoenix, April 19, 1898, p. 1.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., April 18 [1898]. --- The official speed trial of the torpedo boat Morris, recently launched from the Herreshoffs' works here, was held on Narragansett Bay to-day. The vessel made a record of 24.02 knots an hour for a distance of forty miles, under 190 pounds pressure and with 440 revolutions. Her contract called for a speed of 22 1/2 knots. Commander McLain of the trial board said everything in connection with the craft was unusually satisfactory." (Source: Anon. "The Morris Makes Fast Time. Torpedo Boat Makes a Record of 24.02 Knots an Hour in Narrangansett Bay." New York Times, April 19, 1898, p. 4.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., Dec. 2. [1898] --- The torpedo boats Dupont [#185p] and Morris [#190p] came in here last night under their own steam, but considerably damaged. Both boats weathered Saturday's gale off Newport, but the heavy seas badly twisted the stem of the Dupont, and several steel plates of both vessels were badly sprung and dented. It will probably be necessary to haul the Dupont out, as she will require a new stem, and both will have several new plates put in before proceeding." (Source: Anon. "Torpedo Boats Storm-Beaten." New York Times, December 3, 1898, p. 1.)

"The United States torpedo boat Morris arrived in the harbor Wednesday afternoon, and is hauled up for repairs at the Herreshoff boatshops. The boilers are to be re-tubed, and new decks will also be laid. The Morris was built at the Herreshoff shops about nine years ago." (Source: Anon. "News and Notes of Local Interest." Bristol Phoenix, October 27, 1905, p. 2.)

".... The repairs on the torpedo boat Morris [#190p] will be finished in about two weeks." (Source: Anon. "News and Notes of Local Interest." Bristol Phoenix, December 26, 1905, p. 2.)

"Yesterday morning the torpedo-boat Morris was launched at high tide. The craft has been in the south shop of Herreshoff Manufacturing company for about four months, having her boilers retubed and new decks laid. She was towed to the Newport Torpedo station, by another torpedo boat which came up from Newport in the morning." (Source: Anon. "News and Notes of Local Interest." Bristol Phoenix, January 16, 1906, p. 2.)

"USS Morris (TB-14)
Namesake: Robert Morris
Ordered: 6 June 1896 (authorised)
Builder: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., Bristol, RI
Laid down: 19 November 1897
Launched: 13 April 1898
Commissioned: 11 May 1898
Renamed: Coast Torpedo Boat No. 6, 1 August 1918
Struck: 24 January 1924
Fate: sold at public auction, 10 October 1924
General characteristics
Displacement: 105 tons
Length: 139 ft 6 in (42.52 m)
Beam: 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m)
Draft: 4 ft 1 in (1.24 m)
Propulsion: 2 Normand boilers, 2-shaft vertical triple expansion engines, 1,750 ihp (1,288 kW)
Speed: 23 kn
Complement: 26 officers and enlisted
Armament: 3 x 1-pounder guns
3 x 18 in (457 mm) torpedo tubes
The fifth USS Morris (Torpedo Boat No. 14/TB-14/Coast Torpedo Boat No. 6) was laid down by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., Bristol, RI, 19 November 1897; launched 13 April 1898; and commissioned 11 May 1898, Lt. C. E. Fox in command.
After east coast shakedown, Morris arrived Newport, RI, for range tender and training services until World War I, when patrol duties were assigned. From 19 April 1918 through early March 1919 she patrolled the West Indies, until the Armistice investigating suspected enemy sabotage. Now known as Coast Torpedo Boat No. 6, she returned to Newport and decommissioned 24 March 1919, but served as torpedo range tender there for 5 years. Last of the old torpedo boats, she was struck from the Naval Register 24 January 1924, and sold at public auction 10 October 1924 to Frank B. Jones of Wilmington, DE." (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Morris_(TB-14), retrieved December 21, 2011.)

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"[Item Description:] Booklet titled 'Specifications For Inspection Of Steel For Use In The Construction Of The Hulls And Machinery Of Torpedo Boats Nos 14 [#190p MORRIS], 15 [#191p TALBOT], And 16 [#192p GWIN] For The United States Navy'." (Source: Government Printing Office (creator). Specifications Booklet. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.089-2. Box HAFH.6.2B, Folder Torpedo/PT Boats. 1896.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled (in NGH's writing) cost estimates for torpedo boats (though not explicitly mentioned as such). Four groups of calculations, each multiplying what appears to be per ton cost of hull & fittings, machinery and equipment and adding these together to arrive at a final cost estimate. The first group is titled 'No 6-7 [#184p PORTER and #185p DUPONT' and shows a total cost of $158000 = $995 per ton displacement, the second group is titled '9 - 10 - 11. 30kn [#189601ep Unbuilt 30 knot torpedo boats which, built elsewhere, will become USN Torpedo Boats Nos. 9, 10 and 11] and shows a total cost of $205700 = $1010 per ton, the third group is titled '22 1/2k [22 1/2 knot torpedo boats (apparently #190p MORRIS)] and shows a total cost of $87500 = $975 per ton, and the fourth group is titled '20k [20 knot torpedo boats (apparently #191p TALBOT and 192p GWIN)] and shows a total cost of $38300 = $980 per ton." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Cost Estimate. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_04220. Folder [no #]. No date (ca 1896).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections with pinpricks titled '1896. 140ft Torpedo boat design [#190p MORRIS]. Bulkheads'. With no further notes or calculations but a pinned-on note listing bulkhead numbers (1 to 13), positions and functions. Dated only 1896 but note that a set of pantograph hull sections for the same design marked 'Final' is dated September 2, 1896, suggesting that this was prepared at about the same time." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_05780. Folder [no #]. 1896 (ca 1896-09-02).)
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"[Item Description:] Printed empty bidding form titled 'Proposal For The Construction Of Three Thirty-Knot Torpedo Boats. Torpedo Boats Nos. 9, 10 and 11'. [This bidding form led to HMCo's unsuccessful bidding for #189601ep Unbuilt 30-Knot Torpedo Boat and its successful bids for one 22 1/2-knot torpedo boat (#190p MORRIS) and two 20-knot torpedo boats (#191p TALBOT and #192p GWIN)]." (Source: U.S. Navy Department (creator). Specifications. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_05100. Folder [no #]. 1896-06-18.)
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"[Item Description:] Typewritten (carbon copy) circular titled 'C. & R. Ho. 1540/96. Circular Defining the Chief Characteristics of three 30-knot Torpedo Boats and other Torpedo Boats for the U. S. Navy' and beginning with In the appropriation for the Naval Service for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1897, approved June 10th, 1896, provision is made under Increase of the Navy for three torpedo boats to cost in all not exceeding eight hundred thousand dollars: and not to exceed ten torpedo boats to cost in all not exceeding five hundred thousand dollars. The boats are to be built under the provisions of the Act of August 3rd, 1886, entitled An Act to Increase the Naval Establishment as to materials for said boats, their engines, boilers, etc., except as to premiums, which are not to be offered, save that in all their parts said boats shall be of domestic manufacture.' 9 pages. With 2-page appendix titled 'Increase of the Navy'. With 2-page appendix about armament weights and dimensions and costs of ordnance. With 2 letters from U.S. Navy Bureau of Construction and Repair to HMCo dated June 24, 1896 and July 16, 1896 with additions and corrections to above circular. With 1-page printed sheet titled 'General Requirements For the Machinery of Torpedo Boats'. Undated (between June 10, 1896 and July 16, 1896). [This circular led to HMCo's unsuccessful bidding for #189601ep Unbuilt 30-Knot Torpedo Boat and its successful bids for one 22 1/2-knot torpedo boat (#190p MORRIS) and two 20-knot torpedo boats (#191p TALBOT and #192p GWIN)]." (Source: U.S. Navy (creator). Specifications. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_05920. Folder [no #]. No date (1896-06 to 1896-07).)
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"[Item Description:] Mimeographed specifications titled 'Specifications for a Twin-Screw Torpedo Boat for the U.S. Navy' for what can be identified as #189601ep Unbuilt 30-Knot Torpedo Boat with Length on deck 197/8ft, Length water-line 192ft, Breadth on deck 18 1/2ft, Breadth water-line, about 18ft, and Displacement (trial draft), about 225 tons. With penciled (in red) additions throughout the entire document making this also draft specifications for a 22 1/2-knot torpedo boat (which eventually became #190p MORRIS in the case of HMCo) with Length on deck 147ft, Length water-line 139ft, Breadth on deck 15 1/2ft, Breadth water-line, about 15ft, and Displacement (trial draft), about 103 tons. With penciled (in black) additions throughout the entire document making this also draft specifications for a 20-knot torpedo boat (which eventually became #191p TALBOT AND #192p GWIN in the case of HMCo) with Length on deck 100ft, Length water-line 99 1/2ft, Breadth on deck 12 1/2ft, Breadth water-line, about 12ft, and Displacement (trial draft), about 48 tons. Undated (mid-August 1896 as per NGH diary)." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.. (creator). Specifications. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_05700. Folder [no #]. No date (1896-08).)
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"[Item Description:] Two sets of penciled pantograph hull sections. One set is marked 'For 140[ft] w.l. Torpedo boat [#190p MORRIS]. 1st trial. Aug[ust] 24 [1896]. 1Spaces 13.85. Scale 3/8'. With calculations arriving at a displacement of 3965cuft = 255000lbs = 114tons. The other set is marked '2nd trial. Aug[ust] 25 1896'. With calculations arriving at a displacement of 3780cuft = 243000lbs = 108.5 tons gross." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_05900. Folder [no #]. 1896-08-24.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled annotated construction section titled '140ft Torpedo boat. [#190p MORRIS]. Scale 1in. Aug[ust] 31 [1896]'. Compare with HMCo Plan HH.5.03079 (040-004) dated September 1, 1896, which is the final version of this penciled plan." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Technical Drawing. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0264. WRDT04, Folder 24, formerly MRDE08. 1896-08-31.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections titled 'Final. 140ft Torpedo boat [#190p MORRIS] for 22 1/2k [22.5 knots]. 14ft spaces. Scale 3/8. Sept[ember] 2, [18]96'. With calculations arriving at a displacement of 3912cuft = 251500lbs = 112.2tons and a note 'Trial draft of 105 tons will be at 4ft 4in w.l.'. On verso another set of penciled pantograph hull sections titled 'For 140ft w.l. torpedo boat. 3rd trial. Aug[ust] 26, [18]96. 138ft w.l. Scale 3/8'. With calculations arriving at a displacement of 3590cuft = 228550lbs = 101.7tons." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_05860. Folder [no #]. 1896-09-02.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled notes and horsepower calculations, untitled and undated, beginning with a list of five triple expansion steam engines (8in & 11 1/4in & 16in x 9in, 9in & 12 1/2in & 18in x 10in, 10in & 14in & 20in x 11in, 11 1/4in & 16in & 22 1/2in x 12in, 12 1/2in & 18in & 25in x 13 1/2in), none of which except the last one had ever been built by HMCo. The last engine on the list was used for #191p Talbot, #192p Gwin and #190p Morris in 1897 and 1898. On verso schematic sketches of three steam engine configurations." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Calculations. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE05_01190. Folder [no #]. No date (ca 1898 ???).)
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"[Item Description:] Handwritten (in ink) trial run note titled 'Torpedo Boat No 14 MORRIS [#190p]. April 15th 1898. Afternoon' showing data for starboard (six times) and port engine (seven times) and noting 'aft main bearing Port Engine was liable to get hot' and (in pencil) 'Destiller was shaking'." (Source: Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_03950. Trial Run Note. Folder [no #]. 1898-04-15.)
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"[Item Description:] Handwritten (in ink) trial run note titled 'Official Trial of Torpedo Boat No. 14 [#190p MORRIS]. April 18, 1898' showing speeds of between 23.2 and 24.8 [miles per hour?]." (Source: Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_00300. Trial Run Note. Folder [no #]. 1898-04-18.)
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"[Item Description:] Handwritten (in ink) trial run note titled 'Torpedo Boat No. 14 [#190p MORRIS]. Official Trial Trip. April 18, 1898' showing pressure, temperature, and revolutions by time." (Source: Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_02940. Trial Run Note. Folder [no #]. 1898-04-18.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten (in ink) letter on 'Office of Superintending Constructor, For U.S. Navy, Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., Bristol, R.I.' stationery:] I am sorry to have been so tardy in giving the data for which you asked on Thursday [April 21, 1898], but I found orders waiting me on my return that day and I had to go off at once and the matter slipped my mind when I first returned [to?] the drafts room[?].
Before trial
Forward 2ft 9in
Aft 5ft 9in
Mean 4ft 3in
98.0 tons displacement
After trial
Forward 2ft 6 1/2in
Aft 5ft 1 1/4in
Mean 4ft 1in
91.3 tons displacement
The change of trims was 5 1/2in in 15ft 10in.
With apologies for tardiness, I am,
Yours very sincerely ... [This may be related to #191p TALBOT or #192p GWIN or (most likely) #190p MORRIS which had had her official trial trip on April 18, 1898.]" (Source: Gilmour, H.G., Asst. Naval Constructor, U.S. Navy. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE05_00250. Folder [no #]. 1898-04-26.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Y[ou]rs of 19th rec[eive]d & I was very glad to get a line from you.
Y[ou]r suggestion re. PELICAN [#408s] is a very good one & I w[oul]d like to have you go ahead and give her the coat of (easily removed) paint bottom, topsides & deck. I do mean the new composite duck for PUCK's [#465s] mainsail. I envy you these trial races altho[ugh] we almost might have had them on Wheatly Hill there has been so much rain[?]. I so am[?] utterly despected[?] that you are not hard at work on a lot of new torpedo boats, well its too bad. The MORRIS [#190p] took my fancy more than any of your creations in that line & I was much pleased she was such a great success. By the way I will try the new bottom paint on PUCK if you think it advisable. What w[oul]d you lent[?] the new launch[?] (one with extended stern[?]) for for[sic] the summer. [This is possibly a reference to #195p, a launch for the new steam yacht DOROTHY whose owner died before the yacht's completion.] I w[oul]d consider price confidential whether I consider it or not. I have been very busy indeed and it does not seem to prevent my scaling 187 lbs. I hope you will follow my good example. Got up smoking and get fat. Kind regards to all, ..." (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_37560. Correspondence, Folder 74, formerly 77. 1898-05-23.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (in ink and pencil) trials booklet 'Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Experiments & Trial Trips. 1890. N.G. Herreshoff'. Relevant contents:
§49: #190p MORRIS Trial Run (1898-04-14 & 1898-04-15)
§50: #190p MORRIS Official Trial Run (1898-04-18)
§51: #190p MORRIS Delivery (1898-04-21)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Trials Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE07_02260. Folder [no #]. 1890-01 to 1898-08.)
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓ ㉔ ㉕ ㉖ ㉗ ㉘ ㉙ ㉚ ㉛ ㉜ ㉝ ㉞ ㉟ ㊱ ㊲ ㊳ ㊴ ㊵ ㊶ ㊷ ㊸ ㊹ ㊺ ㊻ ㊼ ㊽ ㊾ ㊿
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"[Item Description:] Photograph. [Backside of Trophy Cup shown in HH.6.208:] ANEMONE [#4p] 1870, LIGHTNING [#20p] 1876, STILLETO [#118p] 1885, HENRIETTA [#133p] 1886, NOW THEN [#142p] 1887, BALLYMENA [#151p] 1888, CUSHING [#152p] 1890, VAMOOSE [#168p] 1891, PORTER [#184p] 1896, MORRIS 1897 [#190p]." (Source: Anderström (creator). Photograph. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.209. Box HAFH.6.7B, Folder Photograph. No date (1899 ?).)
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"N/A"

"[Item Description:] I thank you very much for your last letter and the valuable information which it contained. I think the destroyer which you suggest would be the best that could be produced for the service required. Our Board has about finished its labors and I trust that as a result we shall soon have in service some destroyers and torpedo boats as good or better than the PORTER [#184p] and MORRIS [#190p] although it would be hard to get better ones." (Source: Winslow, C. McR. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_33370. Subject Files, Folder 38, formerly 28-30. 1904-01-07.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Your letter of December 19th came this morning. I thank you very much for your prompt attention to my request in reference to torpedo vessels.
I believe with you that the MORRIS [#190p] hull carried up to the size of the PORTER [#184p] with the PORTER's arrangement of engines and boilers, except that there should be two boilers instead of three, would be about the type of boat which we desire. In reference to the engines of the PORTER would it not be possible to change their design so that the cylinders could be overhauled with greater facility?
In reference to the boat proposed could you give me a rough approximation of her speed, displacement and distance which she would steam on her load of coal? Would not the removal of one boiler add to this steaming distance by giving space for more coal as well as enable to use up a little of the weight saved by decreasing the number of boilers in adding increased strength to the hull, if such increase is desirable?
Again, what do you think of carrying that same type of boat to still greater dimensions, perhaps with some slight modification, to obtain a destroyer, the increase in size giving more seaworthy qualities, without perhaps a loss in speed. If you think well of this idea what would you suggest as the approximate dimensions and characteristics of this vessel as regards length, displacement, draft of water steaming distance and speed; also what modifications in model, such as increased height of bow would desirable?
I think the Board will have no difficulty as regards torpedo boats and vidette boats to be carried on the battleships, but the question of a destroyer is a difficult one, and your views would be of the greatest value to the Board. Please understand however, that we do not expect data of absolute accuracy, that we are only dealing with the subject in a general way and that whatever you write will be considered; as purely personal and private, to be used only as an assistance in the solution of a somewhat difficult problem.
I am quite sure that the Board is of the opinion that whoever is to build torpedo boats and destroyers in the future for our Navy should be allowed the utmost latitude as regards design and construction in fact it would be an advantage to the Government to utilize the genius and originality of the contractor rather than to tie him down to designs and plans furnished by the Department.
I thank you very much for your kind invitation to spend a night at Bristol. I would enjoy such a visit very much, but I am so tied down now in the work of the office that it is difficult for me to get away to make more than a few hours' visit anywhere.
I shall be extremely obliged if you can send me information which I have requested in this letter as well as any other information which in your opinion would be of value to us.
Again thanking you for your letter, believe me, ... Incl NGH reply: I received your of 22nd Saturday. The mails seem to be rather slow between Washington - Bristol
I have since getting your letter given the destroyer & torpedo boat considerable thought and made some calculations, based on what we have reached in our trials with torpedo boats and also from our own model experiments and have arrived at the following, which I consider not accurate, but approximating fairly well what should be expected from the types under discussion, if details are perfectly carried out.
Starting with an enlarged MORRIS, to size of PORTER, with the latter's machinery but fitted with two boilers of larger size, or collectively[?] about 4/5th as large as PORTER's. The vessel to be about 180' on deck, 172 w.l., 17ft 2in beam with displacement of about 165 tons, in a trial condition corresponding to Porter's. Bimhun[?] capacity would be about 70 tons.
Under these conditions I would expect a 'measured mile' speed of 28.5 knots with about 3650 hp.
With full bumtus[?] for the 600 mile preliminary run at sea at 12 K, I would expect the engines to develop about 310 hp and with a consumption of coal for the full run for all newno[?] of about 23 1/2 tons.
In the 8 hour run at lead, loaded to about 190 tons disp. I would expect her to make nearly 25 1/2 knots for 1 hour duration, developing about 3600 hp, and for the balance of two ab[out] 20 knots speed, and would develop about 2120 hp and would burn in the run a little over 21 tons coal.
The steaming[?] distance in bunker capacity at 12 k rate would be about 1800 miles.
In making these calculations I have assumed the speed at sea to be in ordinary fair weather, and the calculations are for speed in smooth water at full[?] 15[?] 1 1/3 miles greater than the sea speeds[?] stated.
As you suggested, I have made calculations for a destroyer to be similar to the torpedo boat described about, but enlarged 50 percent in all linear dimensions. Which I think is none too large to be able to cover the distance of 3000 miles at 15 k rate.
The vessel would be about 271' on deck, 159' w.l., 25ft 3in beam. Bunker capacity 230 tons. Displacement at light trial draft 570. Displacement full bunkers 800 tons. At 15 knots at sea would require about 1285 hp, consuming about 3200 lbs per hour, or 320 tons for a run of 3000 miles at 15 k rate. This is 90 tons more than bunkers of normal size." (Source: Winslow, Capt. C. McR. (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_33400. Subject Files, Folder 38, formerly 28-30. 1904-12-22.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Order book with carbon copy duplicates of instructions given by NGH. Relevant contents:
§7: Work Order '[For] Torpedo boat # 14 [#190p MORRIS]. [When wanted] Immediately, should be here by April 15th. J. B. Carr Chain Works. 2 5/8 chains … Tested to 8 tons & certified. Galvanized.' (1898-03-25)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Order Book. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE07_01320. Folder [no #]. 1897-01 to 1905.)
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓ ㉔ ㉕ ㉖ ㉗ ㉘ ㉙ ㉚ ㉛ ㉜ ㉝ ㉞ ㉟ ㊱ ㊲ ㊳ ㊴ ㊵

Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #190p Morris even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Simpson, Richard V. Building the Mosquito Fleet: The U.S. Navy's First Torpedo Boats. Charleston, S.C., 2001.
  Description of the first American torpedo boats, with strong emphasis on Herreshoff-built vessels. Unfortunately, numerous small factual inaccuracies.
• United States Department of the Navy and Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. [Contract for #190p Morris, Torpedo Boat No. 14.] DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University Collection, George Albert Converse Papers and Photographs, 1861-1897, Box 1, Folder 11, http://digitalcollections.smu.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/gcp/id/653/rec/27, retrieved June 6, 2018. October, 1895. (3,750 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: No known copyright restrictions. Copyright holder: DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University. Original building/sales contract. Vessel description, scantlings, promised speed, trial conditions, payment terms. Unsigned (unclear if contract was actually executed). 4 pages.

• Morris (HMCo-made index card)
• Morris (MIT Museum-made index card)
• Note: The vessel index cards comprise two sets of a total of some 3200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and information regarding drawings, later or former vessel names, and owners. They were compiled from HMCo's early days until 1920 and added to in later decades, apparently by Hart Nautical curator William A. Baker and his successors. While HMCo seems to have used only one set of index cards, all sorted by name and, where no name was available, by number, later users at MIT apparently divided them into two sets of cards, one sorted by vessel name, the other by vessel number and greatly expanded the number of cards. Original HMCo cards are usually lined and almost always punched with a hole at bottom center while later cards usually have no hole, are unlined, and often carry substantially less information. All cards are held by the Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections of the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Mass.

Name: Morris
Type: Steam Torpedo Boat
Length: 140'
Owner: U.S. Navy

Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. "A Partial List of Herreshoff Clients." In: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Herreshoff Yachts. Bristol, Rhode Island, ca. 1931.

• Morris
• Note: The L. Francis Herreshoff index cards comprise a set of some 1200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and / or ownership information. Apparently compiled in the early 1930s, for later HMCo-built boats like the Fishers Island 23s or the Northeast Harbor 30s are not included. Added to in later decades, apparently by L. F. Herreshoff as well as his long-time secretary Muriel Vaughn and others. Also 46 cards of L. F. Herreshoff-designed vessels. The original set of index cards is held by the Herreshoff Marine Museum and permission to display is gratefully acknowledged.

Name: Morris
Type: 140' steam torpedo boat
Owner: U.S. Navy
Row No.: 452

Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. "Partial List of Herreshoff-Built Boats." In: Herreshoff, L. Francis. Capt. Nat Herreshoff. The Wizard of Bristol. New York, 1953, p. 325-343.

Year: 1896
E/P/S: P
No.: 190
Name: Horris ?
OA: 140'

Source: Vermilya, Peter and Maynard Bray. "Transcription of the HMCo. Construction Record." Unpublished database, ca. 2000.

Note: The transcription of the HMCo Construction Record by Peter Vermilya and Maynard Bray was performed independently (and earlier) than that by Claas van der Linde. A comparison of the two transcriptions can be particularly useful in those many cases where the handwriting in the Construction Record is difficult to decipher.

"[See also:] Specifications for inspection of steel for use in the construction of the hulls and machinery for Torpedo Boats # 14, 15, 16 (1896). In: Technical and Business Records pertaining to the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Series VI, Folder HH.6.88 (Torpedo/PT Boats), Box HAFH.6.2B." (Source: Hasselbalch, Kurt and Frances Overcash and Angela Reddin: Guide to The Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection. Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections, MIT Museum, Cambridge, Mass., 1997, p. 63-79.)

"Note that the Construction Record and the HMCo-made vessel index card report a triple expansion steam engine with a low pressure cylinder of 26in diameter while the plans titles at M.I.T. all describe an engine with a low pressure cylinder of 25in diameter. As such, the Herreshoff Catalogue Raisonné also reports a 25in dia. low pressure cylinder." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. April 5, 2015.)

"Steam engine rating 1000hp from undated (1903 or later) diagram by N. G. Herreshoff titled 'Marine Engine. Weights and Prices' in the Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 24, 2019.)

"During the bidding contest Morris was often referred to as the 22 1/2-knot torpedo boat." (Source: van der Linde, June 11, 2019.)

"Marine Engine of Open Type. 12 1/2 & 18 & 25 x 13 1/2, 460[rpm], 1000[hp]. [Note:] 8425lbs [in pencil]." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Handwritten List of HMCo-Made Steam Engines. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum, MRDED1_00220. Undated, between 1903 and 1918.)

"Built in 173 days (setup to finished; equivalent to $491/day, 1214 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"Displacement, 105 [long or short?] tons." (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Morris_(TB-14), retrieved December 21, 2011.)

Note: Research notes contain information about a vessel that is often random and unedited but has been deemed useful for future research.