An item dated Ijmuiden, Netherlands 19th reported that the Dutch ram turret Zr. Ms. Guinea was now halfway Velsen and Buitenhuizen still trying to create an open passage through the 1.5’thick ice. Despite all efforts was the progress just slowly. She was followed by the Dutch and foreign merchant steamships Neptun, Auckland Castle, Zaandam, Amstelstroom and Ondine. Before the Hembrug [Hembridge] were the Fram, European, Nicholas Vagliano, Sirius and Oranje Nassau waiting.(1)
Note
1. Call sign GQJR, ex-Matador, on stocks at the navy yard at Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1867, launched on 5 May 1870, commissioned off Texel, Netherlands on 16 October 1873, boilers replaced in 1881, stricken in 1894, laid up at Ijmuiden, Netherlands in 1895 and sold for ƒ 36.092,26 to be broken up in 1897. Original two signalling masts, in 1889 replaced by just one battle mast. Costs when for the time fitted out ƒ 1.287.891. Displacement 2.378 tons, dimensions 59,68 (load line between perpendiculars)-62,68 (over all without rudder) x 12,25 (outside over armour) x maximum loaded with full coal bunkers and ready boilers 4,90 (fore)-5,10 (aft) x x 7,75 (hold underside keel-upside main deck amidships) metres, 2-2cylinder engines, 4 boilers, horsepower 2.200 hp, a speed (trial) of 9,5 miles, an armament of 2 rifles 23cm guns en 4-30 pd, replaced in 1887 by 1-28cm gun, 2-7,5cm guns, 4-3,7cm guns and 2-3,7cm revolver guns and a crew numbering 117 (original)-159 men. The armour consisted of a 7,6-15,2cm thick belt, a 1,9-2,5cm thick deck while the gun turret was protected by 20,3-28cm thick armour and the coning tower by 11,4cm.
