The New York herald., 1878-10-23
ANOTHER RUSSIAN CRUISER.

LAUNCH OF THE AMERICA YEsTERDAY-HIoH
MAss CELEBRATED ON BoARD-PRCuLIAR
AND INTERESTING CRREAoNIEs-DLEssINo
THE SHIP.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct q, 1873
Tho fourth and last cruisers built this
city The Russian government launched to-iay.
The event IN itself interesting one, bus
mado douby SO by tho peculiar religious csre.
mony oil "blessing tho Ship" which was performed
before tho launch. II was the frst time such csre.
monial had been solemnzed this country. tDs
other threo Russian vessels which havo just been
finished IN this city having been atsr they
were afoat, SO that the Amorca-thc beautiful ship
launched io-dsy-was tho ouiy ono Of the aess built
entirely undor Russian auspices from the drawing of
tho plans and tho laying Of the keeL
CELEBRATING MASS
In accordance with tho kussian national custom ~
dedicatins new vessel with Togioas ceremonies
before she is committed to tho waves the Rev. Father
Nicholas Bjsrrng, OF the Greek Catholic Chapel In
New York, came 70 Pniladelphia for the purpose
OF officiating to-day. On the forward part Of
tho lower or berth dock altar had been
arranged In the centre OF the snip, IN front
o. III, Seaa,a pans our ,oo
and tho altar IN tho ccntre, receptacle
taiuing pool OF hoiy water. Bunting and arspssy
slrosched across ana around the ship. Before
this improvised sanctuary Father BJerrtug took MS
pace a. hali-past nine Ihis morning and began she
csIobrDIion Of mass He was auassistod except by .
choir Of RUSSIAN Sailors who madc the responses
while tho priest intoned .ne WORDS which wsrs all IN
much rssensbied tho mass Of The Roman Catnolio
Church, excepting tho strange tongue. These ser.
took place IN presence OF all The high officials OF
the Russian sxpedilion, all Tho officers Of the
various snips, = number OF invited guests and a.
many OF The sailors an could 1nd room In the snip
Among sno Distinguished personAgss present were
tho oil0wing:-
Captain l. r. Semetchkin, chief OF the Russian o..
pedii,ou 10 nt out cruisers and aidedccamp 10 the
Grand Duke Constantine, general admiral OF the Rus
ssa navy the msmos.s o. Captain semsscnsin s.aa
iau oi the Asa; Captain l. Aicxesn. OF tbe Africa;
ienau. X RnodionsG, Lieusenans N. Koussy.
nekof chief naval inspector; Lieutenant Acniiis
OF the Europe; Commander Gregory Chooxnin,
OF tho ASIA; Commauder Richard D0cker. OF tns
Africa; Com Paul Lavsnnasen of she America;
Baron Z. Ungcrn slernberg; Lieutenant TncodoS
Snuuz, Lteutouant Bash Won Ler Ltrsksy, Leutsnanf
Rsbko1sky, Chef Engineer lvanhon. Doctors Hap
gentown, gaiubon anu Dvoegiason; Mr. Wharton
n.n. - sS,s nS oouny his wife, Mrs wharton ssssss
aud sister, Miss BARKER; Mr. Joseph wharton and
rs@" Mr. M .na as Edw,u rOc John Hoe
man, Tnaddeus Norris. Jr.. Charles y. Bervtns Hon.
Ail,son White. Chsrss Mcliwa,ne, Captain 4. r.
Cooke United States Navy Naval Consruetos Pnilip
HicEborn, United states Navy. and Chief Engasor
James W. Whitaker. United States Navy.
Alter tho mass was she Reverend Father pro.
coodcd TO soIrmniy bess The snip and the crow 40
n
Ing basin OF holy water, the priest holding In one
hand u crucihx and IN tho other the aspergtius. a.
instrument with which 10 sprinkle the water.
started make tue tuur OF tho ship. He walked
slowly and soicmny, dressed In the handsome robes
IN Wink ho had read the mass. He chauted In low
tones walked, followed NY tho choir Of sailors
making the responses Whom Father Herring mad
gone the snip, spriuknng the holy water ~ he
went, the ussiouai dag oil Russia 70 be used the
snip was brought 10 him, aud u also received hts
blessing. This the oniy uispay mado OF the Rus.
sian flag among the gay bunting In the shipysrd ana
vessels, the blue auf wnito beng onspiouous
by It's absence. The religious ceremonsss concsadsd
with blessing tho sailors E,cn walked no W she
tho holy walcE
AZ half past ten exactly Ihe launch took plaos
There were about 2 00v people present. and ~ the
broko the bottle her bows the crowds %
che shore tho sailors on Tho otneg ships broke
into cnthusassic cheer.
TnR AMERICA
mo 203,o a. the ship KIN own at the yards, 10 90
iron vessel OF the bracket construction, win nne
lines, buis for great speed She has two decks snd
tho upper deck her extreme ieugth s 235, with ~
feet beam aud Is iect depth ot hold Shc Is OF 900
tons measurement, and has powerful coinpound %.
gpss OF 1000 Indicated horse power. According %
the contract the America must be able 70
steam fourteen aud a half knots pes hour,
and viii probably exceed this. Sre has three masss
and viii be bark-rigged. She viii have steam revere
Ing gear anu all tho latest dsvicss aud improvements
naval architecture Below she viii be ntsd ny Ice
complement OF 100 men, and the Joiner work and
upholstsrinG IN the wsrdroom ana ofncsrs state.
and cabins will be of the richest and most
Costly and ola borate description.
Baron shtshkin and his suite, Russian Minister ~
Washington arrived In this city during the aiernoon
TO inspect officially tho new ships