Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-10-19
A GREAT WAR SHIP.
The Government Cruiser BaIti-
more Launched.
The Biggest Vessel of the United
States Navy.

The new steel government cruiser Balti-
more has been success fully launched, be-
tween showers, from the Cramps shipyard
in X ensington, Penn, in the presence of a
great crowd of Philadelphians and many
United States Government officials
No cards Of special invitation had been sent
out by the MeSsrs. Cramps for the event ex-
cepting those sent to Washington, but the
gates of the immense shipyard were thrown
open to the public and notwithstanding the
rain thousands of people gathered to witness
the novel sight The cars containing the Wash
ington visitors arrived at the shpyard at /: 8
p. NJ. Secretary Whitney arrived from New
York a few minutes later, and with the
Washington visitors was escorted to the
platform erected on a level with the extreme
tip of the bow of the cruiser. Hundreds of
wOrkmen were at once put to work driving
the wedges and saving the timters support
ing the vessel.
At 2:25 cries of Look outm from the
workmen gave notice that the huge hull was
moving, and moment later, as it gracefully
slid away, Mrs. Wilson broke the champagne
bottle on the bow and christened the vessel
The Baltimore. The cruiser slid slowly and
smoothly down the ways, and, on striking
the water, ran swiftly out to mdstream
amid the booming of cannon on the Despatch
the cheers and shouts of the vast assemblage,
and the blowing of whistles and horns. The
anchors were Immediately dropped, and the
Delaware river.
The Baltimore is the largest vessel vet con-
structed for what is known the new navy.
The Newark and some others will be larger,
but comparatively little work has been
done on them SO far. Secretary Whit
ney is particularly interested in the
Baltimore, and she is considered the
pet among his vessels now under con-
tract. He has been a frequent visitor at
Cramps shipyard TO watch her progress and
takes great pride in her. The Baltimore has
twin screws, the first vessel SO equipped
in the navy. She is 335 feet long over all, her
beam amdships is Is 49, feet, her mean
draught is 49, feet, and her displacement is
1000 tons. The indicated horse power of her
engines is 1900 at natural draught, and 1G 750
at forced draught, and they are expected to
drive here along at the rate of nineteen knots
an hour. She will carry two masts fitted
with military tops, and her crew will consist
OF 500 men. She has a protective deck of
thick steel plates and under this, down below
the water line are placed the rudder and the
steam steering gear.
The cruiser being intended for effec-
tive service in time of war, will be armed
with a main body of four eight-inch breech-
loading rihed guns in Sponsors Is feet above
the water. There will also be a second
battery of six rapid firing six Founders, six
HOtchklss revolving cannon, and four gatling
guns. She will also carry five torpedo
launching tubes or guns. In her appoint
ments she will be fitted up flag ship.
Two triple expansion engines, in separate
water-tight compartments, will furnish the
motive power and they will be supplied with
steam from four double ended horizontal re-
turn tubular boilers, II feet and inches in
diameter. With TO- 600 horse power the Balti-
more can make $50 knots day. using $50 tons
of coal. Her bunker capacity of SD tons Of
coal will enable her to go three days and a
half at full speed, covering in that me
1857 knots. She can make 306S miles
or about the distance across the Atlantic
ocean, in seven days and a half-a speed
nearly equal to that of the great passenger
steamers.