The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-12-03
TIE NEW CRUISER NEW yorK.

est and most powerfully engincd steam
ship ever built outside OF European
ship yards. Although essentially n
commerce destroyer, the New York will
be able to hold her own with all but the
heaviest line OF battle ships and return
shot for shot with them in action. The
New York is tho especial pride OF Sec
rotary Tracy, and he has watched her
rise from tho ways with an interest that
no other vessel in the navy has excited
in him. 1t was for all these reasons
that the Messrs Cramp determined that
the New York should make her initial
plunge into her native element in the
presence Of the most distinguished as
semblage that ever gathered in this
country to witness Il launch.
President Harrison, Secretary Blaine,
Secretary Rusk, Governor.lIill, Govern
or-clect Flower and Governor Pattison
were compelled TO decline the invita-
ton to be present owing to pressure OF
business. On the train from Washing
ton were Secretaries Tracy, Foster and
Noble, Postmaster General Wanamaker,
United States Senators Henderson, Frye
and Hawley, the naval committees OF
the senate and house, headed by their
chairmcn, Senator Cameron and Con-
gresham Boutclle, Admiral and Mrs.
John G. Walker, Lieutenant Charles O.
Allibone, Lieutenant and Mrs. Seaton
Schroeder. In addition 10 the above
there were Il number OF congressman
and the naval attaches OF. foreign gov
ernmcnts on board the train, in all about
$50 people. The train from New York had
on board about the same number OF
guests as the Washington train. After
Secretary Tracy, Miss Page and the
balance oil the party had taken their
places, Constructor Lewis Nixon began
to make preparations for the launch
The shccrns that held the cruiser in
place was knocked away. Mr.. Nixon
gave warning call TO Miss Page, the
great steel hull tremblcd from stem TO
stern and then began 20 move down the
tallowy way. Just rs the cruiser started
Miss Page struck the gayly bcrbboncd
bottle she held in her hands against the
keel that was slipping by her close
above her head, and as the wine flowed
from the broken bottle, she cried out:
~ christen thee New York"
a shout went up from the crowd
when it saw the cruiser begin to move,
steam whistles shrieked shrilly and
hankcrchiefs, flags and hats were way
ed. Faster and faster the vessel rushed
down the smoking ways until plunge
sent wave surging over the neighbor-
ing wharves, the pride OF the navy slid
into the river.
After the launch collation. was serv-
ed in the mould room OF the yard.
Secretary Tracy, before returning to
Washington, expressed himself as great
" pleased 1T the success attending the
launch.
The object which the department has
strivcd Tor in the armorcd cruiser New
York, and which, it is confidently be-
lieved, has been attained, is an unusual
combination oil great offensive and de-
fensivc power, with extraordinary coal
endurance and high rate oil speed,
Tho abilityt TO cruise for 4 long period
under steam when coa!ing stations are
not near at hand has been largely de-
vclopcd in the cruiser New York. In
this respect she will be lar superior to
the armored cruiser Maine, which is
rapidly approaching completion at the
New York navy yard. The Maine, it is
admitted, will be powerful fighting
ship; 60 also will be the New York,
But while the Maine viii! have n cruis-
ing radius OF 4.250 knots ut lO-knot
speed, the New York will have cruising
radius OF $4,000 miles. The ability Of
tho new cruiser 10 maintain herself
when ut n great distance from home
station has been secured chiefly bv her
great size. Her principal dimensions
are: Length on load-watcr-line, $50 feet
O. inches; breadth OF beam, 64 feet:
mean draught, % feet 50 inches; dis.
placement $3.50 tons; maximum speed,
20 knots; estimated average speed under
full power, with natural draft, ISL
knots.
The maximum speed given for this
ship, namely, twenty knots, it is dc.
clared by the Navy Department, as we'll
as by the contractors, will DO sufficient
to enable her to escape from any OF the
more powerful ships ailoat to-day and
TO oyertake the vast majority-ceriainlv
95 per cent-oi all the ships OF the
world. naval or mercantile. AT the
same time her drauSht and size are not
excessive. Gan armored vessels, MS has
been repeatedly said, and perhaps can
not be said too often," said Secretary
Tracy reccntly, "are o compromise be.
tween the conflicting elements OF bat
terry, armor, endurance and speed upon
agivcn size or displacement" Increase
one OF tho elements, tho size remaining
the same, and some OF tho others must
be decreased. The New York's speed
and endurance certainly promise TO be
all that could be asked from cruiser
n maximum speed OF twenty knots, and
acoal-cndurance at a ten-knot speed OF
1900 miles. The New York was de.