The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-11-27
APPLE OF TRACYS EYE.
1t is the New Armored Battle Ship
New York.
TO BE LAUNCHED WEDNESDAY,
She VIII be Able to Maneuvrc, to Fight,
or, II Necessary, to Run-Superior to
Anything Of Her Glass Ahoat-she's


WASHINGTON, ID. c., Nov. 27.-One Of
the most notable ships ever built in this
country will be launched from Cramp &
Sons shipyards on the Delaware, on
Wednesday next.
The new vessel is the armored battle
ship New York, and she is remarkable as
being the heaviest weight of metal ever
put afloat in this country, and for being
the most quickly built of any vessel of her
class.
The New York is the apple of Secretary
Tracy's eye, and he will take great pride
in showing New Workers what a magnifi-
cent craft has been begun and completed
under his administration.
Special trains will run from New York
officials, who have been invited by the
Messrs. Cramp g. Sons to witness the
launching
The event takes place at o'clock on
Wednesday, Dec. 2, at the. shipyards in
Philadelphia, and among those who have
been asked TO witness it are the President
and cabinet, Nice-rresident Morton, the
chiefs of bureaus in the Navy Depart
ment, the naval attaches of the different
foreign legations here, the naval commit
tee of both houses of Congress, the sena-
tors and representatives of New York,
Gov. Hill of New York and his staff,
Governor elect Flower, Lieut.-Gov. Jones,
Mayor Grant and the heads of the city de-
partments, and "A few personal friends Of
Secretary Tracy.
Mr.. Raymond, the private secretary Of
Secretary Tracy, is in charge of the ar
rangements here, by request of Messrs.
Cramp g. Sons, and will go over to New
York to take charge of the special train
from there to Philadelphia.
The rapidity with which the massive
hull of the New York has been completed
is without precedent either in this country
or Europe.
The bids were opened June 10, 1890, and
the contractwas awarded Aug. % 1890
calling for the completion of the vessel in
1898.
Messrs. Cramp e. Sons put their force to
work at once, and as a result the great
hull is complete and ready for launching
The actual weight of metal in the hull
is 5000 tons, and the displacement of the
new vessel, when complete, will be 8, $50
tons. She will have maximum speed OF
20 knots an hour, and sustained sea
speed Of 1S1s knots an hour.
Her Complement of officers and men
will be 465, and she will be. capable Of sail
ing $4,000 miles without recoaling. The
vessel when completed will have four COM
ple.e decks, including the protective deck,
and large flying deck or bridge, upon
which the boats are carried.
The vessel is covered with two courses
of placing, having a thickness of inches
amidships and 21l inches forward and aft
The slopes in the sc ships are covered with
additional thicknesses of inches, making
their total thickness 8 inches
The ship will carry eight-inch breech-
loading rifles, IL four-inch rapid firing
guns, one-pounder rapid firing guns, 4
Gatling guns and q torpedo tubes.
1t is the intention to fit up the New York
as flagship. Her interior works and ma.
chinery will not, however, be completed
for at least year. The joiner work, the
setting Of the machinery and the loading
of the guns on board takes many hours OF
careful work. III the New York is able to
hoist her flag and steam down Chesapeake
bay by Christmas, 1892, her completion
will be the most remarkable achievement
Of modern ship building.
She will be capable Of fighting about
ANYTHING afloat and meeting the strongest
English, French or Italian vessels without
fear of being outclassed. None Of the
English vessels approach her in the num-
ber of miles they sail without taking on a
fresh load of coal.
There are seven big English armored
cruisers, but the fastests, the Imperiense
and the Warsprite, can steam only seven
teen knots an hour, and the greatest en-
durance which belongs to the same yes
sells is 1000 miles. Some of the English
than the New York but the new vessel
mas superior man9uvring qualities,
which will enable her to select her own
range for fighting.
She is faster by three knots than the
fastest of the English ships, and her ra-
dius of action is 5000 miles greater. Her
armor is heavier, and, being of nickel
steel, is much less pervious to the heaviest
shock than the armor Of any of the for
eign vessels.