The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-29
THE TEXAS IS LAUNCHED.
FIRST OF THE BATTLE SHIPS OF The
NEW AMERICAN NAYr.


She IL Of Second Grade aud VIII he Fine
Fighter OF Her Cinss--A Great Crowd mt
the Ceremonies In the Norfolk Yard.
NonroIK. June 29-Twclve thousand per-
sons faced tho rain storm this morning and
stood ankle deep In mud to witness tho launch
Ing Of the battle ship Texas. The Navy
Yard gates were thrown open at 9h o'clock.
and the throng that had been gather
ing for an hour was admitted. At 10
o'clock all work was stopped in the yard.
At 1920 o'clock Miss Madge Williams. who
had come all the way from tho Lone Star State
to christen the vessel. was escorted to tho
launching stand by Lieut. Hillary =. Jones.
On the stand were Con. Meredith. Chief OF tho
Bureau OF Printing and Engraving: Lieut. W.
s. Cowles. Pay Director Luca. Pay Director
Eldrdge. Commodore A. W. Weaver, the Com
mander and other officers OF the Brazilian
man -of-war. Almiranto Borroso. which is now
In port
Constructor Bowles had arranged to have
the vessel sawed of rs near to IL o'clock as
possible. The christening platform was
erected above the main launching platform.
Miss Williams was dressed In navy blue
yachting cloth trimmed with white. and wore
q jaunty yachting cap. in the centre OF which
was tho lone star NJ Texas. Attached to a
staff with silkcn cords hung tho bottle OF wine
o'clock tho last block WINS knocked out, and
all that held tho battle ship wns white onk
beam. One minute later several started saw
Ing this away. Miss Williams. with tho bottle
in her hands. stood. with Lieut.. Jones on her
left and Lieut.. Cowlcs on her right. awaiting
the signal from Constructor Bowes. This
came at 11:17 o'clock. and as the Texas
started. slowly at FIRST to glide into the water.
Miss Willtnmss voice rang out: Il christen
thee Texas"
Then camo the hurrahs and yells. the So
lutes OF steam whistles. and the tunes Of
the band The ship shot with great rapidly
nss and tugs towsd her 's to TIE Dock next N 10
The Tsxas " is steslnrmorea ' tSn Screw
displacement. she Is !a6 feet long. q ieet
about 500 tons Of scs rGsSe Is S'aaEsf
tons. The main armament consists Of two
1l22;inch breeeh. loading guns. each weighing
eehelon. one being on the starboard SIDE at.
secondary battery consists Of four six pound.
with four II MN. Hotchkiss guns. ali mounted
on the gun deck behind 1I.:inch plating, two
guns. mounted on the bridge. tho same in the
fors and two rapid
torpedo tubes. one the bow one f Ia the stern f
and two on each side: strong ram bow adds
to her offensive powers.
redoubt stS snso OF II wReh
works the and the smoee pDsy
ings. < belt Of. steel. armor. II inchos thick.
se. ssS f sst IN e %sfs
teetiye deck of Pinch steel Is Iaid above the
toward the eXtremtttes and sides, and In )
inches, hsi Thick on ths sIopes At ths ends 81 thc
steel. pointed toward tie bow and stern. whose
oelique surfaces afford additional protection.
TIE hull f Of steel ana + built
zines. and is divided both ionsitudinaIly 'I and
partments There are l2D Of these compart-
ments all eonnectsd to steam and hand
minimizing the disastrous effects Of the ram
f SeaM ned In SIX wate5fht IT.
eommunication between the extrcmities OF
for navigating the ship on which boats are
slowed. Two SECOND class tornedo boats are
Tho ship Is lighted throughout by electricity.
and carries two powerful electric search lights
end two smaller search liShts for beat asS
en- estu Of @ ocsrs an Mp MEN, m, eG hey
spacious decks afrording, m uch greater accom-
possible on cruise The ship Is driven by
two sats Of triple-ex pansion engines. capable
Of developing $500 horse power with natural
draught and $500 with forced draught. The
machinery is being built by the Richmond Io-
connective and Machine Works OF Richmond.
Va. but will be placed on board the Texas ut
the Norfolk Navy Yard.
The construction of the Texas was author
lied by an net az Congress. approve Aug. \.
1888. The same act Of Congress authorized
the building Of the battle ship at q NAVY Yard.
and tho Norfolk Navy Yard was selected. At
that time IT eDtirelS lacking in tho
chanical appliances and other necessary facl-
tiles Of modern bodybuilding plant. and It
plate was put down. Tho material was de.
lvered so irregulary even after that that
many veXatious delnys ensued.
The Texas is the first battle ship OF the now
navy.
Louisiana VIII Put on the Senator Election.