The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-01
CRUISER RALEIGH LAUNCHED.
One of the Finest Vessels in the New
NaVy-Ruilt at Norfolk.


Navy-Built at Norfolk.
NORFOLK, Va, March 31.-The cruiser
Raleigh was successfully launched at the
Norfolk navy yard in the presence of 40
600 people who thronged the shores and
vessels on the river. The vessel was
christened by Mrs. Alfred w. haywood,
of Raleigh, n. c., daughter of Governor
Holt, of that state.
The Raleigh is a twin screw, protected steel
cruiser, having a length on load line of 80 feet
an extreme breadth OF AZ feet and a mean
draught OF is feet. Her displacement is 5, iSS
tons The aggregate indicated horsepower OF
her engines is to be l000o and this is to give her
aspeed OF nineteen knots, while it is possible
that it may be nearer twenty. There is a eouble
bottom IN the wake of the machinery space and
full system OF water-tight compartments. The
protective deck has double slope at the sides
with e thickness of steel two and half inches
on the amidships slopes, two inches on the end
slopes, and one inch the fiat. cofferdam
is provided at the water line, which is filed
with water-excluding material There is an
open gun deck between the poop and forecastie
decks, and bridges close outside connect the
two latter.
The engines are triple expansion, vertical
inverted, and direct acting. with a ahigh-pressnre
cylinder Sc inches, an intermediate IS inches,
and two low pressure 81 inches in diameter tho
power Of these and the smaller engines is 1000
VT l6i revolutions. The eondensers have each
1000 feet OF cooling surface. There are four
double-ended and two single-ended boilers in
water-tight compartments. Two OF the main
boilers are IS feet 4 inches in diameter and 20
feet ia inches long. and the other two are 1lfeet
6ls inches by 20 feet 81 inches long. Tho two
auxiliary boilers are IL feet inches in diameter
by feet inch in length The working press
ure is i60 pounds The total heating surface is
1852 square feet, and the CRATE surface 597
square feet.
To effect the forced draught blower dis
charges into main duct under the fire room
floor, and a branch leads to each ash pit, which
can be closed under the forced draught The
normal coal supply is 400 tons, with a total
bunker capacity of 556 tons. At the maximum
speed of 20 knots the full capacity would be
burned in 2lS days, and l,243 knots would be
made. But at Is knots, when the horsepower
would be only 6,S50, her coal would last five
days, and she would cover 2,213 knots. At the
speed of Is knots, with 4,2O0 horse power, she
would consume y tons q day, and hence would
have "a days supply, which would give her
radius OF 1854 knots. At a speed of II knots
she would consume Az tons per day, lasting
121s days and making 4,l90 knots. At a speed OF
Il knots she would need but 26IS tons per day,
and in q days could cover, 5,925 knots. At a
speed OF 10 knots, SO days and l5iz tons per day
would give her radius of action of s,652 knots
The main battery OF the Raleigh will consist
of one 6inch rifle and ten 5-inch rapd-fre guns
The 6-ineh gun is mounted on the forecastle,
and the others are distributed, all being on
center-pfvot mounts, protected by steel shields.
The secondary battery will consist of eight g.
FOUNDER and four 1-pounder, rapid fire guns and
two Gatlings. There are also six torpedo tubes,
about four feet above the water, one fixed in the
bow, one in the stern, and the other four, which
are training tubes, are on each broadside.
The Raleigh has the rig of a two-masted
schooner, with 7,2l0 square feet.of sail. About
half way up her masts military tops, and
forward on the topgallant forecastle is a steel
coming tower. She has a balanced rudder,
formed in a continuation of the after lines of
the ship. The quarters for officers and crew are
believed to be commodious, and the captains
cabin is large and well lighted and ventilated.
The crew have the forward berth deck, except
the space occupied by the paymaster's office,
dispensary and prison.
The electric light plant has two engines and
two dynamos OF adequate power, and there are
three search light projectors of the Mangin
type Ventilation Is secured by powerful blow
ers, and pipes from the upper deck supply fresh
air, while Others carry the gases of the coal
bunkers into the chimneys. The system of
drainage is very complete, and the steam pumps
supplemented by hand pumps, and can
flood the compartments or flush the drain pipes,
and are also connected with the fire main.